Luxol, Loyola to contest final

Champions Luxol will meet Loyola in the final of the women’s league after winning the third and decisive play-off against Hibs. Loyola beat Depiro 2-1 in the other semi-final. The first leg of the final will be played tomorrow.

Luxol 50
Hibs Melita Gardens 49
(10-10, 14-14, 13-10, 13-15)

As the session scores indicate, this was a close match with Luxol keeping hold of their nerves in the final seconds to preserve a single-point lead and reach the final.

Hibs had captain Lucienne Bezzina missing but they still showed improvement from their performance in the second tie of the series last Thursday. However, that was not enough to deny Luxol.

The lead changed hands several times as Hibs had the better start only for Luxol to power ahead with eight consecutive points. Hibs recovered to level matters, 10-10, by the end of the quarter.

Hibs stayed on top to open a 20-12 lead as the match resumed but, inspired by Robin Murphy, Luxol came back to cancel out the deficit by half-time, 24-24.

It was Luxol’s turn to forge ahead, 32-26, in the third quarter and hard as they tried, Hibs could not bridge the deficit before the final 10 minutes, 37-34.

Luxol increased their advantage to 43-36 but, once again, Hibs regrouped to tie the score at 43-all before the start of the final quarter.

Luxol notched the next five points and these proved crucial. Joselle Cardona’s brave efforts for Hibs proved futile as her points were not enough to force extra time.

Luxol: S. Pace 7, M. Sciortino 9, C. Medina, B. Naudi, J. Busuttil Gaerty, G. Zarb 6, P. Ellul, R. Murphy 21, D. Muscat 4, A. Paul, B. Zammit 3.

Hibs: J. Scerri, E. Cassar 8, M. Zammit, F. Mifsud, M. Desira 7, K. Gatt, N. Arrigo, K. Baldacchino 6, J. Cardona 15, L. Gipson 13.

Depiro McDonald’s 49
Alyssa Ashley Loyola 66
(6-16, 18-18, 12-18, 13-14)

As in the other semi-final, the team that lost the first game went on to turn the tide in their favour and reach the final. This will be Loyola’s first tilt at the women’s crown.

While Loyola captain Christine Grima was in devastating form in the first two quarters, Depiro had their top-scorer Steffi DeMartino and Vontisa Woods tightly marked.

Following their victory in the second game of the series, Loyola started this match confidently, going on to finish the first quarter 16-6 ahead.

Depiro surpassed this difficult moment but their efforts were countered by Loyola who changed ends 34-24 ahead. With Depiro unable to convert their attacks into baskets, mainly due to poor shooting and passing, Loyola remained in control to start the last 10 minutes 52-36 ahead.

Depiro could not unsettle Loyola’s game as the latter played out the last few minutes knowing that victory was safe.

Depiro: A. Mifsud, G. Mifsud, M. Mifsud, S. Brincat 11, V. Woods 7, F. Bianco 10, T. DeMartino, A. Borg 9, C. Sammut, S. Micallef, E. Vella, S. DeMartino 12.

Loyola: E. Moore 4, C. Grima 27, J. Doughty, D. Hollier, K. Tonna 5, A. Bonanno 2, J. Mangion, A. Sciberras, F. Camilleri, S.J. Bartolo 8, D. Johnson 20.