HIBERNIANS   54

STARLITES GIG               57

(17-9, 10-11, 17-23, 10-14)

These two sides had met earlier in the week in a rescheduled match and Hibs had won easily as Starlites had felt greatly the early loss through injury of their Spanish leader Patricia Arguello.

This time around, with Arguello being fit to play, there was an open and balanced match ending with a tight margin as Starlites GIG prevailed to rejoin the Paolites at the top of the standings.

The win materialised mostly after a complete turn-around in the middle part of the third quarter when the same Starlites neutralised a 12-point deficit into a game at par.

In fact, up till the 22nd minute, Hibs were the more  decisive team on the court and were enjoying a 34-22 advantage.

The Paolites set off strongly with Sophie Abela and Samantha Brincat on the mark in the early stages and then Amelia Simmons continuing with her trademark mid-range play for a 21-10 lead early in the second quarter.

Hibs maintained the momentum and further good shooting after the interval had them at 34-22.

But here came Starlites comeback with a 13-2 run started off by Arguello and continued by Kirsty Galea and Maria Bonett.

The game was at par 41-41 shortly afterwards and it was a late Hannah Al Tumi free throw that kept Hibs marginally in front, 44-43, at the end of the third quarter.

All was to play for now. An Arguello trey pipped Starlites momentarily infront only for Hibs to reply through Abela.

In the late moments of the game, it was Galea who, with a hoop and two free throws, placed David Baudot’s side 55-52 ahead.

Al Tumi notched a Hibs basket but Christina Curmi replied with two shots from the charity line for another three-point margin with Hibs unable to force overtime in the final seconds.

HIBS: E. Micallef, E. Cassar 3, K. Calleja, S. Brincat 10, I. Agius, J. Abela, S. Abela 14, A. Simmons 16, N. Farrugia, H. Al Tumi 6, K. Caruana, L. Duncan 5.        

STARLITES: M. Zammit Cordina 2, K. Galea 17, M. Riolo, S. Farrugia, M. Bonett 7, H. Acreman, C. Curmi 8, J. Grima 9, P. Arguello 11, F. Fabok, S. Davies, A. Lupo 3.

Referees: T. Mantere, N. Azzopardi, C. Xuereb.

DEPIRO             47 

CAFFE MOAK LUXOL    71

(8-24, 9-31, 14-8, 16-8)

Caffe Moak Luxol made a bold step to gain the third and final play-off berth after registering a comfortable victory over a depleted Depiro side.

The latter were shorn of the services of the American Ashley Gray, who reportedly returned back to the United States, and the unavailable Gabriella Mifsud and Claire Ciantar.

Led by the powerful and strong play underneath the boards from American Alexis Dillard, Luxol immediately took control of the match as they quickly opened a 12-2 lead after three minutes which was further extended to a 25-8 first-quarter margin.

An 18-2 run in the first part of the second quarter made it a hefty 45-12 lead for the Violets as they kept pounding the opponent’s half.

Apart from Dillard’s continuous hoops there were treys from Ina Baena and Monique Caruana whilst guards Sarah Pace and Kayleigh Portelli administered the ball around the Depiro defence.

Depiro improved in their offensive ploys in the second half with Stephanie Demartino being the main instigator, helped also by Nicole Agius with some outside shooting.

However, Luxol were always firmly in command as they moved on for their third league win.

The victory boosted their chances to qualify for the play offs where they face the second-placed team at the end of the regular season as the top team goes directly to the finals.

DEPIRO: No. Agius, Ni. Agius 12, C. Camilleri 2, S. DeMartino 21, D. Said Hollier 4, M. Scicluna 3, N. Hili 5, A. Mifsud, E. Cassar.

LUXOL: S. Pace 6, B. Zammit, Ni. Vella 2, I. Baena 13, No. Vella 2, S. Vella 8, K. Portelli, A. Borg, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Caruana 9, A. Dillard 29

Referees: B. Vassallo, M. Hraisha, V. Nikolic.

Standings: Starlites GIG (7-2) 16; Hibernians (7-2) 16; Caffe Moak Luxol (3-5) 11; Depiro (0-0) 8.