Last weekend’s Women’s John Tabone Shield games delivered thrilling spectacle, with Hibernians pulling off a commanding win over Valletta in the top fixture, while Caffe Moak Luxol secured a hard-fought victory against Starlites in the second game.
As a result of Saturday’s scores, Hibs head into the semifinals as the top seed and will play against Starlites, while Luxol and Depiro meet again for their next determining clash since the Super Cup final.
VALLETTA LIONESSES 42
HIBERNIANS 88
(8-23, 6-24, 18-26, 10-15)
The clash between Valletta and Hibernians saw Hibernians take control early on, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Kirsty Caruana opened the scoring for Hibernians with a fastbreak layup, and Mikayla Brandon followed up with a layup and free throw to establish a 5-2 lead.
Valletta’s Marija Momcilovic briefly brought her side level with a neat layup, but Hibernians responded with a scoring burst. Jasmine Abela and Caruana were instrumental in this period, with Caruana adding a crucial tip-in layup to extend their advantage to 9-2.
Valletta’s attempt to claw back into the game came through Janae Barnes, who sank a well-timed three-pointer, narrowing the score to 9-5. However, Hibernians continued to press, with Andie Saliba and Brandon extending the lead, ending the quarter with a 23-8 advantage.
Valletta struggled to contain Hibernians’ relentless attacking play, which carried through into the second quarter.
Maria Bonett played a pivotal role in the second rubber, capitalising on turnovers and converting layups to keep the momentum with Hibernians.
Despite Barnes’ efforts to narrow the deficit, Hibernians built a comfortable lead with Kaya Calleja sinking back-to-back three-pointers. Sharon Vella and Julija Dabic also contributed crucial baskets, with Hibernians going into halftime 47-14 up.
The third quarter saw Barnes try to ignite a comeback for Valletta with a three-pointer and a series of free throws.
However, Hibernians’ well-organised offence, spearheaded by Naomi Farrugia and Bonett, continued to find gaps in Valletta’s defence. By the end of the third, Hibernians had increased their lead to 73-32, effectively putting the game beyond reach.
In the final quarter, Hibernians maintained their dominant form. Caruana and Sharon Vella combined for a series of layups, pushing the score to 79-33.
Barnes continued to fight for Valletta, eventually finishing with a game-high 29 points, but it wasn’t enough to stem the tide. Farrugia’s late three-pointer capped off a comprehensive 88-42 win for Hibernians, who were in control from start to finish, showcasing their depth and fast-break prowess.
VALLETTA A. Parnis 2, J. Barnes 29, S. Abugrin 4, M. Momcilovic 4, M. Mifsud 2, H. Grixti, N. Montalvo, T. Nikishina 1.
HIBERNIANS M. Brandon 7, E. Farrugia 3, E. Cassar 14, A. Saliba 8, J. Abela 3, M. Bonett 10, S. Vella 6, K. Calleja 13, N. Farrugia 14, K. Caruana 8, A. Mallia, J. Dabic 2.
Referees M. De Flavia, N. Azzopardi.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL 72
STARLITES 64
(12-9, 16-24, 27-10, 17-21)
In the weekend’s second match, Caffe Moak Luxol and Starlites produced a closely contested game, with both teams vying for control in the early stages. Starlites’ Michela Zammit Cordina kicked things off with a driving layup, and she added a free throw to give her team a quick 3-0 lead.
Luxol responded through Sarah Pace, who floated in a jump shot, but Makaila Napoleon’s layup extended Starlites’ lead to 6-2. Lisa Fenech Pace’s fast-break layup levelled the score at 6-6, with both teams battling hard for supremacy.
The rest of the quarter remained tight, with Zammit Cordina adding another jumper, only for Fenech Pace and Pace to respond for Luxol. At the end of the first quarter, Luxol held a slender 12-9 lead, with both teams evenly matched.
The second quarter saw a shift in momentum. Napoleon’s layup tied the score for Starlites at 12-12 before Fenech Pace put Luxol back ahead.
A crucial three-pointer from Lecuyer and Zammit Cordina’s continued accuracy pushed Starlites into the lead, but Brandy Lynn Huffhines responded for Luxol with a fast-break layup and free throw, giving her team a narrow 20-17 edge. Starlites fought back with Catherine Cilia hitting a three-pointer and Napoleon making key free throws to establish a 33-28 lead going into the half.
Luxol came out strong in the third quarter, with Huffhines and Lisa Fenech Pace leading the charge. A key three-pointer from Sarah Pace tied the game at 35-35, and from that moment, Luxol began to take control. Napoleon and Riolo briefly regained the lead for Starlites, but Luxol finished the quarter on a strong note, with a late surge capped by a three-pointer from Huffhines, putting them 51-41 ahead.
In the final period, Lecuyer did her best to spark a Starlites comeback, draining back-to-back three-pointers to cut Luxol’s lead to 55-49.
However, Huffhines responded with a flurry of points, including a three-pointer of her own, to push Luxol’s advantage back to double digits.
Despite Napoleon’s best efforts, including a series of free throws and inside baskets, Luxol held firm. A late jumper from Pace and free throws from Fenech Pace sealed the 72-64 victory, with Luxol showing their composure and ability to capitalise on turnovers throughout the contest.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL S. Pace 17, L. Fenech Pace 8, N. Vella 4, J. Said, S. Fenech Pace 13, B. Huffhines 16, V. Baldacchino 4, S. Sciberras, A. Fenech Pace 10.
STARLITES S. Lecuyer 15, M. Riolo 4, C. Cilia 10, P. Riolo 3, M. Zammit Cordina 12, C. Vella, M. Fenech, M. Napoleon 20, Y. Ferrando, J. Micallef.
Referees F. Ciurariu, Z. Dobrosaviljevic.
