Starlites extend domestic winning streak to lift Super Cup

Davis seals double-overtime victory against Depiro

STARLITES JSD              86

SIGMA DEPIRO             85

(17-12, 25-15, 6-22, 19-18,

10-10, 9-8)

Malta champions Starlites JSD reconfirmed their status as Maltese basketball’s invincibles on Sunday when two days after their FIBA Europe Cup qualifier second-leg against Anorthosis Famagusta, they beat SiGMA Depiro in the BOV Super Cup at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion.

It was the spectacle worthy of raising the curtain for the new season after a summer of numerous changes within the league, and Paul Ferrante’s clan took it to double-overtime to make sure their position as top dog was not one of those changes. The game, marked by its intense pace and back-and-forth exchanges, kept the crowd on edge as both teams refused to give in.

Starlites’ Joe Davis was the star of the show on the day putting up 24 points, with his final two being the deciding factor between the two sides with milliseconds to go. Matthew Scerri followed with 20 as double-double finisher David Bugeja was Depiro’s top scorer with 19 points on his official debut after joining from Mellieħa Libertas over the summer.

The first quarter saw a balanced start, with Sean Galea nailing an early three-pointer to give Depiro a quick lead. However, Starlites responded through Trevon Reddish-Rhone and Davis, who converted on fast breaks to push their team ahead. Bugeja’s three-pointer for Depiro tied the score at 7-7, but Davis was relentless, finishing a series of driving layups to keep Starlites in front.

By the end of the first, Starlites led 17-12, with a buzzer-beating three from Max Curran capping off an impressive start.

In the second quarter, the Starlites extended their lead, with Miguel Fabri and Reddish-Rhone both capitalising on turnovers. Depiro, led by Maltese-Australian Dom Tomasi and Brincat, fought back with timely three-pointers, but Starlites continued their surge. By halftime, Scerri’s hot hand from beyond the arc had pushed the score to 42-27 in favour of Starlites, who seemed in control.

However, Depiro, led by new coach Sasa Dimitrijevic, came out of the halftime break with renewed energy. Bugeja and Chase Barrs spearheaded a 10-0 run that trimmed Starlites’ lead, forcing the game to tighten. Cameron Cornelius and Tomasi added further blows to Starlites, and by the end of the third quarter, Depiro had taken the lead for the first time since the opening minutes, 49-48, with a late layup by Tomasi.

The fourth quarter became a tense affair. Starlites clawed back with Reddish-Rhone and Davis combining for crucial points, but Tomasi’s late three-pointer kept Depiro ahead by nine points.

A remarkable comeback ensued, with Scerri and Davis hitting vital shots, and Reddish-Rhone tying the game at 67-67 with under two minutes to play. Both teams missed opportunities to seal the win in regulation, sending the game to overtime.

The first overtime was just as dramatic. Ian Felice Pace hit a clutch three-pointer to push Starlites ahead, but Bugeja’s response kept Depiro in the hunt.

As the seconds wound down, it was Reddish-Rhone who levelled the game once more at 77-77, forcing a second overtime.

In the final stretch, Davis continued his offensive heroics, sinking a crucial three-pointer to push Starlites ahead 82-81.

Despite Barrs’ late-game heroics to tie the game at 84-84, it was Davis who had the final say, intercepting a turnover and driving to the basket for the game-winning layup with just five seconds remaining, sealing an unforgettable 86-85 win for Starlites.

STARLITES JSD: M. Curran 9, J. Davis 24, A. Aquilina, I. Felice Pace 9, M. Fabri 3, M. Scerri 20, L. Farrugia, K. Xuereb 2, K. Mortensen 2, T. Reddish-Rhone 17.

SIGMA DEPIRO: C. Barrs 12, S. Galea 5, D. Bugeja 19, N. Bozovic 2, L. Stefanovic, D. Tomasi 16, M. Brincat 16, C. Cornelius 15.

Referees: B. Vassallo, Z. Dobrosaviljevic, G. Barbara.