Three teams now share top spot
Cynergi Depiro 46 Gzira Athleta 77 (16-19, 7-14, 11-24, 12-20)
This top of the table clash decisively went Athleta’s way as they dominated their opponents to inflict their seventh victory in eight matches against them.
Depiro fell further behind with each successive session of play as they had no player to take up the scoring ryhtym whereas Athleta had three players to hike up their score.
Now there are fully three sides sharing the top spot in the standings with these two alongside Luxol but with Depiro ahead on direct encounters.
Athleta made the match theirs from midway through the opening sesison and they went on to lead 33-23 at the interval.
After the break, there was no let up for Depiro as Athleta went on increasing their advantage going on to a 57-34 score before the last period. They then put in their bench players but still Depiro made no inroads to the final score with Athleta masters of the court.
Depiro: N. Grech, D. Bugeja 5, R. Bonnici 7, A. Aquilina 6, DJ Mason 13, T. Zammit, M. Mallia, A. Quiros 2, K. Xuereb 13, M. Borg , D. Scafidi
Athleta: M. Naudi 17, R. Vella 2, D. Camilleri 2, M. Williams 16, P. Shoults 23, L. Stefanovic, B. Zammit 2, S. Vincic 2, J. Whitehead 13
Referees: E. Mangani, Z. Dobrosavljevic, I. Marjanovic in their remaining couple of matches. The Paolites had already opened up a solid 52-39 advantage till the interval with Starlites having Jacob Formosa as their main danger man but Hibs were well served by Alvaro Lizaur as he accumulated a huge haul of points.
In the remaining two sessions of play, Hibs held a good grip on the encounter denying their adversaries any occasions to cut down heavily on their deficit. Starlites had Nikola Stankovic to grab their points in the latter stages with Adrian Micallef leading the Hibs pack to their second league victory of the season.
Starlites: I. Mitrovic 10, R. Carabott 3, A. Schembri 8, M. Falzon 2, A. Felice Pace 8, N. Stankovic 26, J. Formosa 19, I. Felice Pace
Hibs: P. Attard 2, M. Hampton, E. Xuereb, L. Farrugia 12, S. Attard 3, I. Bonett, Lizaur 38
Referees: B. Vassallo, C. Farrugia, Z. Dobrosavljevic