Hibs win, after an absence of 28 years
Bupa Luxol 53 Hibernians 75 (18-17, 8-19, 11-13, 16-26)
The two sides were meeting for the third time this season, with the games shared, as Luxol beat Hibs in the Super Cup, and the Paolites turned the tables in a previous Shield match. This last game had a solid advantage, as in this season's final. Luxol stayed the course till midway through the second period, when the Paolites took over, and proceeded to put distance between the two sides. Luxol couldn't get reasonably closer, and Hibs' triples continued punishing their opponents. Luxol had Dirk Schembri and CJ Cordina back in the side, after missing a number of encounters, but the way things went, the champions did not upgrade their play to suit the occasion.
Hibs were victorious in the first four editions of this honour, from 1986 to '89, and their coach. Mario Tabone is now the only person to take part in all five winning finals, this time as a mentor.
Hibs had Fabrizio Mariani with an early trey, with Luxol replying with a 10-2 run, as JP Schembri and Keith Dimech sank their triples. It was the Paolites' turn to net their treys, through Chad Patus and Simon Attard, but Luxol still managed to end the session with their noses in front. In the next period the Paolites began to show their real worth. They began with a 7-0 run, but the champions were back, to within a hoop. Hibs essayed a good 10-0 run, with Alvaro Lizaur and Patus triples, and at the interval their side was leading 36-26.
After the break it was Hibs who gradually pulling further away, as they made up an 11-2 run, with more treys, from Luke Farrugia and Attard. Luxol trimmed some points off, but they were still trailing, at 37-49, going into the last quarter. Luxol added on more points, as finally William Ahlberg found more space, but the Paolites were deadly in their long ones. Farrugia netted a second, Roserick vella complied with a quick brace, and Lizaur netted another one, besides further points, as Hibs ambled through to a comfortable victory.
After the match the St. James Hospital CEO, Maria Bugeja, presented the winning trophy to Marco Matijevic, as HIbs grabbed their first honour of the season.
Luxol: CJ Cordina, D. Schembri 10, M. Sjoberg, N. Vasovic 10, JP Schembri 5, K. Dimech 3, W. Ahlberg 12, A. Micallef Trigona, K. Meyer 13, S. Cappello
Hibs: R. Vella 11, P. Attard, L. Farrugia 6, S. Attard 6, I. Bonett, K. Caruana, A. Axiaq 6, M. Matijevic 2, A. Lizaur 17, F. Mariani 3, C. Patus 26 Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, T. Mantere
MBA Shield Men 1 Div. Winners
1986/87 Enemalta Paola Stars 1987/88 Enemalta Paola Stars 1988/89 Enemalta Paola Stars 1989/90 Enemalta Paola Stars 1990/91 Luxol Plasmon 1991/92 Luxol Plasmon 1992/93 Luxol Fitgar 1993/94 Sliema Juv. Aperol 1994/95 Siggiewi MidMed 1995/96 Depiro Eden Leisure 1996/97 Siggiewi Mid-Med 1997/98 Pembroke Repsol 1998/99 Pembroke Repsol 1999/00 Luxol Fiat 2000/01 Hamrun L. Jaxa 2001/02 Pembroke Allcom 2002/03 Siggiewi 2003/04 not held 2004/05 Bupa Luxol 2005/06 Pembroke 2006/07 Siggiewi Smina 2007/08 Bupa Luxol 2008/09 Bupa Luxol 2009/10 Siggiewi Kent B. 2010/11 AtoZ Elect. Athleta 2011/12 AtoZ Elect. Athleta 2012/13 AtoZ Elect. Athleta 2013/14 AtoZ Elect. Atleta. 2014/15 Virtus Cynergi 2015/16 Falken Cynergi Virtus 2016/17 Gzira Athleta 2017/18 Hibernians