Hibs’ first league victory, to keep hopes alive

Hibernians 71 Cynergi Depiro 66 (13-20, 18-28, 22-10, 18-8)

With five league defeats on their slate, Hibs were facing a quick elimination from the Play Offs, but this first victory has restored hopes, and against none other than the league leaders. The two sides had only met once before, and it took overtime for Depiro to beat the Paolites, in the first round league encounter.

Depiro went in front, and kept their position till the end of the period, as David Bugeja netted an early trey. The Paolites were relying on Marco Matijevic and Alvaro Lizaur points, but they stayed behind, and a late Kurt Xuereb triple had Depiro on a better advantage.

Timothy Zammit also sank a Depiro trey, in an early 8-2 start to the next session. Hibs recovered with an 8-2 run of their own, with Robert Bonnici coming up with a triple for Depiro, who then passed through a good patch, with another 10-2 run, ending with a Sammut trey.

It was still Matijevic and Lizaur for the Paolites, who had fallen 31-48 in arrears, at the interval.

After the break Hibs rolled up their sleeves, and began their way back. Depiro found it more difficult to obtain points, and the Paolites were creeping back. A late effort had them only 53-58 behind, with a last session to play. A 10-2 start took Hibs in front for the first time in the match, as Lizaur opened up the opposing defence. Depiro recovered briefly, to regain their advantage, as Bonnici sank a second triple. Hibs bounced back, and finished off the match with a last 8-1 run, as Adrian Micallef's last three hoops were crucial for Hibs' victory, keeping Depiro at bay, as they found heavy traffic in the opposing zone, and failed their last attempts at the basket.

Hibs: P. Attard, E. Xuereb, L. Farrugia 2, S. Attard 3, A. Micallef 14, M. Matijevic 25, S. Vella, F. Mariani 2, A. Lizaur 25

Depiro: S. Sammut 7, D. Bugeja 14, R. Bonnici 9, A. Aquilina 5, DJ Mason 18, T. Zammit 5, M. Mallia, K. Xuereb 8, M. Borg, D. Scafidi Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, C. Farrugia