Hibernians 71 Caffe Moak Luxol 62
After two overtimes
(13-10, 11-10, 13-12, 14-19) - (10-10) - (10-1)
It didn't look that way, as Luxol twice held advantages, very late in the deciding sessions, but Sam Brincat came up every time, to take the Paolites from the brink of defeat, and into their eventual victory, as they drew first blood, in this best-of-five final. Luxol will rue this loss, when they were so close, and yet so far. It was an enthralling spectacle, with fortunes swaying from one end to another. With the two sides being so close to each other, in play, this final could drag on, as a good number of other finals happen in women's matches. Another interesting factor was, that Ina Baena Medina was roped in a second time, in these last few days, for Luxol, but here services were never required, even when her side were in foul trouble.
Hibs opened in earnest, with Sam brincat and Silvia gambino sinking triples. The champions, for these last four seasons, began to pull back, but Brincat nailed another triple. Maria brown points had Luxol going near, with both sides making a hoop each, before the end of the session. In the next period the Paolites opened up their advantage once again, but a good Luxol response had them making up a 9-0 run, with a Sarah pace trey, and Cristina Sollami points, as the Violets forged in front. Hibs ended this session just as they had started the match, with a brace of triples, from Elena Cassar and Gambino, to lead 24-20, at the interval.
After the break Hibs' efforts to break forward were answered by a second pace trey. Luxol managed to tie the score, but the Paolites put in a late 7-2 run, to lead 37-32. In the last session Pace sank two quick treys, and the champions jumped in front. Brincat free throws had Hibs regaining their advantage, but Brown took Luxol to another tie. Brincat nailed two quick triples, and Hibs were near to a first victory, but Luxol managed a sound revival, with an 8-0 run, ending with a Kay Portelli triple, which wasn't enough, as Brincat, who netted all her side's points in this session, made the necessary hoop, to take the game into overtime, on a 51-51 score.
Portelli sank another Luxol trey, but Hibs overturned the score, which changed hands twice more. Free throws took the Violets to within victory, with only four seconds remaining. It was time enough for Brincat to lash home her fifth trey, and take the match into a second overtime, at 61-61, with the Luxol defence guilty of not fouling before, to prevent any triples coming their way.
Hibs looked more galvanised, and with Maria Brown bowing out, for Luxol, with fouls, the way was open for the Paolites to make sure, and a resulting 8-0 run, with a last Brincat trey, took the stuffing out of the champions. Hibs are on their way, but it's a long road yet, with the second match pencilled in, for next Tuesday.
Hibs: E. Micallef, E. Cassar 5, S. Gambino 9, S. Brincat 31, I. Agius, J. Abela, S. Abela 7, K. Caruana, N. Farrugia, R. Kehoe 15, M. Said 2, J. Scerri 2
Luxol: S. Pace 20, Ni. Vella, I. Baena Medina, No. Vella 5, K. Portelli 6, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Brown 20, C. Sollami 5, C. Curmi 6
Referees: B. Vassallo, T. Mantere, C. Xuereb
Caffe Moak Luxol 41 Hibernians 56
(9-19, 6-14, 15-10, 11-13)
The first match was taken to the second overtime, but in this second one the Paolites were in control, from the start, as they swept to their second victory, and now need just another win, from the remaining three games, to stamp their fifteenth league success. They took the match in hand, in the latter part of the opening session, and from then on it was plain sailing for the. Luxol seemed to have felt deeply the double overtime defeat, and their play slumped, after they saw their opponents waltzing away from them, to open a winning margin. They didn't really offer a challenge, to get back in the match, and it was just a routine game for the Paolites, to control their adversaries, and coast to their second final victory.
After Luxol's opening hoop it was Hibs making up a 7-0 run, as Sam Brincat, the heroine in the first win, sank a triple. Luxol recovered briefly, to put in a 7-2 run with a Cristina Sollami trey, and tie the score. Till the remainder of the period it was Hibs making plays, as they registered a 10-0 run, to take a hold on the game, as Sophie Abela, ironically on loan from the same Luxol, netted the last three hoops. In the next session Hibs continued with their march, as Silvia Gambino, a non-stop machine, and Brincat once more, netted their triples. Luxol made a sort of recovery, but their paltry three hoops were always being replied to by the lively Hibs lasses. At the interval the Paolites' heavy advantage had grown, and Hibs were enjoying a solid 33-15 lead at the interval.
After the break Luxol gave the impression that they were going to make a game of it, as Maria Brown and Sollami made their baskets, but teh Paolites had Julia Scerri to react for them. Luxol managed a three-hoop spread, with a brace of Christine Curmi hoops, but Hibs also made their points, to go into the last session on a healthy 43-30 advantage, despite Luxol's reduction of their deficit. The last quarter was really decided, as Hibs opened well enough, to increase their lead. Luxol couldn't amass a number of points together, and Hibs were controlling without much hassle. Free shots enhanced the Paolites' score, with Sarah Pace finally sinking a trey, when these triples were needed earlier on, to make an impact.
Next Sunday Hibs could be crowned champions, if Luxol, the outgoing champions, do not pull something out of the bag, to halt their stride.
Luxol: S. Pace 5, Ni. Vella, I. Baena Medina 2, No. Vella, K. Portelli, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Brown 13, C. Sollami 9, C. Curm 12i
Hibs: E. Micallef, E. Cassar 4, S. Gambino 7, S. Brincat 9, I. Agius, J. Abela, S. Abela 14, K. Caruana, N. Farrugia, R. Kehoe 12, M. Said 4, J. Scerr 6i
Referees: E. Mangani, T. Mantere, N. Azzopardi