Final Super Cup Nisa
Hibs Medsea 71 – Luxol 42
(17-15, 16-12, 11-5, 27-10)

Hibs rebhu l-ewwel unur ta’ l-istagun meta fil-final tas-Super Cup huma ghelbu il Luxol. Dan kien id-disa success ta’ Hibs f’din il-kompetizzjoni, hames snin mill-ahhar success taghhom u s-sittax il-final ta’ l-istess tazza li huma kkompetew fiha.
Minn naha l-ohra din kienet il-hames dehra ta’ Luxol f’final tas-Super Cup fejn kellhom l-unur li jkunu l-ewwel rebbieha fl-1991.
Din il-final giet prattikament deciza fit-tieni taqsima li Hibs rebhu 38-15 wara li l-ewwel taqsima ntemmet 33-27 favur ir-rebbieha.
L-ewwel perjodu kien bilancjat tant li basket biss kien hemm jifred liz-zewg finalisti wara ghaxar minuti ta’ loghob effettiv.
Hibs kienu marru 14-7 minn fuq, b’seba’ punti minn Lucienne Bezzina izda Luxol dahlu sew fil-loghba b’punti minn Amanda Sciortino u Kirsten Micallef.
Luxol sahansitra feggew fil-vantagg, 23-22, f’nofs it-tieni perjodu izda hawn Hibs kisbu break ta’ 9-0 b’punti ohra minn Bezzina kif ukoll Zammit u Parnis.
Id-distakk baqa konsistenti sa tard fit-tielet perjodu, 39-31 sakemm fil-minuta ta’ wara basket mill-ex Caroline Fenech u 3-pointer minn Beverly Zammit kisbu vantagg b’figura doppja ghal Hibs, 44-31.
Break ta’ 8-0 fil-ftuh ta’ l-ahhar perjodu kkundizzjona il-partita ghax permezz tieghu Hibs telghu ghal vantgag ta’ 17-il punt u lejn nofs l-istess perjodu ahhari, l-istess Hibs accertaw ruhhom mir-rebha hekk kif ippotjaw hdax-il punt mingajr risposta.
Fi tmiem il-partita il-president tal-MBA, il-magistrat Tonio Mizzi pprezenta s-Super Cup lil Hibs.

(TMI) Hibs avenged their defeat in the group games, against Luxol, earlier on in the season, to win the Super Cup for the ninth time in fourteen final appearances. In fact Hibs only failed to take part in one final, in 1997. The Paolites took time to shake off their opponents, but after the break they made the game their own, and opened up a safe margin till the end of the match.
The champions made a steady start, though Luxol had a Psaila Savona trey. The trio of Bezzina, Parnis and Darmanin helped Hibs to a 12-5 lead, but the Violets settled down, abd a 7-1 run, with Mandy Sciortino getting into the scheme of things, made it a two-point game. Till the end of the session both teams had three-point plays, with Hibs just keeping in front.
In the second session Luxol drew level three times, and then they also took a minimal 23-22 advantage. Hibs came into their own again, although losing Alexis darmanin through injury. A 9-0 run, with a Beverlee Zammit trey, pushed the Paolites into a good lead. Mandy Sciortino replied for Luxol, and drew her team closer again. At the interval Hibs were leading 33-27.
After the break it was the champions who were the more enterprising. They went into a double-figure lead, at 39-29, and it was only Justine Mangion who was replying for Luxol. as the Paolites kept a good hold on the match. A second Beverlee Zammit trey enhanced Hibs' lead, and after three sessions a 44-32 score showed Hibs' steady position.
In the final quarter Hibs' supremacy was still quite pronounced. A 7-0 run, starting with a Lucienne Bezzina trey, had already made the game safe, although still early on. Luxol's reply came through Mandy Sciortino, but the Paolites went steadily on, as Luxol looked a desolate lot.
After the match the MBA president, Mag. Antonio Mizzi, presented the Super Cup to Hibs, the first honour of the season.


Hibs: C. Fenech 4, B. Zammit 18, F. Bianco, L. Bezzina 23, F. Tabone 1, M. Desira 7, D. Parnis 13, A. Darmanin 5, N. Mifsud, S. Micallef, M. Cutajar.
Luxol: E. Moore, A. Sciortino 16, F. Psaila Savona 8, L. Chetcuti 4, R. Spiteri, J. Mangion 9, D. Spiteri, K. Micallef 5, D. Littlejohn, N. Said.
Refs: Gordon Barbara, Stephen Micallef

Kampjonat Peugeot Nisa

Hibs Medsea 48 Kerygma 35
(16-5, 6-7, 16-7, 10-16)

Hibs fethu l-impenji taghhom fil-kampjonat, li huma rebhu fl-istagun li ghadda, b’rebha komda fuq Kerygma. Ghalkemm id-distakk finali mhuwiex kbir hafna, Hibs ghamlu uzu minn bosta players ta’ fuq il-bank tul il-partita waqtli kerygma rnexxielhom izommu d-distakk baxx kemm jistghu.
Ghalkemm Kerygma fethu bl-ewwel hames punti tal-loghba bi 3-pointer minn Moira Caruana u basket ta’ Josette Calleja, Hibs ghalqu l-perjodu b’sittax-il punt konsekuttivi b’Doreen Parnis l-aktar effttiva fuq in-naha offensiva.
Break iehor, din id-darab ta’ 12-0 ezatt kif bdiet it-tieni taqsima kompla jiddistakka lil Hibs fuq quddiem ghal 34-12.
Il-kumplament tal-loghba kien formalita b’Kerygma jnaqqsu ftit l-izvantagg sat-tmiem.

(TMI) The champions started the ball rolling, at the beginning of the league action, with an expected win over Kerygma, whom they had already flattened in the Shield. Hibs' coach, mario Tabone, took the opportunity to utilise his bench players for nearly half of the match, and Kerygma could improve on a final scoreline, which was much closer than their previous debacle. Hibs had Doreen Parnis back, after missing their last game.
It was Kerygma with a positive opening, and a 5-0 score, with a Moira Caruana trey, but then they were shut out by Hibs for the rest of the session, as Kerygma suffered a 0-16 reverse.
In the second quarter both sides were guilty of slipshod play. Kerygma put in a 7-0 run midway through the session, but it was due to Hibs' poor finishing from their second string. The Paolites recovered in the late stages, to sneak in a couple of hoops. At the interval it was Hibs, on a low 22-12 score.
After the break, with their regular players back on court, the champions opened up with a fast 12-0 run, and an initial Beverlee Zammit trey. Kerygma's reply throughout the session was from the free throw line, with Elaine Cutajar prominent. Hibs put in a spurt at the end, to lead 38-19, with a quarter to go.
Hibs put in their subs once more, but after suffering a brief Kerygma revival, the Paolites this time had a positive reaction. A 9-1 run, with a Francesca Bianco trey, enhanced their advantage. It was Kerygma who had the better ending to the match, as Hibs failed their last attempts. A Josette Calleja trey, in a 10-1 run, saw Kerygma quite happy with a decent result.

Hibs: C. Fenech, B. Zammit 12, F. Bianco 5, L. Bezzina 4, F. Tabone 2, M. Desira 7, D. parnis 12, A. Darmanin 4, S. Micallef, M. Cutajar 2.
Kerygma: C. Spiteri, A. Farrugia, A. Agius, J. Calleja 9, L. Cauchi, C. Spiteri, E. Cutajar 9, M. Caruana 3, M. Borg, R. Debono 11, C. Scicluna, A. Busuttil 3.
Refs: Stephen Micallef, Alfred Carbonaro


Luxol 48 Depiro 61
(7-14, 17-15, 14-11, 10-21)

L-ewwel gurnata tal-kampjonat laqqghet zewg skwadri li qed jippuntaw sabiex jissieltu ghall-unuri din is-sena.
Depiro b’mod meritat rebhu din il-loghba ghalkemm zgur ukoll li Luxol kellom f’mohhhom il-finali tas-Super Cup li kienu se jilghbau f’inqas minn 48 siegha wara. Madankollu xejn ma jnehhi mill-mertu ta’ Depiro li rnexxileom juru aktar konsistenza f’dan il-konfront.
Ir-rebha ta’ Depiro mmaterjalizzat fil-ftuh ta’ l-ahhar perjodu meta bl-iskor 38-38, huma kisbu run decisiv ta’ 14-2 biex fehtu vantagg b’figura doppja li mbaghad amministraw sat-tmiem.
Sarah pace kellha zewg 3-pointers fl-ewwel taqsima u spiccat l-aqwa skorer bi 17-il punt waqt li Rachel Camilleri kellha l-ahjar taghha fl-ewwel taqsima fejn kisbet erba’ abskets. Zaghzugha ohra, Greta Zarb spiccat ukoll b’figura doppja fil-punti personali fejn kellha tliet baskets ukoll fir-run importanti fl-ahhar perjodu.
Ghal Luxol it-trio Lara Chetcuti, Francesca Psaila Savona u Justine Mangion ksisbu 12-il punt rispettivament.

(TMI) Depiro inflicted the first seasonal defeat on Luxol, as they lasted the game better than their opponents. Luxol had good reactions in the third quarter, taking the lead and then tying the score, but it was not enough, and Depiro took the honours in an enjoyable game.
Depiro made a very positive start, with a 12-2 run, and a Sarah Pace trey. Luxol reacted, but till the end of the session they only managed to reduce the lead slightly, as Depiro still enjoyed a good advantage.
In the second quarter both sides had their moments. Depiro opened up well once more. A 7-0 run, with a Greta Zarb trey, pushed them further ahead, but Luxol, through Lara Chetcuti, had a reply. Depiro went on putting in their hoops, but Psaila Savona helped the Violets to go close. A Sarah Pace trey for Depiro kept her side in front till the interval, as Luxol threatened once more. Score at 29-24.
After the break it was the Violets who had the better start. A 9-2 run, with a Psaila Savona trey, gave Luxol a 33-31 lead. Depiro then co-ordinated well, and till the end of the quarter they had gone ahead once more, despite another Psaila Savona trey had momentarily tied the score. After three sessions Depiro just led, at 40-38.
In the final session Depiro mastered their opponents, Three hoops ina row increased Depiro's lead. Luxol only had a reply through Kirsten Micallef, but Depiro's fast breaks were effective enough, and they enjoyed a 52-40 advantage late in the match. The rest of the game was then shared, with Depiro keeping Luxol at bay, for a deserved win.


Depiro: C. Riolo 5, G. Zarb 11, J. Cardona 6, R. Camilleri 12, S. Pace 17, C. Hawkins 1, A. Sciberras 7, E. Vella, R. Spiteri, A. Muscat 2.
Luxol: E. Moore 2, A. Sciortino 4, F. Psaila Savona 12, L. Chetcuti 12, R. Spiteri 2, J. Mangion 12, K. Micallef 4, d. Littlejohn, N. Said.
Refs: Gordon Barbara, Emmanuel Mangani

Loyola Xuereb Installations 75 – Sn Suns JC Elec 17
(28-0, 14-4, 20-8, 13-5)

Loyola fethu l-impenji taghhom fil-kampjonat b’rebha facli fuq SN Suns li minn naha taghhom, wiehed irid jtihom inkorragiment ghall-fattb li qed jipruvaw li jistghu minkejja l-limiti evidenti.
Matul l-ewwel perjodu Loyola ma tawx cans lill-avversarji u rnexxielhom jaghlqu danw l-ghaxar minuti 28-0 minn fuq fejn Dorianne Galea kellha hdax mill-punti waqt li Sammy Jo Barbara u Denise Hollier qasmu 13 bejniethom.
L-ewwel basket ta’ Suns waal minn Ruth Farrugia ghal skor ta’ 35-2 u ftit qabel tmiem it-taqsima Lialian Cremoan kisbet it-tieni basket ta’ l-istess Suns.
L-andamnet fit-tieni taqsima ma nbidilx ghalkemm Suns kisbu 13-il punt fejn Jeny Mizzi, Diane Falzon u Maria Busuttil nizlu isimhom fost l-iskorers waqt li l-coach ta’ Loyola Sandro Farrugia ta c-cans lill-hafna mill-plaeyrs tieghu sabiex jtellghu l-minuti fuq il-court.

(TMI) Loyola had an easy time against the hapless Suns, thus keeping intact their unbeaten record since the start of the season. A commanding first session underlined the absolute superiority that Loyola enjoyed, but Suns played better as the game progressed, and they exploited Loyola's lapses of concentration, to put in their hoops.
Loyola had Melanie Muscat taking the place of Denelza Bayliss, whilst they are still awaiting the return of Carina Gauci, recovering from a broken wrist. Suns were overwhelmed in the opening session, as the Loyola players buzzed around and in their opponents' zone, to pour in a good amount of points, with Dorianne Galea the main scorer.
In the second quarter, though Loyola were still in command, they were not so prolific in attack, and they also suffered the first points against, as Suns finally found their mark. Loyla's points were distributed between more playerws, and at the interval they were fully 42-4 in the lead.
After the break Loyola seemed to pick up the rythym again, but Suns finally made a two-hoop burst. Loyola were intent mainly in attack, and their players were more accurate. Lilian Cremona twice went straight the heart of the Loyola defence, to post a couple of lay-ups. After three sessions Loyola's favourable score stood at 62-12.
In the final session Suns' Jenny Mizzi sneaked in another hoop, but then Loyola took over once again, and a slow 13-0 run pushed up their advantage again. Suns put in the only trey of the match, through Maria Busuttil, in the last scoring occasion of the game, and both sides seemed happy in their first league encounter.


Loyola: M. Abela 3, D. Galea 17, A. Azzopardi, M. Muscat, D. Hollier 12, F. Micallef 6, A. Bonanno 4, F. Schembri 7, A. Camileri 5, S. Schembri Wismayer 8, S. Barbara 11, K. Gouder 2.
Suns: A. Camilleri, N. Buhagiar, C. Caruana, P. Zammit, M. Agius, M. Busuttil 3, L. Cremona 6, J. Mizzi 4, E. Granata, D. Falzon 2, R. Farrugia 2.
Refs: Gordon Barbara, Jennifer Mangani