Late Brincat points land Hibs their 11th success
Starlites GIG 50
Hibernians 56
(9-12 14-17 16-11 11-16)
A late surge wiped out Starlites’ small advantage as Hibs had their skipper Sam Brincat grab the game’s last points to help her side retain the honour won last season and also to improve on their top position in winning this honour making it the 11th time that the Paolites have now won the Super Cup in a total of 29 editions.
It didn’t look that way as the champions came back strongly wipe off healthy early leads by the Paolites. When they inched four points ahead Hibs were in trouble but Brincat had other ideas and stood out as she had Hibs level with her fourth triple and then calmly sank in all her free shots as the Starlites lasses vainly tried to stop her.
Both sides had new entries in their formations with Christine Curmi returning for Starlites being abroad for the Independence Cup games and the Paolites roping in Julia Xerri for this second honour of the season.
Hibs had the edge at first opening up with Leanne Duncan and Kirsty Caruana triples. Starlites replied through their Spaniard Patricia Arguello who also sank a trey with Brincat opening her tally which finally made her top scorer of the encounter.
The second period saw the Paolites improving on their advantage with an early 9-0 run as Naomi Farrugia sank two quick triples. Starlites had a bright patch also netting nine points but in between Brincat netted her first trey for Hibs, who again opened a double figure advantage. Late points reduced Starlites’ deficit as they went in 23-29 behind at the interval.
After the break, Brincat and Farrugia treys took the Paolites to their original advantage but Starlites went into gear totting up a steady 11-0 run with another Arguello trey which had them in front for the first time. Brincat restored Hibs’ lead with another of her triples but Michela Zammit Cordina free throws overturned the score again for Starlites.
It was Duncan who took Hibs ahead into the last quarter at 40-39. The lead then changed hands four times before Starlites managed a small 7-0 run to establish a better lead. They looked confident but they couldn’t subdue the Hibs skipper as she strode to the fore. Her fourth trey had the sides on equal terms and then every time she was fouled as Starlites frantically tried to win back possession she went to the free shot line and coolly sank in all her six free shots to deny her opponents any meagre occasion to get back in the game.
At the end of the game the MBA Generel Secretary Joseph Muscat presented Sam Brincat with the winning trophy.
Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 13 M. Riolo 4 A. Micallef 4 S. Farrugia M. Bonett 1 F. Fabok C. Curmi 4 C. Cilia 2 P. Arguello 21M. Cutajar S. Davies 1 A. Lupo
Hibs: I. Agius 1 J. Xerri A. Van Vliet 6 S. Brincat 26 L. Duncan 7J. Abela B. Agius Y. Bonett N. Farrugia 11 C. Camilleri K. Caruana 5 M. Buhagiar
Referees: G. Barbara L. Camilleri M. Hraisha