Starlites GIG     50     HIbernians     56

(9-12, 14-17, 16-11, 11-16)

A late surge wiped out Starlites' small advantage, as Hibs had their skipper, Sam Brincat, grab the game's last points, to help her side retain the honour won last season, and also to improve on their top position, in winning this honour, making it the eleventh time that the Paolites have now won the Super Cup, in a total of twenty nine editions. It didn't look that way, as the champions came back strongly, wipe off healthy, early leads, by the Paolites. When they inched four points ahead Hibs were in trouble, but Brincat had other ideas, and stood out, as she had Hibs level with her fourth triple, and then calmly sank in all her free shots, as the Starlites lasses vainly tried to stop her.

Both sides had new entries in their formations, with Christine Curmi returning for Starlites, being abroad for the Independence Cup games, and the Paolites roping in Julia Xerri, for this second honour of the season.

Hibs had the edge at first, opening up with Leanne Duncan and Kirsty Caruana triples. Starlites replied through their Spaniard, Patricia Arguello, who also sank a trey, with Brincat opening her tally, which finally made her top scorer of the encounter. The second period saw the Paolites improving on their advantage, with an early 9-0 run, as Naomi Farrugia sank two quick triples. Starlites had a bright patch, also netting nine points, but, in between, Brincat netted her first trey, for Hibs, who again opened a double figure advantage. Late points reduced Starlites' deficit, as they went in 23-29 behind, at the interval.

After the break Brincat and Farrugia treys took the Paolites to their original advantage, but Starlites went into gear, totting up a steady 11-0 run, with another Arguello trey, which had them in front, for the first time. Brincat restored Hibs' lead, with another of her triples, but Michela Zammit Cordina free throws overturned the score again, for Starlites. It was Duncan who took Hibs ahead, into the last quarter, at 40-39. The lead then changed hands four times, before Starlites managed a small 7-0 run, to establish a better lead. They looked confident, but they couldn't subdue the Hibs skipper, as she strode to the fore. Her fourth trey had the sides on equal terms, and then every time she was fouled, as Starlites frantically tried to win back possession, she went to the free shot line, and coolly sank in all her six free shots, to deny her opponents any meagre occasion to get back in the game. Hibs were home and dry, to hold on to the honour they also won last season, and add on to the Independence Cup success they had just two weeks before.

At the ned of the game the MBA Generel Secretary, Joseph Muscat, presented Sam Brincat with the winning trophy, already the second time, this season, that she lifted an honour.

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 13, M. Riolo 4, A. Micallef 4, S. Farrugia, M. Bonett 1, F. Fabok, C. Curmi 4, C. Cilia 2, P. Arguello 21, M. Cutajar, S. Davies 1, A. Lupo

Hibs: I. Agius 1, J. Xerri, A. Van Vliet 6, S. Brincat 26, L. Duncan 7, J. Abela, B. Agius, Y. Bonett, N. Farrugia 11, C. Camilleri, K. Caruana 5, M. Buhagiar

Referees: G. Barbara, L. Camilleri, M. Hraisha