The final day of the 2024-25 MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League regular season set up the pairings for this year’s playoffs while bringing to an end the debut seasons of Athleta and Valletta Lionesses.
There were no surprises as Betsson Depiro sealed the top spot to set up a clash with fourth place Hibernians, while Caffe Moak Luxol bagged a final regular season win over Starlites, whom they face next in the postseason.
STARLITES 50
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL 66
(10-22, 13-20, 16-12, 11-12)
Luxol reinforced their status as the second seed with a commanding win over Starlites, controlling the tempo from the outset in a preview of their upcoming playoff series.
Starlites started brightly through Christina Curmi, but Luxol quickly seized momentum. Vanya Baldacchino converted a second-chance opportunity before Sarah Fenech Pace took over, scoring in transition and inside the paint.
Makaila Napoleon momentarily halted Luxol’s run, yet Anna Fenech Pace and Rebecca Naudi extended the lead with efficient finishing. Brandy Huffhines’ free throws ensured Luxol closed the quarter with a double-digit cushion.
The second period saw the Violets extend their dominance. Lisa Fenech Pace and Josephine Diaby added to the tally before Baldacchino and Diaby hit from beyond the arc, stretching the lead past 20 points.
Napoleon fought hard for Starlites, but Huffhines struck from deep to extinguish any momentum shift. Michaela Zammit Cordina’s put-back offered brief relief, yet Luxol’s inside presence, led by Diaby and Fenech Pace, maintained control at the break.
Luxol remained in command in the third quarter despite Starlites’ efforts. Baldacchino drained another three-pointer, with Curmi and Zammit Cordina responding inside.
Free throws from Napoleon and Fenech Pace provided some resistance, but Luxol’s transition play remained sharp, with Diaby and Huffhines keeping the margin intact.
Any hopes of a Starlites comeback faded as Luxol continued their charge in the final quarter. Lisa Fenech Pace capitalised on a turnover before Huffhines and Sarah Fenech Pace extended the lead past 20.
Ylenia Bonett’s three-pointer was met with an immediate Luxol response, as Diaby and Naudi sealed the win. Despite a late push from Curmi and Napoleon, Luxol held firm to claim a convincing victory, heading into the playoffs in solid form.
STARLITES: S. Lecuyer 2, M. Riolo, C. Cilia, P. Riolo, M. Cordina 10, M. Fenech, M. Napoleon 16, Y. Bonett 9, C. Curmi 13.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL: G. Carabott, L. Pace 6, M. Marmara, N. Vella, J. Said, E. Abela, S. Pace 6, J. Diaby 13, B. Huffhines 14, V. Baldacchino 8, R. Naudi 10, A. Pace 9.
Referees: G. Barbara, N. Azzopardi.
BETSSON DEPIRO 63
VALLETTA LIONESSES 35
(20-7, 18-11, 15-12, 10-5)
Depiro closed out the regular season in dominant fashion, overpowering Valletta to reaffirm their status as the league’s top seed. With their playoff spot secured, they delivered a commanding display against a Valletta side that concluded their debut campaign at the bottom of the standings.
Depiro set the tone early, capitalising on turnovers and executing in transition. Joselle Borg Cardona opened the scoring with a free throw before Julia Borg’s three-pointer gave them an early cushion.
The Citizens briefly responded through Sabrina Abugrin, but Depiro’s relentless defensive pressure led to multiple fast-break scores. Kristy Galea, Nicole Agius, and Julia Borg Xerri combined to fuel an 18-7 run to close the quarter.
The second period saw the recently crowned Women’s Knockout champions extend their grip on the game. Hannah Farag’s fast-break layup sparked another surge, with Galea hitting consecutive three-pointers to push the lead beyond 20. Agius and Borg continued to pile on the points as Valletta struggled offensively, though Aleksandra Nikishina and Abugrin managed to break the drought. Neve Borg and Jasmine Mallia added to Depiro’s tally, securing a 38-18 halftime lead.
Valletta fought back in the third quarter through Nikishina and Maria Mifsud, but Depiro remained clinical in transition. Julianne Magri’s fast-break three-pointer and Agius’ back-to-back long-range efforts widened the gap again. Despite some late baskets from Nikishina and Nicole Montalvo, Depiro held a 23-point lead entering the final frame.
The hosts remained in control in the fourth quarter, with Borg, Farag, and Borg extending their personal tallies. Valletta battled to the end, but Depiro’s defensive intensity never relented. Borg Xerri’s late fast-break layup sealed a convincing win, ensuring Depiro head into the play-offs with momentum, while the Capital club wrapped up their maiden season at the foot of the table.
BETSSON DEPIRO: Nicole Agius 10, J. Xerri 7, J. Magri 5, J. Mallia 2, Nolene Agius, J. Borg 7, M. Micallef, N. Borg 11, K. Galea 8, J. Cardona 7, H. Farag 6.
VALLETTA LIONESSES: S. Abugrin 6, N. Caruana 4, A. Caballero 2, M. Mifsud 4, A. Nikishina 9, N. Montalvo 4, T. Nikishina 6.
Referees: N. Azzopardi, G. Russo.
HIBERNIANS 111
ATHLETA 38
(27-13, 34-10, 27-5, 23-10)
Hibernians cruised past Athleta to cap off their playoff preparations. With their postseason spot already secured, they delivered a statement performance, while Athleta wrapped up their debut campaign in the penultimate position.
The Paolites asserted control early, with Andie Saliba and Marie Buhagiar setting the tone before Maria Bonett dominated the paint with consecutive layups.
Athleta responded through Laura Camilleri, but Bonett remained relentless inside. Steffi De Martino added a three-pointer and free throws to stretch the lead, while Julia Cipriott’s late burst for Athleta was countered by Bonett’s buzzer-beating hook shot.
The second quarter saw Hibernians extend their advantage through Ashiala Jackson’s baskets off turnovers and Julija Dabic’s transition layups.
Nicole Vella momentarily halted the run, but De Martino and Kaya Calleja’s fast-break finishes reignited the hosts’ momentum. Dabic and Buhagiar capitalised on second-chance opportunities, leaving Athleta overwhelmed at the half.
Saliba and Buhagiar opened the third quarter with back-to-back three-pointers, quickly dashing Athleta’s hopes of a comeback. Dabic continued to dominate inside, while De Martino drained another three-pointer to widen the gap.
Eliza Farrugia and Jackson added to the tally, with Athleta’s efforts from Martina Ferrante and Kelsey Abela proving insufficient against Hibernians’ efficiency.
Hibernians refused to ease off in the final quarter, hitting the century mark as De Martino and Dabic led the charge.
Farrugia’s fast-break points and Buhagiar’s second-chance baskets compounded Athleta’s struggles, with Dabic sealing the win with a late inside score.
HIBERNIANS: M. Buhagiar 13, E. Farrugia 9, E. Cassar, A. Saliba 11, J. Abela 3, M. Bonett 8, K. Calleja 8, S. Martino 17, A. Jackson 18, A. Mallia, J. Dabic 24.
ATHLETA: B. Agius 1, M. Ferrante 5, N. Vella 7, M. Pickard 2, F. Sant, A. Micallef 6, J. Cipriott 5, K. Abela 4, C. Caruana, K. Abela 4, L. Camilleri 4, A. Pisani.
Referees: A. Attard, W. Lim.
FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
Betsson Depiro 28, Caffe Moak Luxol 27, Starlites 25, Hibernians 22, Athleta 17, Valletta Lionesses 16.
