Gzira Athleta retain Shield
Gzira Athleta 55 Hibernians 38 (14-10, 4-15, 19-2, 18-11)
These two finalists were meeting for the first time this season, with Athleta successfully retaining the honour, which they had won for the first time.
The Paolites are the side who have won the shield for the most times, but they stayed on nine wins, and now they also have nine defeats in finals.
Athleta have now made it two wins out of two early season finals, after the Super Cup.
They maybe have an added bonus, with their American, Amelia Simmons, now safely ensconced in Malta. for a number of years, and she knows the local game well.
Her team mated also know exactly what is expected from them, as regards her style of play.
The Paolites' American, Rachel Kehoe, started well enough, but then was presented with illjudged passes, and she also missed some sitters, underneath the basket.
Athleta had Beverlee Zammit with an early trey, but it was Hibs leading 6-3 soon after. Athleta 's answer was a 7-2 run, as Kehoe made her hoops.
Hibs tied the score, but Athleta were ahead, at the end of the period, with two late hoops from Simmons.
In the second session Hibs overturned the score with a three-hoop spread, but Athleta managed another advantage.
Towards the end of the period it was the Paolites surging forward, with a session ending 9-0 run, and treys from Jasmine Abela and Emma Micallef.
At the interval Hibs were on a 25-18 advantage.
After the break resulted in the Paolites' downfall.
They could only manage a meagre hoop, but Athleta were in full throttle, as Antoinette Borgnailed a couple of triples, and later on it was Julia Schembri to net another trey. Athleta not only erased their deficit, but went steadily in front, on a 37-27 score.
There was no let off for the Paolites, with their erratic play, and Athleta could control with ease Borg sank another triple, and Simmons kept on netting her hoops.
Micallef managed a second trey, but it didn't change matters, as Athleta were high and dry from way before.
At the end of the encounter the presentation was by the MBA General Secretary, Joseph Muscat, to the Athleta skipper, Leanne Duncan.
Athleta: N. Hili, B. Zammit 3, M. Pollacco, S. Pisani, L. Duncan 10, A. Simmons 23, D. Said Hollier, A. Borg 10, J. Schembri 5, S. Vella 4, E. Pace, C. Mifsud
Hibs: E. Micallef 10, E. Cassar 6, S. Gambino 2, S. Brincat 3, I. Agius, J. Abela 3, N. Vella, K. Caruana 2, N. Farrugia, R. Kehoe 12, J. Scerri Referees: B. Vassallo, I. Simic, Z. Dobrosavljevic