Starlites GIG    51     Hibernians     55

 (12-10, 12-15, 16-15, 11-15)

These two sides are battling out between themselves, for match honours this season. They have already shared the four honours already played for, and this time Hibs have ousted their rivals, denying them a place in the final. Hibs had to chase at first, but after the break, the lead changed hands frequently, and it was left down to the very last possession, with three seconds remaining on the clock, for Sam Brincat to decide the issue, with a hasty trey, and resulting and-one shot, leaving Starlites to lick their wounds, in a match which could have gone either way. Starlites had Michela Riolo missing, with the latest foreign import, Giocelis Reynoso, from Santo Domingo, keeping her place. Hibs recovered Iona Agius, with her sister, Britney, also included. It was a slow starting match, as Starlites twice went in front, with Hibs replying in turn. Starlites struck soundly, with triples, from Spaniard, Patricia Arguello, and Kirsty Galea. American, Amelia Simmons, made a personal three hoop spread, to tie the score for the Paolites, but the Santo Domingo Starlites player, Giocelis Reynoso, made her free shots, to hand back a lead to her side. It was Arguello leading Starlites to a better advantage, in the next session, even if Simmons nailed a Hibs triple, but Arguello's thrusts, in the opposing defence, brought about the points. The champions played better, towards the end of the session, as Elena Cassar, who spent time on the bench, with an injured hand, went back on, and sank a couple of treys, to overturn the score, as the Paolites went ahead for the first time, on a 25-24 halftime score.

After the break the champions could enhance their advantage, after an early Starlites hoop, as Cassar netted her third triple. Starlites reacted, to tie the score, but there was Sophie Abela to restore the Paolites' advantage, with a five-point lead. Starlites' answer had them in front, since the interval. Late in the period Sam Brincat's trey had the champions ahead, but Arguello put the game on a par, with a 40-40 scoreline. Starlites forged in front, in the last session, but there was Cassar once more, with another Hibs trey. Starlites kept their lead for some time, but Hibs insisted, and Sam Brincat's treyed out another advantage, only for Arguello to tie the score again, at 40-40. The last period had Starlites in front, with Cassar coming up with another Hibs triple. but Starlites held their advantage. A 7-0 run, with a second Brincat trey, took the Paolites in front. Starlites grimly came back, to tie the score once again, but it was left to Sam Brincat, with a last gasp triple, and resulting free shot, to take the Paolites into the final.

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 2, K. Galea 3, H. Acreman, S. Farrugia 2, M. Bonett 2, G. Reynoso 6, C. Curmi 4, J. Grima 8, P. Arguello 22, M. Cutajar, S. Davies 2, A. Lupo      

Hibs: E. Micallef 2, E. Cassar 12, B. Agius, S, Brincat 12, I. Agius, J. Abela, S. Abela 14, A. Simmons 15, N. Farrugia, H. Al Tumi, K. Caruana, L. Duncan

Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, C. Xuereb, D. Torok

 

Depiro     41     Caffe Moak Luxol     75

(4-19, 5-22, 11-17, 21-17)

A strong Luxol start gave them the impetus to make the match their own, and dispel any doubts as to the outcome of the game. Depiro slid to a heavy deficit, by the interval, and could only and could only hope to rack up a decent score. Luxol relented after the break, allowing their adversaries to come back more in the match, but the points difference had already steadied the Luxol lasses' minds. Both sides had a player missing for this match, with Claudia Camilleri for Depiro and Beverlee Zammit for Luxol.

Depiro began with a couple of free throws, and only managed to add another two free shots, till the end of the session. Luxol reacted quickly, with a 7-0 run, and a brace of Sarah Pace triples. Then after Depiro's next two points, the Violets went on to make up a session ending 12-0 run, as Spaniard, Ina Baena, netted a trey, and Sharon Vella came off the bench to put in Luxol's last points, for a better advantage. In the second session the play didn't change much, as Luxol pressed on, to start off with a strong

11-0 run, and another Baena trey, with more points from her. A Steffi DeMartino hoop stopped them momentarily, but Pace netted her third Luxol triple. Gaby Mifsud managed to net a Depiro trey, with the Violets making two more hoops, before the end of the session, as Dillard was taking a back seat. At the interval Luxol were fully 41-9 in front.

After the break Luxol began to relent, and more bench players began to make their way on court. Depiro began to play better, and Gaby Mifsud was finding more space in the opposing defence, but the Violets had Antoinette Borg, who managed to open her account with a brace of triples and a hoop, with Dillard providing more hoops, for a 58-20 score, at the start of the last session. Luxol had more bench players, to have a taste of the match, with Nicole Vella grabbing a couple of hoops. DeMartino obtained Depiro's points, with Monique Caruana netting a Luxol trey, followed by Baena's third one. Depiro finished the match on a good note, grabbing a trio of treys, two more, from Mifsud and DeMartino making the last one, with no concern from Luxol, who had already booked their final place, against Hibs.

Depiro: No. Agius, Ni. Agius 6, G. Mifsud 16, S. DeMartino 13, D. Said Hollier, M. Scicluna, N. Hili, C. Ciantar 6, A. Mifsud, E. Cassar

Luxol: S. Pace 11, N. Vella 4, I. Baena15 , No. Vella 2, S. Vella 10, K. Portelli2, A. Borg 8, P. Ellul 2,  M. Caruana 3, C. Mifsud 5, A. Dillard 13

Referees: T. Mantere, K. Dworniczak, B. Sly