Hibs Medsea 52 – Depiro 42
(13-6, 29-15, 40-31)

Hibs rebhu l-MBA Shield ghas-seba’ darba fl-istorja taghhom (l-ahhar success kien fl-2002) wara li ghelbu lir-rivali Depiro fil-final. B’kollox din kienet it-tlettax il-dehra ta’ Hibs f’final ta’ din il-kompetizzjoni waqt li ghal Depiro din kienet il-hames darba li telghu sal-final fejn fil-passat, l-ahhar darba l-sitagun li ghadda kontra l-istess Hibs, rebhu is-Shield tliet darbiet. Iz-zewg nahat kellhom xi nuqqasijiet fl-iskwadra b’Depiro l-aktar sfortunati wara li tilfu lil Sarah Pace u Joselle Cardona bi ksur rispettiv ta’ id u sieq fl-ahhar gimgha. Rhian Spiteri ghadha mwegga waqt li Rachel Camilleri wegghet matul il-gimgha izda rkuprat fil-hin. Ghal Hibs kien hemm in-nuqqas ta’ Alexis Darmanin. Hames punti, inkluz 3-pointer, minn Lucienne Bezzian taw vantagg inizzjali lil Hibs u minkejja li Depiro rrispondew permezz ta’ Abigail Sciberras u Greta Zarb, l-istess Hibs baqghu fuq quddiem u ghalqu l-ewwel perjodu 13-6 minn fuq b’Maria Desira zzid zewg baskets. L-ewwel mumenti tat-tieni perjodu kienu ta’ Hibs hekk kisbu run ta’ 9-2 b’Doreen Parnis tikseb 3-pointer u basket minn dawn il-punti. It-tieni nofs tal-perjodu kien bilancjat hekk kif iz-zewg nahat ippottjaw seba’ punti rispettivament fejn waqt li Beverly Zammit kellha wkoll 3-pointer u basket ghal Hibs, fuq in-naha opposta Roseann Falzon u Zarb kienu precizi ghal Depiro. L-aqwa ta’ Depiro, li bin-nuqqasijiet li kellhom taw prestazzjoni nkoragganti, wasal fit-tielet perjodu meta naqsu d-distakk ghal taht l-ghaxar punti, b’Zarb l-aktar li bdiet tinfed id-difiza avversarja u kellha ghaxra mis-sittax il-punt tat-team taghha f’dawn l-ghaxar minuti, sabiex ghaxar minuti mit-tmiem l-iskor kien 40-31. Gara izda li Hibs regghu hadu r-riedni tal-loghob f’idejhom hekk kif beda l-ahhar perjodu meta kisbu run importnati ta’ 9-2 mibdi bi 3-pointer minn Zammit u segiwt minn baskets ta’ Marylou Cutajar, Bezzina u Desira. Hawnhekk l-iskor sar 49-33 u fl-ahhar minti tal-loghba Depiro ghamlu l-iskor aktar rispettabli b’Rachel Camilleri jkollha hames punti. Wara l-loghba Hibs gew ipprezentati bis-Shield mill-president tal-MBA, il-magistrat Antonio Mizzi.

The team with the most appearances in this competition, Hibernians, won it for the seventh time in thirteen finals. They had the measure of their opponents throughout the game, but there were instances when Depiro looked as if they could fluster the champions. All in all, Depiro gave Hibs a good run for their money, taking into consideration the side that they had to field. Hibs were still missing Alexis Darmanin, but Depiro were more hard hit, after Joselle cardona's injury a few days ago. They already had Sarah Pace and Rhian Spiteri sidelined, and only Rachel Camilleri recovered from her recent injury. Lucienne Bezzina began the match with a trey for the Paolites, as they raced into a 7-2 lead. Depiro tried to contain their opponents, but the champions added on to their advantage. A couple of Great Zarb free shots for Depiro made it 6-13, as Hibs, although in front were still wary of their opponenets. In the second quarterHibs once more opened with a trey, this time by Doreen Parnis, and they ran up a 9-2 break before Depiro could reorganise. Roseann Falzon's entry on court, and Great Zarb, obtained points, but they were hampered by a Beverlee Zammit trey, as the Paolites were leading 25-12. Depiro's further efforts produced no results, and Hibs could keep control till the end of the session, on a 29-15 score. After the break Hibs kept their lead for some time, but Greta Zarb was causing enough trouble to the Paolites' rearguard, despite being 22-37 down. Zarb's trey brought Depiro nearer, but Hibs, despite wasting a number of free shots, were still on a double figure lead, until the last few seconds, when a falzon hoop made the score 50-31, after three sessions. Hibs, once more, opened the final quarter with a trey, as Beverlee Zammit's effort found her mark. This spurred them on, and they went to lead 49-33. Depiro's reaction only reduced a small number of points, as Hibs sought to calm the game down. Depiro put in their last effort, abd Rachel camilleri's points, including a trey gave them a glimmer of hope. Time was against them, as the champios could play out time, to emerge winners, and collect their second honour of the season, when the MBA president, Mag. Antonio Mizzi, presented them with the Shield after the match.

Hibs: C. Fenech 2, B. Zammit 11, F. Bianco, L. Bezzina 15, F. Tabone, M. Desira 9, D. Parnis 9, S. Micallef, M. Cutajar 6.
Depiro; R. Falzon 11, C. Riolo, G. Zarb 18, R. Camilleri 6, M. Micallef, C. Hawkins, A. Sciberras 3, E. Vella, A. Muscat 2.
Refs: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara

SN Suns JC 22 Kerygma 77
(2-13)(2-22)(4-23)(14-19)
In this first preliminary match Kerygma had an easy task to advance into the semis. Suns had already had a mauling at the hands of Kerygma in a league match, abd they fared no better this time, as Kerygma made their intentions clear from the start. Kerygma's Antida Zammit made her first seasonal appearance, coming on in the third session. The match actually had a somewhat quiet start, with Suns replying early on to the first Kerygma points. Renette Debono then took over for Kerygma, in attack, and as they compiled a 10-0 run, till the end of the session, Debono helped herself to the last eight points. The second quarter was even worse for Suns. Try as they did they couldn't manage a single hoop, and Kerygma at the other end had a field day. Josette Calleja and Debono kept putting in their points, and a 20-0 run was facing Suns, when Diane Falzon made her second hoop for them. at the interval Kerygma were fully 35-4 in front. After the break Kerygma took over where they left off, and registered another 15-0 run, started off by Annabel Busuttil. This time however, Suns came up with a trio of free throws, to break up the sequence. Renette Debono took over once again for Kerygma, and Zammit made her first seasonal basket. After three sessions Kertgma were leading 58-8. The final session saw a change in play. With Kerygma slowing down Suns surged forward, to make an opening 10-2 run, with a Maria Busuttil trey, and put life into the match. Kerygma were stung, and put in their reply. A long 15-1 run, which went on till the end of the game, including a couple of treys, set the seal on a large win.
SUNS: 8 Diane Falzon
KERYGMA: 30 Renette Debono, 11 Josette Calleja, 11 Annabel Busuttil
REFEREES: Bernard Vassallo, Emanuel Mangani