Lija keep 100 percent record with Palomino brace Lija A-Vittoriosa S 2-1

Lija A: L. Bonnici, C. Cassar, M. Clinch, L. Muscat, C. Giordimaina, A. Galea (A. Azzopardi 78’), A. Borg, C. Gauci, K. Seankanyeng (G. Borg 92’), M. Palomino, E. Beu

Vittoriosa S: Z. Valletta, K. Vella, C. Spiteri, J. Briffa, A. Galea, L. Gauci, A. Ellul (I. Abela 89’), D. Tabone, G. Sultana, O. Guerrero, L. Casha (I. Abela 57’)

Referee: Slawomir Olucha

Scorers: Manuel Palomino 5’, 90’ (L), Oscar Guerrero

Lija Athletic made it four wins out of four, thanks to a brace by their Venezuelan centre-forward Manuel Palomino.

The team led by coach Joseph Galea started well and took an early lead in the fifth minute, a free-kick by Aiden Galea from the right was headed into the net from close range by Palomino, leaving Vittoriosa goalkeeper Zach Valletta without a chance.

In the second part of the first half, Vittoriosa saw more of the ball and in the 28th minute, Liam Gauci beat the offsite trap, however, his attempt hit the post. Two minutes later, Vittoriosa were awarded a penalty for a foul on Oscar Guerrero. The Colombian took the kick himself and beat Luke Bonnici with a low shot, despite the fact that the custodian touched the ball with his fingertips.

Lija dominated the second half, but without setting any houses on fire.

Close to the hour mark, Kabelo Seankanyeng had a fine individual move on the edge of

the box, but Vittoriosa goalkeeper Valletta blocked his effort.

The Botswana international proved to be more than a handful for the Vittoriosa defence during the match and had another chance on 70 minutes but his shot from inside the box was blocked by a Vittoriosa defender. The match was destined for a draw, but Palomino scored the winner on the stroke of fulltime with a low shot from closerange.

Gzira Athleta 66 Hibernians 69 (9-21, 24-12, 16-15, 17-21)

It was a close call, but the Paolites, who started the game on a top note, had the better finish, despite a late Shawn Pace triple, which brought Athleta back into contention. Hibs paraded their two new foreign signings, American, Chandler Rowe, and the Swede, William Ahlberg, now in Hibs' colours, from Luxol. Athleta felt the absence of their dynamo skipper, Peter Shoults, who was injured in the Independence Cup final, and had to cry off this one.

The Paolites' strong opening was whittled down by the champions, who were level at the halfway stage. Athleta then enjoyed short advantages, after the interval, but had to chase their adversaries once again, in the final period, but just couldn't make up the leeway, and conceded defeat, even if they halved their deficit, eleven seconds from time. Hibs held out, to retain the honour, they won for the firsttime last season, after missing out on their first final, the season before. Athleta, the side who won the Super Cup the most times, thirteen in all, couldn't increase their tally, to add on to their Independence Cup success, a fortnight before.

Hibs began in a bright manner, with Ahlberg and David Bugeja taking them to a 14-4 lead, both sinking treys. Athleta began to settle down, but Hibs still held sway, and a brace of late hoops gave them a better advantage. The second session had the Paolites increasing their lead slightly, but then Athleta's triples began to sink in, with Nathan Xuereb and the Serbian, Milos Novakovic, netting two each. Hibs replied with a trio of hoops, but a late surge, with a Matthew Gouder triple, had Athleta in an 8-0 run, which brought them on level terms by the interval, on a 33-33 score.

After the break Xuereb took Athleta ahead, for the first time, with his third trey, but Hibs were again in front, with Anton Axiaq and Rowe hoops. Pace's points, also with a trey, put Athleta in front. Hibs overturned the score, only for a very late Connel Crossland hoop, which the American taking the champions to another slight advantage, at 49-48. The last session started with both sides replying swiftly to each other's points, as Ahlberg netted his second triple, for the Paolites. Hibs sneaked in front once more, and Athleta were chasing them to the very end, without making any breakthrough. They were very close, but the Serbians, Ivan Demcesen and skipper, Marco Matijevic, always managed to keep the Paolites ahead. Late free shots extended Hibs' lead, and though Pace sank his second trey, to draw Athleta nearer, it wasn't enough, and Hibs held out till the end, to claim their first honour, this season.

After the match the MBA General Secretary, Joseph Muscat, presented Marco Matijevic with the winning trophy, as Hibs made it back to back super Cup victories.

Athleta: C. Crossland 10, S. Pace 10, B. Zammit, S. Vincic, L. Stefanovic, S. Galea, N. Xuereb 12, M. Gouder 12, M. Novakovic 12, I. Thiesen 10, E. Abela, R. Abela

Hibs: P. Attard, D. Bugeja 17, W. Ahlberg 16, L. Farrugia, M. Attard, I. Bonett 2, N. Vasovic 4, A. Axiaq 6, M. Matijevic 10, K. Sultana, I. Demcesen 6, C. Rowe 8

Referees: B. Vassallo, K. Dworniczak, I. Simic