Pembroke Tumas Gr. 71
(22-14, 19-17, 15-12, 15-18)
Bupa Luxol 61

Pembroke Tumas Group became the third different team to win an honour in men's competitions this season after keeping hold of the Bank of Valletta KO last weekend by beating rivals BUPA Luxol in the final.

The success was Pembroke's revenge for their upset the previous week to the same Luxol in the Super Cup. Last month, Siggiewi Smina had etched their name for the first time on the Louis Borg Cup after lowering Luxol's colours in the final.

Pembroke deserved their win on Sunday. Joe Galea's Reds took control from the opening minutes and never gave Luxol the chance to get back in contention.

Pembroke's defence was at its best with some effective double teaming. As things stood, Luxol hardly found space even to try a comfortable shot.

Pembroke played more as a team with forward Michael Naudi in unstoppable mood as Omar Said led Pembroke's early charge with a series of free-throws.

Luxol looked jaded and unable to raise their game. Galea's men continued to dictate matters to open a 41-25 lead a minute before half-time. Two consecutive three-pointers saw Luxol reducing that deficit to ten points, 41-31.

That never derailed the Reds though as after the interval they were soon back in business giving Luxol little chance to settle down with some impressive defending underneath the boards paving the way towards victory.

Pembroke: M. Naudi 32, J. Naudi 4, M. Zammit 8, E. Bezzina 2, T. Riolo 4, O. Said 15, D. Cuschieri 6, W. Spiteri, J. Ransley, M. Pisani.

Luxol: D. Falzon 6, M. Mercieca 4, R. Azzopardi 16, M. Micallef, B. Micallef Trigona, M. Bonnici, R. Dalli 2, A. Bianchi 15, A. Cremona 2, S. Cassar 16.

Referees: B. Vassallo and C. Farrugia.

Naxxar Danone 44
(11-11, 9-21, 9-16, 15-16)
Hibs Go Mobile 64

Hibs Go Mobile are the team to beat in the BoV KO for women.

On Sunday, they made it a record five successes in a row in the competition after a sound 20-point margin victory over Naxxar Danone.

More was expected from Steve Buttigieg's team even though playmaker Irene Farrugia is still struggling to find her form after a long lay-off.

Naxxar started well but their early flurry soon fizzled away as the game progressed. The team committed innumerable errors in attack.

Naxxar took a four-point lead in the opening minutes. They shared the exchanges till the opening minutes of the second quarter, 17-16.

Winnie Buhagiar's three-pointers then saw Hibs distancing themselves from their opponents to change ends 32-20 ahead.

Naxxar's hopes took a nosedive in the last minutes of the third session when Hibs, through a series of fast breaks, opened a decisive 48-29 lead ahead of the final ten minutes.

With Naxxar unable to re-organise their ranks, Hibs easily held on to their cushion lead till the final whistle.

Naxxar: S. Schembri Wismayer 16, C. Riolo, T. Gatt 5, M. Demartino 2, M. Loporto 6, C. Hawkins 4, N. Mifsud 2, I. Farrugia 9, S. Barbara. A. Busuttil.

Hibs: M. Vella 8, B. Zammit 3, L. Bezzina 12, D. Holler 5, A. Zammit, W. Buhagiar 13, A. Darmanin 11, F. Schembri, D. Parnis 10, M. Cutajar 2.

Referees: E. Mangani and S. Micallef.

Next fixtures:

(Kinnie League SFs - Saturday, April 17) 5.30 p.m. Luxol vs Siggiewi.

(Sunday, April 18) 2.30 p.m. Hamrun vs Pembroke; 4.15 p.m. Siggiewi vs Luxol.

(Women's League SFs - Saturday, April 17) 3.45 p.m. Depiro vs Naxxar.

(Sunday, April 18) 11 a.m. Luxol vs Hibs; 12.45 p.m. Naxxar vs Depiro.