Starlites GIG     67     Caffe Moak Luxol     54

(14-14, 18-20, 17-7, 18-13)

Starlites' unbeaten run continues, as they warded off Luxol's challenge for the fourth time this season, although this latest Luxol opposition was the stiffest one yet. Starlites followed up to their Shield success, after winning their second honour of the season, to start off their league campaign with another victory. They had Christine Curmi out, injured, but welcomed back Michela Riolo, herself coming from a long injury period. The Violets also had American, Alexis Dillard, in their ranks, being eligible, and she came up with a sterling performance, finishing up as the game's top scorer.

Monique Caruans started Luxol off with her trey, and they warded off their opponents' first attempts to overtake them, as Samantha Farrugia netted Starlites' opening two hoops. Dillard was making all the next Luxol's points, but Starlites managed to tie the score, just before the end of the session. In teh next period Starlites jumped ahead, with Antoinette Borg replying for Luxol, with her trey. Starlites opened up a better advantage, with Kirsty galea and Maria Bonett treys, but the Violets struck a purple patch, as they swept past their adversaries with a heavy 13-0 run. Galea again netted a Starlites triple, but her side's new lead was wiped off, as Spaniard, Ina Baena, made a late Luxol trey, for a 34-32 advantage to the Violets.

After the break Starlites regained their lead, with the opposite Spaniard, Patricia Arguello, netting a triple. Dillard kept Luxol near, with treya coming at either end, from Starlites' Joey Grima, and Luxol's Caruana. A 7-0 run had Starlites going further in front, with another Arguello trey, with Caruana;'s free shots trimming Luxol's deficit, to a 41-49 score. The last quarter had an early Starlites spurt, which decided the match, after an 11-2 run. and a third Arguello trey. Luxol did put in three more treys, in a good finish, as Baena took her triple tally to four, but Grima and Bonett made sure for Starlites, with their last points.

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 2, K. Galea 9, A. Micallef, S. Farrugia 4, M. Bonett 3, H. Acreman, M. Riolo 4, J. Grima 15, P. Arguello 16, M. Cutajar , S. Davies 4, A. Lupo

Luxol: S. Pace 1, M. Caruana 10, Ni. Vella, I. Baena 14, No. Vella, K. Portelli, A. Borg 3, A. Dillard 26, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Pollacco, C. Mifsud  

Referees: I. Simic, M. Hraisha, C. Pollet

 

Hibernians     72     Depiro     54

(25-14, 21-8, 12-6, 14-26)

Hibs got over their Shield final defeat, marking up an opening league win over Depiro, which did not give them any worrisome periods, except for the opening minutes of the match. Depiro are not the side oozing confidence, and they play a hesitant game, which helps their adversaries. The return to form of Sam Brincat had the Paolites well geared up, although they still await the return of their livewire Italian, Silvia Gambino, on a long-term injury. Maria said and naomi farrugia were missing for the champions, with Kaya Calleja and Elena pace playing in their stead. Depiro welcomed back, from Italy, Gaby Mifsud, and she responded with a poker of triples, and Steffi DeMartino was also back, from abroad.

Although Brincat shot an early trey, for Hibs, Depiro had DeMartino and Mifsud netting triples also, and DeMartino followed up with another one, after her side had fallen behind. It was then Brincat's turn again, as she nailed two more triples, in a session ending 15-3 run, as American, Amelia Simmons, made more hoops, for a good Paolite advantage. In the next session it was Emma Micallef and Brincat with more treys, as the champions extended their lead. Depiro's points were being obtained by American, Ashley Gray, but they were nowhere near their opponents. Brincat sank her fifth trey, for a solid 46-22 Hibs advantage, at the interval.

After the break Depiro were agian limited to a handful of points, but the Paolites were slackening their grip on the match, with Simmons the mainstay in point making, as her side went into the last period on a winning 58-28 margin. The game was then shared between the two sides, as Calleja netted a Hibs triple, and Mifsud answered with two treys for Depiro. Late in the game Hibs tapered off, allowing depiro to hike up a more respectable score, with Martina Scicluna and again Mifsud sinking triples.

Hibs: E. Micallef 5, E. Cassar 2, K. Calleja 3, S. Brincat 21, I. Agius, J. Abela, S. Abela 4, A. Simmons 28, E. Pace, H. Al Tumi 5, K. Caruana 2, L. Duncan 2

Depiro: A. Mifsud , G. Mifsud 12, L. Camilleri , C. Camilleri , D. Agius 2, S. DeMartino 16, D. Said Hollier 3, M. Scicluna 3, A. Gray 13,  E. Cassar, C. Ciantar 5, N. Hili

Referees: B. Vassallo, B. Sly, C. Xuereb