Hibernians     82     Starlites GIG     75

(25-18, 18-25, 17-17, 22-15)

It was Starlites' swan song, as they were left out of the Play Offs, but they finished with a solid performance, which troubled their opponents quite a bit. In fact, Starlites were on a par, till midway through the last period, when the Paolites managed to prise themselves away from their adversaries and open up a winning margin. Hibs kept their unbeaten record, this season, against Starlites, with their fourth consecutive victory.  Starlites had Matthew Scerri missing, saving him up for the Junior U/16 final, later on in the day.

Alvaro Lizaur began with a couple of Hibs triples, with Starlites get into the match, and Shawn Pace also sank a brace of his treys. Hibs had Luca Tardito on court from the start, and he put in his share of points, also with a commendable dunk. There was also Roderick Vella, with two triples, as his side finished the session in front. In the next session Starlites overturned the score, as Robert Bonnici sank a trey. The Paolites regained their lead, with triples from Simon Attard and Chad Patus. Starlites were again ahead, with an 11-3 run, and Attard netted his second trey, to take Hibs on a tied score, at 43-43, at the interval.

After the break Hibs sank four hoops in a row, but Starlites reacted, to go within a hoop. Another 9-2 run, with a third Lizaur triple, took Hibs to another advantage, but Starlites ended the period well, to level the score, at 60-60. The last session had Bonnici taking Starlites ahead, with his trey. They lost their lead briefly, but Mitchell Brewe's trey restored their lead. Hibs tied the score twice, only for Starlites to take their last advantage. The last stages of the match saw the Paolites obtain the necessary points, to go in front, and free throws took them further away from their opponents. 

Hibs: R. Vella 8, P. Attard 4, K. Sultana, L. Farrugia 3, S. Attard 6, I. Bonett 2, L. Tardito 9, A. Axiaq 2, M. Matijevic 4, A. Lizaur 23, F. Mariani 4, C. Patus 17

Starlites: S. Pace 12, O. Psaila, R. Bonnici 14, A. Schembri, M. Falzon 6, A. Felice Pace 2, R. Carabott 4, I. Pace, I. Felice Pace 3, J. Wait, M. Brewe 32 

Referees: B. Vassallo, E. 2angani, Z. Dobrosavljevic

 

Athleta end commitments with a century victory

Cynergi Depiro     71     Gzira Athleta     109

 (20-23, 14-36, 24-23, 13-27)

The two sides will be meeting again, next Wednesday, in a best of three Play Off semi-final. Athleta were already ascertained of a top placing, as they managed a century win, in their sixth victory over Depiro this season. They also gave an outing to their new Estonian player, Kevin Liivamagi, and recovered both Michael Naudi and Billy Zammit, but Matthew Gouder was missing on court. Depiro had their absentees, David Camilleri, Lene Duckinson and Nicholas Grech.

It was Depiro with a bright start, with three early triples, two from Dominic Scafidi and Matthew Borg in between. Athleta settled down, and proceeded to make up the difference, as Naudi, Peter Shoults and Jon Feiler took their side ahead, despite another trey by Kurt Xuereb. In the next period Athleta subjected their opponents to a heavy 18-3 run, as Feiler continued pouring in his hoops. Depiro managed a mid-session 9-2 run, with another Scafidi trey, after a pause in the match, due to electricity failure, which held up the game for about half an hour. Athleta dominated towards the end of the session, making up another solid 16-2 run, with Billy Zammit and a last second Naudi triples, to hold a strong 59-34 advantage, at the interval.

After the break Depiro could share the play, with constant Scafidi points, Malcolm Mallis points and an Andrew Aquilina trey. Athleta had Francesco Mifsud Bonnici making a triple, early on, and then, late in the session they added on four more, a brace from Omar Said, and by Mifsud Bonnici and Luca Stefanovic, to enjoy an 82-58 advantage. In the last quarter Depiro couldn't match up, as they ahd Xuereb with another trey, and more Scafidi hoops, bu Athleta were armpant, as Ivan Mitrovic and Stefan Vincic sank triples, and Feiler hiked up his personal tally, to surpass the century mark.

Depiro:  E. Briffa, J. Attard, K. Xuereb 12, A. Aquilina 5, A. Attard, M. Mallia 11, M. Borg 15, D. Scafidi 28

Athleta:  M. Naudi 15, B. Zammit 5, K. Liivamagi 2, P. Shoults 8, L. Stefanovic 3, F. Mifsud Bonnici 17, O. Said 10, N. Xuereb 10, S. Vincic 9, I. Mitrovic 10, J. Feiler 26 

Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, I. Simic