Women’s champions begin season on a bright note
The champions began their new season on a bright note taking the opening honour and marking up four victories in a row. They actually beat Luxol twice the first time in a group match but the second encounter was much more closer despite the final scoreline.
The Violets were in the match till the last minutes of the game but ironically enough they fell further behind when they received a fillip as Sarah Pace made an appearance during these last minutes coming straight from the airport.
This didn’t seem to trouble the Paolites who began to draw further in front as the last minutes progressed ending up on a yawning basket difference.
Hibs were marking their second success in this competition having won it previously in 2015.
Luxol imporoved tremendously with each game they played with more players coming into the squad but the Hibs hurdle proved too tough for them and they had to bow their heads.
The champions began with a brace of hoops but Sharon Vella put Luxol on level terms. The Paolites were in front once more through their new acquisition Ashley Van Vliet (but in reality Vella before her marriage being a Maltese American).
Luxol reacted well with an 8-0 run as Julia Schembri and Kay Portelli netted triples. Hibs kept in touch as skipper Sam Brincat made her first trey.
Later on it was Iona Agius with another trey as the champions overturned the scorew. Martina Darmanin gave Luxol back their advantage but Leanne Duncan had Hibs ahead by the interval on a tight 21-20 score.
The next session kept on in the same manner with the Paolites just keeping ahead and the Violets pressing hotly behind them. Brincat’s second triple opened up Hibs’ lead but Luxol inched closer.
Then came the debacle as Luxol intent on making up their small deficit left their back door slightly open and the Hibs players didn’t miss such an occasion.
It was young Ylenia Bonett who exploited the first openings and Luxol had a harder climb before them. They couldn’t make it as Hibs continued to open up their advantage with Duncan applying the final touches with her last points as Luxol’s resistance crumbled.
After the game the Opposition Member of Parliament and sports spokesman Ryan Callus, along with the MBA president Paul Sultana, gave out medals to both teams and the Paolites’ captain Sam Brincat received the Independence Shield and winning trophy as her side began their season with an early honour.
Hibs: I. Agius 3, C. Camilleri, A. Van Vliet 7, S. Brincat 14, L. Duncan 12, J. Abela 2, B. Agius, Y. Bonett 6, N. Farrugia 2, S. Said, K. Caruana 2, M. Buhagiar
Luxol: S. Pace, B. Zammit, N. Vella, M. Mercieca 2, No. Vella, S. Vella 7, K. Portelli 6, A. Borg 6, J. Schembri 4, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Darmanin 4
Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic I. Simic K. Dworniczak
Group matches
Starlites GIG-Arms Depiro 41-24
(17-10 24-14) Hibernians-Luxol 47-25 (27-14 20-11)
Arms Depiro-Hibernians 37-65 (23-32 14-33)
LuxolStarlites GIG 46-48
(22-20 24-28)
Starlites GIG-Hibernians 4654
(19-28 27-26)
Arms Depiro-Luxol 40-57 (27-2613-31)