Starlites too good for Depiro
Starlites GIG 82 Arms Depiro 50 (20-12, 12-7, 29-12, 21-19)
Starlites went ahead after an initial Depiro flurry and stayed there for the remainder of the match.
They increased their lead as time passed and finished up as comfortable victors winning their second K.O. honour after a distant one in 1999 under the Naxxar label.
It was also their second honour of the season after the Shield success and after losing out to Hibs in the Super Cup. This win over Depiro was their fifth over them this season in as many matches.
Nicole Agius being abroad did not help Depiro’s cause but Starlites kept a watchful eye on Depiro’s American Hannah Johnson and her final tally only increased further in the last session when the match was already won and lost.
Depiro nosed ahead at the start with Starlites overturning the score twice with Maria Bonett and Michela Zammit Cordina triples. Depiro tied the score twice and when the Spaniard Patricia Arguello had Starlites again in front it was Claire Ciantar to take Depiro to a point behind.
In the remaining time, Starlites came up with a 7-0 run and an Arguello triple to open up their advantage.
In the next period, the points became scarcer. Depiro reduced their deficit but Starlites took time to make up another 8-2 run with Christine Curmi points. Two more late buckets took Starlites to a better 32-19 score at the interval.
After the break, the points picked up once more. Starlites resisted an early Depiro push and their double figure advantage increased after a 10-2 run. Depiro were falling further behind till the end of the session as Starlites managed another 13-2 run which practically made sure of the result with a 61-31 score.
The last quarter was a little bit more open with the result in no doubt. Zammit Cordina punished her Depiro opponents with fast breaks and another triple and Samantha Farrugia helped out with a brace of hoops.
Johnson began finding the opposing ring more often ending up as the game’s top scorer pipping Zammit Cordina and making Depiro’s score more respectable with Starlites so far in front.
After the match came the presentations. The MVP award went to Starlites’ Michela Zammit Cordina and after the winning side were handed out their medals skipper Samantha Farrugia lifted up the winning trophy given to her by Mapfre MSV Life’s Chief Development Officer Micael Galea with a helping hand from the MBA president Paul Sultana.
Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 22, M. Riolo 4, A. Micallef 6, S. Farrugia 4, M. Bonett 11, C. Curmi 4, S. DeMartino 9, P. Arguello 16, M. Cutajar 2, S. Davis 2, A. Lupo 2
Depiro: J. Mallia, N. Borg, C. Camilleri, F. Mifsud, N. Ebejer, D. Said Hollier, M. Scicluna 1, C. Ciantar 13, J. Xerri 9, N. Hili 4, H. Johnson 23, E. Cassar
Referees: B. Vassallo, V. Nikolic, S. Tafilica