Fourth league victory for Starlites

Mellieha Libertas 91 Starlites Fijo 113 (18‑28, 21‑18, 32‑38, 20‑29)

A satisfying end to the season, for Starlites. They held on to the league title won, last season, and they also put their name on four honours this season, with the Super Cup, the MBA Shield and the K.O. won before the league championship.

The one that eluded them was the Louis Borg Cup, with Mel‐ lieha getting their reward for the season, after their failed at‐ tempts in the other four hon‐ ours. all against Starlites.

Once more it was another cen‐ tury victory for Starlites, to fin‐ ish off the season on a high note. They were missing Matthew Scerri on court, but he was there on crutches, to cele‐ brate their victory.

Mellieha will surely rue their bad luck in losing their star player, the American, Connor Zinaich, just before the start of the Play Offs.

With him in the side it could have been a different ending, but their rise in the top division will spur them on for next sea‐ son, when the new rule, as re‐ gards the foreign players who have been playing for more than three seasons over here, will see all the top teams trying to strengthen their squad.

This third encounter saw Star‐ lites applying pressure straight from the start, never allowing Mellieha to settle down, as they tried to make sure from early on, what the outcome of the match was going to be.

This time around there were not only the Americans with double figure scores, but the Starlites skipper, Alec Felice Pace, capped a good perform‐ ance, as he did in the other two matches.

He finished joint top scorer, along with Zekiah Owens, and was handed the MVP award in the presentation. Darius George was just three points short of the other two. Mellieha had Serbian, Vukasin Jandric, as their top scorer, with captain, David Bugeja just a point be‐ hind, and Colombian, Sebastian Valencia, also getting his fair share of points.

After the match, the entire Starlites side, along with the backroom staff, was called on court, to receive their medals, then came the MVP presenta‐ tion, given to Alec Felice Pace, and finally the league trophy was given out, as the MBA pres‐ ident, Paul Sultana, and the BOV representative, from the CSR department, Stefan Abela, did the honours.

Mellieha: S. Zammit , M. Fal‐ zon 5, D. Bugeja 22, R. Bonnici 17, V. Jandric 23, I. Bonett 4, N. Bukva 4, N. Jovanovic 6, M. For‐ mosa 4, O. Said , S. Valencia 16

Starlites: A. Felice Pace 28, Z. Owens 28, M. Attard 13, J. Bates 13, I. Felice Pace 2, M. Fabri , L. Riolo 2, R. Carabott 1, L. Farru‐ gia, K. Xuereb 1, N. Sultana , D. George 25

Referees: B. Vassallo, F. Ciu‐ rariu, J. Londono

Starlites once more in front, a game away from the league title

Mapfre MSV Life League Play Offs ‑ Women ‑ Final 3

Caffe Moak Luxol 52 Starlites Fijo 57 (6‑13, 20‑14, 15‑11, 11‑19)

Starlites put the second match defeat behind them , to forge once again in front, in the five game series, and now they are just a victory away from winning the league title for the second time in their history.

They held off the reigning champions till just before the interval, with Luxol going in front for the first time, in the third quarter, and staying ahead till the start of the last session.

Starlites wiped off a five point deficit, to put their noses in front again, and this time they stayed there, despite Luxol's frantic efforts to overturn the score.

In the last stages of the game Luxol were only a triple be‐ hind, but Starlites converted their free throws, when their opponents tried to stop the clock.

To start off the fourth en‐ counter, next Sunday, knowing that another win will give them the top prize.

Luxol lost their taliswoman, the Mexican international, Gladiana Avila, on fouls, at the end, and that was that for them.

Poor shooting did not help their cause, with the Starlites players more composed in the match.

Steffi DeMartino was the player of the match, as Starlites eked out their win, with Amer‐ ican, Amelia Simmons, putting in her shift, and Maria Bonett also accurate in her shooting. Luxol did not have a happy time against the dour Starlites de‐ fence, and paid the price.

It remains to be seen in the next match, on Sunday. Star‐ lites could dethrone Luxol, with a third victory, or the Vio‐ lets could force the fifth, and final, rubber, by coming back for the second time.

Luxol: C. Sollami , M. Mercieca 4, L. Fenech Pace 11, H. Galea , G. Avila 17, K. Portelli , S. Fenech Pace 4,. Diaby 12, S. Sciberras , S. Farrugia , M. Marmara , A. Fenech Pace 4

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 6, M. Riolo 4, A. Saliba , M. Sciberras , M. Bonett 11, S. De‐ Martino 25, M. Fenech , A. Sim‐ mons 11, C. Cilia , L. DeMartino , S. Davies , C. Curmi

Referees: D. Torok, Z. Do‐ brosavljevic, N. Azzopardi