Depiro are the new champions of women’s basketball after defeating Luxol at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion on Sunday. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Luxol 58
Depiro 72

(16-16, 18-12, 6-22, 18-22)

Pavi Depiro were crowned women’s champions for a fifth time in their history after they had the better of holders Luxol 72-58 in game five of the play-offs final and complete a 3-2 series victory.

After the two title rivals had shared the honours in the opening four matches of the series, everything was to be played for in yesterday’s decisive match at the Ta’ Qali pavilion.

There was little to separate either sides in the opening two sessions with the lead changing hands several times.

However, it was Luxol who seized the initiative late in the second session as they surged six points clear to go at the interval with a commanding 34-28 advan-tage.

But Depiro had no plans to go down without a fight as Luxol started to show some frailties in their game.

Luxol were guilty of some erratic passing and that played in favour of Depiro who took full advantage to open the last 10 minutes 50-40 ahead.

The outgoing champions tried hard to recover lost ground but Depiro stood firm as they cruised to a comfortable victory to the delight of their fans.

Depiro’s Latisha Belcher was the game’s leading scorer with 28 points.

Luxol: S. Pace 19; M. Sciortino 7; C. Medina, B. Naudi 12; J. Busuttil Gaerty, G. Zarb 7; P. Ellul 1, M. Williams 10; D. Muscat 2, K. Portelli, M. Darmanin.

Depiro: A. Mifsud 3, G. Mifsud 3, F. Bianco 2, M. Bonett, S. De Martino 18; M. Mifsud, M. Scicluna, L. Belcher 28, S. Micallef, B. Zammit 18.

Refs: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro.