Caffe Moak Luxol 36
Hibernians Electrofix 41
(6-9, 8-10, 14-7, 8-15)
Electrofix Hibs kept hold of their nerves in the last minutes of this final to lift the St James Hospital KO trophy at the expense of Caffe Moak Luxol, yesterday.
As the low scoreline clearly indicates, the encounter never reached the level of play expected from these two major contenders in women’s MBA competitions this season.
However, Hibs showed the better qualities in the last minutes and potted decisive points from the free-throw line to outsmart their valid opponents.
It was left to Hibs top-scorer Christine Grima to pose all kind of problems to the Luxol defence but in their zone the Paolites also played a blinder to deny Luxol, never allowing them extra space where to manoeuvre.
Grima was eventually named as the final’s best player. She was in fine form and won several fouls and rebounds as a result of Luxol’s slow movement in defence.
Luxol found the going tough in attack right from the first quarter as Hibs, through Grima’s drives, opened a six-point lead. It was only in the fifth minute that Steffi De Martino potted Luxol’s first basket.
Both teams were weak in their conclusions as play resumed with Hibs extending their lead to 19-14 at the half-time break.
Luxol were an improved side after the interval and succeeded in taking the lead for the first time and also starting the last ten minutes a basket ahead – 28-26.
But the opening minutes of the last quarter belonged to Hibs. They seized control to open a three-point lead (33-30) with five minutes remaining.
Sarah Pace’s three-pointer, the only one in the entire match, saw both teams level at 33-33. But a missed easy basket cost Luxol dearly as Hibs regrouped and hit back strongly to seal the issue.
A Maria Said basket put them on their way and victory was completed thanks to successful tries from free-throws.
Luxol: S. Pace 12, B. Zammit, N. Agius, J. Borg Cardona 2, M. Mercieca 3, S. DeMartino 12, N. Vella, P. Ellul 5, A. Calleja, M. Darmanin, C. Curmi 2.
Hibs: J. Scerri 4, E. Cassar, N. Vella, N. Agius, J. Grima 9, M. Said 10, C. Grima 16, K. Portanier Mifsud, N. Mifsud, H. Al Tumi 2, N. Farrugia, G. Costa.
Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, A. Carbonaro.