Depiro Still stopped Hibs Go Mobile from chalking up their eighth successive win as both teams are heading to the play-offs on equal points at the top of the standings.

With the two rivals fielding their best formations, it was Hibs who had the better start and through Beverly Zammit and Lucienne Bezzina they raced into a 22-8 lead by the end of the first session.

Depiro were a transformed side for the second quarter and with Hibs unable to reproduce their initial flurry, the champions' pressure left its mark as they reduced the gap to a single point at half-time - 30-29.

Dorianne Galea was playing a blinder for Depiro who took a 38-32 lead thanks mainly to their effective fast breaks. Two consecutive Zammit three-pointers saw Hibs back in contention though as the last ten minutes were to be decisive with both teams locked on 48-all.

The pressure was too much to handle for some players as the match became a scrappy affair with incredible misses at both ends. The worst hit, however, were Hibs whose inability to pot free-throws allowed Depiro to win the match 55-52. Hibs stay top thanks to a better average from direct encounters.

In other matches, Luxol Vodafone and Naxxar Danone strengthened their play-offs aspirations with easy victories over Qormi Quick Shot and Hamrun Tivoli, respectively.

Luxol after an unimpressive start, stepped up a gear before finishing winners 67-22. Naxxar thwarted Hamrun's chances of a top four position with an easy 64-31 win.

Standings

Hibs 15 (7-1), Depiro 15 (7-1), Luxol 13 (5-3), Naxxar 11 (4-3), Hamrun 11 (3-5), Kerygma 8 (1-6), Qormi 8 (0-8).

Next fixtures

(Saturday) 2 p.m. Depiro vs Kerygma; 5.30 p.m. Qormi vs Hibs. (Sunday) 12.45 p.m. Naxxar vs Luxol.