Good wins for Hibs and Athleta

Hibernians 78 Starlites GIG 61 (22-21, 18-16, 14-19, 24-5)

It was anybody’s game till midway through the last quarter even if Starlites had to battle back from a hefty 13 point deficit in the second session.

The Paolites were missing the game play of their new recruit, the Swede William Ahlberg and included Kieron Caruana but he stayed on the bench. Starlites had two bench players absent Owen Psaila and Mirco Azzopardi.

Hibs’ opening points had a reply from the American Jeremy Marseille with a triple. Starlites then forged ahead with an 8-2 run and another American Konor Kulas with his hoops.

Hibs twice tied the score before Nikola Vasovic, playing a blinder, sank a Paolites trey.

In the second session the Paolites opened up their lead swiftly as Isaac Bonett went on court to net points and a trey. Starlites fell behind drastically at 24-37 but managed to recuperate well till the end of the quarter with a long 13-3 run and a Robert Bonnici triple.

After the break, Starlites were stronger and overturned the score in the opening phase with Bonnici helping himself to another brace of triples. Hibs finally retaliated and skipper Marco Matijevic re-established a small lead. Starlites were back till the end of the session as Matthew Scerri and Kulas with a last gasp steal netted treys and their side were 56-54 in front.

The last quarter was a different matter. Starlites were dominated by a more efficient Hibs side with three prong thrusts as Vasovic Anton Axiaq and Demcesen piled in the points with the former also sinking his second trey.

There was hardly a reply from Starlites despite another Scerri triple. Hibs just waltzed away from their adversaries to open up an unassailable gap and stride through this opening match of the top men’s category.

Hibs: P. Attard, D. Bugeja 10, K.

Caruana, L. Farrugia, I. Bonett 7, N. Vasovic 19, A. Axiaq 10, M. Matijevic 6, M. Attard, C. Rowe 9, I. Demcesen 17, Starlites: A. Felice Pace 6, R. Bonnici 14, I. Felice Pace 2, M. Fabri, M. Falzon, M. Scerri 8, R. Carabott 4, I. Kumric, K.

Kulac 14, J. Marseille 13

Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, T. Mantere

Gzira Athleta 64 Luxol 59 (12-19, 21-20, 16-16, 15-4)

This loss really hurt Luxol who led for a long period only to see their opponents overtake them in the last period and grab the victory.

The Violets merited their advantage as they controlled Athleta admirably. They had Philip Engelbert missing with young Luca Trapani roped in with the top players. Their two holding players, JP Schembri and Francesco Mifsud Bonnici, worked well but they tired out towards the end.

American Ian Thiesen had Athleta in front from early on but Jandric overturned the score. Thiesen tied the score but Luxol went ahead again and opened up another advantage with Keith Dimech netting a triple.

In the next session, Athleta inched back and Crossland sank a trey but Schembri put in a quick brace of triples for the Violets. Athleta had their Serbian Milos Novakovic with his trey but Luxol’s Serbian Slavko Opojevlic did the same and his side were able to go into the interval on a 39-33 advantage.

After the break, Crossland and Novakovic dragged Athleta back despite Schembri’s trey for Luxol.

Athleta were more determined and a 10-1 run turned the match their way.

With Luxol in full cry for a game saving triple it was Nathan Xuereb who made a reverse hoop to ease Athleta’s minds and steer them to their win.

Athleta: C. Crossland 31, S. Pace 1, B. Zammit, S. Vincic, L. Stefanovic, S. Galea, N. Xuereb 5, M. Gouder 6, M. Novakovic 5, I. Thiesen 16, E. Abela, R. Abela

Luxol: J. Cefai, V. Jandric 13, E, Caruana Montaldo, L. Trapani, F. Mifsud Bonnici 7, JP Schembri 11, K. Dimech 18, I. Pace, S. Opojevliv 5, S. Cappello 5

Referees: T. Mantere, Z. Dobrosavljevic, S. Jafilica