With just a few games to go until the end of the regular season, the BOV Division One made the most of the long weekend with games on Thursday and Saturday before another round on Monday.
Hibernians were the big winners of the weekend with victories on Thursday and Saturday, while Starlites JSD and Valletta Lions took the spoils in the remaining fixtures.
HIBERNIANS 99
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES 85
(28-17, 22-18, 29-25, 20-25)
Hibernians set the pace early, storming to a 13-2 lead within the first few minutes as Tedrick Wolfe and Ivan Demcesen dominated the paint. Luxol struggled to generate offensive momentum, with only Darron Howard keeping them afloat with deep jumpers.
The Paolites capitalised on their defensive stops, pushing in transition and converting high-percentage shots. Wolfe was relentless, finding openings in the defence and punishing the Violets at every turn. By the end of the first quarter, Hibs led 28-17.
The second quarter saw Luxol attempt to close the gap through Vukasin Jandric, who connected on a couple of mid-range jumpers.
However, Derek Brown orchestrated a strong response, finding Wolfe on multiple cuts to the basket and knocking down a crucial three-pointer himself. Hibernians extended their lead to 50-35 at halftime, demonstrating efficiency on both ends of the floor.
Luxol showed resilience in the third quarter, briefly cutting the deficit to 12 points through a scoring burst from Howard and Jandric. But Brown and Wolfe reasserted their dominance, keeping Hibernians in control.
A scoring spree by Wolfe, including a highlight-reel dunk in transition, ensured they maintained a 79-60 lead entering the final rubber.
Luxol struggled to contain Hibernians’ offence, and despite some late efforts from Howard, the gap remained insurmountable. Hibernians closed out the game confidently, securing a crucial victory and reinforcing their position at the top of the standings.
HIBERNIANS: N. Cassar 2, T. Wolfe 31, D. Brown 22, P. Attard, L. Attard 1, L. Farrugia, V. Kustudja, A. Axiaq 4, M. Gouder 13, M. Attard 2, M. Mallia 3, I. Demcesen 21.
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES: D. Howard 16, A. Azzopardi 9, I. Azzopardi, V. Jandric 28, JP Schembri 5, N. Xuereb 5, N. Bukva, C. Jones-McCrary 12, M. Matijevic, S. Cappello 2, N. Djakovic 8.
Referees: G. Barbara, N. Azzopardi, Z. Dobrosaviljevic.
STARLITES JSD 103
TIGERS BT 61
(33-14, 18-23, 34-11, 18-13)
Starlites exploded out of the gate, racing to a 33-14 lead by the end of the first quarter as Max Curran dominated inside and from the perimeter.
Tigers BT had little response, with their early turnovers leading to easy fast-break points for Starlites. Kai Fabri and Matthew Scerri complemented Curran’s efforts, providing secondary scoring and ensuring Starlites maintained their high tempo.
Tigers BT struggled to move the ball effectively, often forcing contested shots, which played into Starlites’ defensive strengths.
The second quarter saw the Naxxar side extend their advantage to 51-37 at halftime, despite a spirited effort from Kendall Jordan, who almost single-handedly carried Tigers BT’s offence. Jordan found success in the mid-range and attacked the rim aggressively, but his teammates failed to provide adequate support. Meanwhile, Starlites remained composed, executing their offensive sets efficiently and controlling the boards.
After the break, the Malta champions continued to press their advantage. Fabri and Scerri continued to find openings, while Curran remained a force in the paint. Tigers BT’s offence stagnated, and by the third quarter’s conclusion, Starlites had blown the game open, leading 85-48.
The final quarter was a mere formality, with Starlites maintaining control and securing a 103-61 rout. Their dominant display reinforced their top-three ambitions, while the Tigers continued their search for a breakthrough victory.
STARLITES JSD: M. Curran 36, S. Aquilina 8, A. Aquilina 2, K. Fabri 6, I. Felice Pace 7, M. Fabri 10, L. Riolo 2, M. Scerri 16, C. Paul 16, K. Xuereb, N. Sultana.
TIGERS BT: D. Pisani, M. Farrugia, A. Attard 10, K. Jordan 20, D. Mitrovic 2, M. Baldacchino 2, A. Varacallo 24, S. Saakian 3, D. Militello.
Referees: Z. Dobrosaviljevic, M. De Flavia, W. Lim.
SIGMA DEPIRO 58
VALLETTA LIONS 60
(20-9, 9-20, 10-14, 19-17)
Valletta Lions secured a vital victory over their main rivals for the final playoff spot as they beat SiGMA Depiro.
The opening quarter was tightly contested, with both teams trading early baskets. Brandon Porter was active for Depiro, using his physicality to score in the paint, while Myles Carter and Nikola Vasovic provided offensive firepower for Valletta. Valletta edged ahead 20-9 at the end of the first quarter, thanks to their superior ball movement and perimeter shooting.
Depiro fought back in the second, with Porter and Cameron Cornelius igniting a rally to close the gap. Their defensive intensity forced Valletta into difficult shots, allowing Depiro to capitalise in transition. By halftime, the game was deadlocked at 29-29, setting the stage for an intense second half.
The third quarter saw Valletta pull away, as Carter and Eric Terry found their rhythm. Carter’s ability to score in transition and from beyond the arc helped Valletta build a 43-39 lead heading into the final period. However, Depiro refused to back down, with Porter battling inside and converting tough finishes. Cornelius added a deep three-pointer to bring Depiro within striking distance.
The fourth quarter was a tense affair, with both teams exchanging crucial baskets. Porter tied the game late with clutch free throws, but Carter had the final say, sinking crucial shots from the line to give Valletta the win.
The victory breathed new life into their playoff aspirations, keeping them firmly in the hunt for the fourth and final postseason berth.
SIGMA DEPIRO: S. Galea 6, D. Bugeja 2, B. Bozovic, L. Stefanovic, B. Porter 25, M. Brincat 9, C. Cornelius 16.
VALLETTA LIONS: N. Grech 3, F. Mifsud Bonnici 2, M. Carter 17, P. Stelmach 7, S. Hamparsoumian 8, N. Vasovic 7, S. Vincic 2, E. Terry 14.
Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, F. Ciurariu.
Thursday’s Game
HIBERNIANS 91
SIGMA DEPIRO 82
(25-22, 18-15, 15-16, 33-29)
Earlier in the week, Hibernians overcame a determined Depiro side in a high-tempo encounter.
Depiro had the better of the opening minutes, with Cornelius and Porter finding early success. However, Wolfe responded with a series of baskets, including a three-pointer that helped Hibernians take a 25-22 lead after the first quarter.
The second quarter saw Hibernians extend their advantage, with Wolfe throwing down an emphatic dunk off a turnover, and Brown facilitating effectively. Demcesen controlled the boards, denying Depiro second-chance opportunities. A late scoring burst by Porter kept Depiro within reach, but Hibernians entered halftime with a 43-37 lead.
The third quarter proved crucial, as Wolfe caught fire from beyond the arc, knocking down consecutive three-pointers to put Hibernians in firm control. Brown’s layups in transition and Gouder’s defensive presence helped extend their lead to 58-53 heading into the final quarter.
Depiro made one last push in the fourth, with Cornelius and Porter cutting the deficit to a single possession. But Wolfe once again took over, finishing at the rim and sinking free throws in the closing moments before Brown sealed the win with a late layup.
HIBERNIANS: T. Wolfe 46, D. Brown 20, P. Attard, L. Farrugia, A. Axiaq 2, M. Gouder 7, M. Attard, M. Mallia 2, I. Demcesen 13, S. Simic 1.
SIGMA DEPIRO: D. Bugeja 11, N. Bozovic 2, D. Tomasi 5, B. Porter 25, M. Brincat 13, C. Cornelius 26.
Referees: W. Lim, F. Ciurariu, N. Azzopardi.
STANDINGS
Hibernians 30; Luxol Sherries Estates 25; Starlites JSD 23; Valletta Lions 22; SiGMA Depiro 21; AtoZ Athleta 19; Tigers BT 16.
