Entertaining match goes Starlites’ way

Starlites GIG 60 Hibernians 51 (18-14, 12-14, 12-13, 18-10)

Starlites had already beaten the champions, in the Independence Cup, but Hibs were fresh from their Super Cup success, against Luxol. The Paolites' advantages, in the match, were in the third session of play, but when Starlites regained their lead, in the last quarter, they remained there for the rest of the encounter. Starlites made some changes, from their last match, as Anthea Micallef and Adriana Lupo took their place in the side, with the Welsh lass, Hayley Acreman, missing out. Hibs had Kirsty Caruana instead of Jasmine Abela.

Starlites drew first blood, but Hibs were on level terms, with Sam Brincat points, and a trey. Starlites reacted, with a 9-0 run, ending with a Kirsty Galea triple. The champions made the better ending to the session, with a 7-2 run, as Skipper, Elena Cassar, sank a trey. In the next period Starlites held on to their advantage with Mikela Zammit Cordina points. American, Amelia Simmons, started her points tally for the Paolites, and Brincat netted a second triple, but Starlites were still ahead. Even a late Hibs flurry, and an Emma Micallef triple, could not budge Starlites from their lead, as they led 30-28, at the interval.

After the break Hibs went ahead for the first time, as Cassar sank a trey. Starlites drew level, but the champions were again ahead. Starlites regained their advantage, fell behind once more, but Stepohanie Davies netted a late triple, as Starlites were holding on, to a slim 42-41 advantage. In the last session Simmons pushed Hibs ahead, but Starlites had Spaniard, Patricia Arguello, to take them to another lead. Starlites stretched their advantage a bit more, with Leanne Duncan hitting a Hibs triple, for her only points in the match. The champions' hopes faded away, as Starlites held on, and then delivered a late 7-2 run, with Arguello's free shots finishing off the match.

M. Zammit Cordina 7, K. Galea 13, M. Riolo, S. Farrugia 2, M. Bonett, A. Micallef 2, A. Lupo, J. Grima 13, P. Arguello 18, M. Cutajar 2, S. Davies 3, C. Curmi

E. Micallef 3, E. Cassar 11, S. Gambino, S. Brincat 14, I. Agius, K. Caruana, S. Abela 4, A. Simmons 14, N. Farrugia, H. Al Tumi , M. Said 2, L. Duncan 3

B. Vassallo, A. Ampadogannis, D. Torok

Depiro 73 Caffe Moak Luxol 57 (22-16, 13-14, 24-6, 24-21)

This was Depiro's third victory over Luxol, so very early in the season, after two Independence Cup successes, the second in a semi-final. The Violets were very much in contention, till the interval, but faded from view after the break, allowing Depiro to canter away, leaving their opponents way behind, and making sure of the result from early on. Depiro made changes, as Andrea mifsud and Julia Schembri made their first outing of the season, with Gaby Mifsud waiting for the November window, to play again. Luxol had Antoinette Borg indisposed for the match.

Luxol began well enough, as their opening three efforts all resulted in triples, two from Kay Portell,i and the other by Sarah Pace. Depiro settled down, grabbed a lead through a Denise Said Hollier trey, and after falling behind once more, with a Noelene Vella brace, for Luxol, Depiro pushed themselves forward, making up a long 12-3 run, as American, Ashley Gray, put in her points. Portelli replied with another trey, but Luxol were in arrears. In the second period Depiro were still ahead, but the Violets were chasing hard, and the Spaniard, Ina Baena, netted a triple. Soon after it was the Spaniard, at the other end, Patricia Arguello, to sink a trey. Luxol went to within a hoop, but late points had Starlites 35-30 in front, at the interval.

After the break the match took a dramatic turn. Luxol's points dried up. and Depiro poured in a 13-0 run. Luxol finally managed a third Portelli trey, but Depiro were not to be denied, and they went on, with another 10-1 run. Gray continued with her points, and Depiro were fully 59-36 in front. In the last session Depiro's lead did not diminish at first. Luxol then had Baena, Monique Caruana and Pace sinking triples, but they had a lot to make up for. Steffi demartino made a depiro trey, along with other hoops, and her side were comfortable winners at the end.

No. Agius 2, A. Mifsud 2, L. Camilleri, C. Camilleri 3, J. Schembri 4, S. DeMartino 18, D. Said Hollier 3, M. Scicluna, A. Gray 27, E. Cassar 2, C. Ciantar 10, N. Hili 1

S. Pace 21, B. Zammit, Ni. Vella 4, I. Baena 10, No. Vella 6, M. Caruana 4, K. Portelli 9, L. Caruana Montaldo , S. Vella , M. Pollacco, C. Mifsud 3

T. Mantere, I. Simic, M. Hraisha

Men Depiro 99 Starlites GIG 108 (25-25, 23-29, 32-21, 1933)

It was a nail-biting match, in which both sides managed to stay close to each other, until Depiro opened an advantage, early on, in the last quarter, only for Starlites to turn the tables, and breeze past their opponents, and also pass the century mark. Depiro just failed to mark a hundred-point score.

Depiro had skipper, Amdrew Aquilina, in his first match of the season, and also included Reuben Xuereb. Brothers, Alec and Ian Felice Pace played their first match, after missing the Independence Cup matches, being abroad. Starlites have American, Keshaun Hamilton, waiting for the November transfer window. Starlites have released Canadian, Brandon Biblija, and American, Cameron Ward, played in his stead.

Serbian, Nenad Stojanski, and new arrival, American, Joe Tagarelli, are also waiting for the next transfer window.

The game points started pouring in from the start, with Depiro with the first lead, and Starlites replying with a 10-0 run. Depiro's Omar Said sank a triple, with American, Jordan Stotts, also netting a trey, at the other end. Starlites' lead was wiped out, as Depiro ended the period with a 10-2 run, finishing with an Omar said triple. In the next session play alternated, as the lead began to change hands. Aquilina grabbed a trey, for depiro, but Starlites had Alex felice Pace, Ward, Robert Bonnici, twice, and Nick Formosa, all sinking treys. Depiro struck back, with American, Trent Steen, points, but it was Starlites ahead, at the interval, on a 54-48 score.

After the break Depiro did not take long to forge ahead, with an early 12-3, as Aquilina sank a second trey, with Felice Pace doing likewise, for Starlites.

The latter side were again in front, with depiro chasing hard. Ryan Carabott grabbed a Starlites trey, but Slovakian, Adam Chomo, hoops had Depiro level, and then another Aquilina trey helped his side to end the period 80-75 ahead.

In the last session Depiro went in front, on double figures, but it was only a prelude to Starlites' thrust forward, as they went past their adversaries, on a solid 22-5 runthrough more Stotts points, and another Ward triple. Depiro bounced back, with a fourth Aquilina trey, but Starlites ended all of Depiro's hopes, with a late 7-0 run, and a third ward trey, surpassing the century mark. Depiro were left with little time and had to concede defeat.

J. Attard, R. Xuereb , D. Farrugia 2, A. Attard, A. Aquilina 20, N. Grech, O. Said 16, A. Chomo 30, E. Briffa, M. Borg, T. Steen 31

O. Psaila , M. Azzopardi , R. Bonnici 10, I. Felice Pace, C. Ward 33, M. Falzon 2, A. Felice Pace 15, R. Carabott 7, M. Scerri, N. Formosa 20, J. Stotts21

Referees: B. Vassallo, S. Micallef, I. Simic

Hibernians 93 MSC Balkan Fusion 70 (23-6, 25-16, 22-20, 2328)

The champions were too good for the Balkan outfit, who sported new faces in their line-up. A dominant opening session had the Paolites able to include their local talent more, and they responded well, to help their side increase their advantage. After the break play was more balanced, but Hibs' advantage was still there, and they romped to their victory.

The champions still had Italian, Luca Tardito, and skipper, Marco Matijevic, injured, and Serbian, Ivan Demcesan, awaits the November transfer window. Balkan had Ivan Kumric and Nikola Kovacevic missing, with Nikola Mitic playing for teh first time, and Nenad Bukva and Bogdan Mrkojevic, were back from last season's side.

Hibs took the game in hand from the start and hit Balkan with a rush of points. as Spaniard, Alvaro Lizaur, twice, and Canadian, Chad Cuschieri Patus sank triple, with Patus putting in more points. Nikola Andrejevic replied for Balkan, with two late hoops. In the next session Hibs increased their advantage and started to introduce their local youngsters. Balkan still felt the pressure, as Paul Attard netted a brace of treys, with Isaac Bonett and Kurt Sultana adding theirs. Balkan ended teh period on a small 7-0 run, with a Mrkojevic triple, but the champions were way in front, on a 48-22 score.

After the break there was no shortage of points, at either end. Lizaur and Cuschieri Patus added their triples, with Andrejevic grabbing one for Balkan. Roderick Vella managed a trey for the Paolites, and Mitic ended the session with his points, as the score escalated to 70-42. The last quarter was still an open one. Luke Farrugia sank a Hibs triple, as his side opened their advantage once more.

Balkan were more in the picture, in the latter part of the period, with Andrejevic netting a second trey. Hibs answered back, with another Attard triple, and balkan put an end to the match with a three-basket spread, and more Bozovic hoops.

R. Vella 6, P. Attard 13, K. Sultana 10, L. Farrugia 3, M. Formosa 12, I. Bonett 12, A. Axiaq 3, A. Lizaur 17, C. Cuschieri Patus 17

N. Andrejevic 18, N. Bozovic 16, P. Walk 16, A. Schembri 2, N. Mitic 6, S. Todorovic 1, N. Bukva, B. Mrkojevic 11

T. Mantere, N. Azzopardi, K. Dworniczak