This season’s BOV Division One play-offs tipped off in style as Luxol Sherries Estates and Hibernians fired past Starlites JSD and SiGMA Depiro in their postseason openers on Sunday at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion.
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES 73
STARLITES JSD 53
(19-6, 21-18, 14-14, 19-15)
Luxol made a statement in their playoff opener, dismantling title holders Starlites with a dominant performance that underlined their credentials as serious contenders.
The Violets, who finished the regular season level on points with their opponents, wasted no time in imposing their authority.
Matthew Scerri opened the scoring for Starlites, but Luxol responded swiftly as Caleb Jones-McCrary levelled with a layup before Vukasin Jandric drilled a three-pointer to put his side ahead.
Darron Howard then converted a fast-break layup off a turnover, setting the tone for Luxol’s aggressive approach.
Stefan Cappello added another three-pointer, while Jones-McCrary’s free throws and a second-chance jumper from Jandric saw Luxol extend their lead to 13 points.
Nathan Xuereb and Howard continued the onslaught, with the latter throwing down a dunk off another turnover as Luxol closed the first quarter firmly in control, leading 19-6.
Trevon Reddish-Rhone tried to spark Starlites with free throws at the start of the second quarter, followed by a fast-break three from Scerri.
Reddish-Rhone kept attacking, converting a floating jumper and more free throws to trim the deficit to five points.
However, Luxol swiftly regained momentum as Xuereb’s second-chance layup steadied them before he followed up with a three-pointer to push the lead back to double digits.
Marko Matijevic and Jones-McCrary added further scores, and when Jandric buried a transition three-pointer, Luxol were up by 19.
Despite Scerri’s best efforts, including another three-pointer before the half, Luxol maintained control at 40-24.
Cappello wasted no time extending the advantage in the third quarter, hitting a second-chance three, followed by another from Howard.
Starlites struggled to build any sustained offensive rhythm, with their best efforts coming from isolated drives by Xuereb and Reddish-Rhone.
Meanwhile, Howard and Jones-McCrary continued to dominate inside, extending Luxol’s cushion beyond 20 points.
Starlites had a brief rally behind Max Curran’s second-chance tip-in and free throw.
But Luxol responded immediately, with Jones-McCrary finishing at the rim before adding a pair of free throws to ensure his side entered the final period leading 54-38.
Howard’s fast-break layup early in the fourth all but sealed Starlites’ fate, while Xuereb knocked down another three-pointer to stretch the gap to 21. Reddish-Rhone continued to battle, scoring twice in transition, but Luxol had all the answers.
Jones-McCrary converted a hook shot before Howard added another layup in transition.
Xuereb hit his fourth three-pointer of the game, before Howard’s final deep jumper capped off a dominant performance.
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES: D. Howard 19, A. Azzopardi 2, I. Azzopardi, V. Jandric 8, JP Schembri, N. Xuereb 20, N. Bukva, C. Jones 16, M. Matijevic 2, S. Cappello 6, N. Djakovic.
STARLITES: M. Curran 5, A. Aquilina, K. Fabri, I. Felice, M. Fabri 2, M. Scerri 18, K. Xuereb 6, T. Reddish-Rhone 22.
Referees: F. Ciurariu, N. Azzopardi, N. Rincon.
SIGMA DEPIRO 57
HIBERNIANS 79
(8-21, 14-20, 13-22, 22-16)
Hibernians opened their playoff campaign in dominant fashion, overwhelming Depiro with a commanding performance from the outset.
The regular season’s top seed dictated the tempo early, making their intent clear as Tedrick Wolfe converted a free throw before following up with a fast-break dunk off a turnover.
Ivan Demcesen then added a driving layup in the paint, extending Hibernians’ early control.
Depiro struggled to find their rhythm, committing turnovers that allowed Hibernians to capitalise in transition. Wolfe was relentless, adding a three-pointer from a turnover and a pair of fast-break layups to extend the lead to double digits.
By the midpoint of the first quarter, Hibernians were firmly in command, with Wolfe already in double figures.
Brandon Porter tried to spark Depiro with a strong drive to the rim, but Matthew Gouder answered immediately with a three-pointer.
Hibernians closed the quarter with more defensive stops, leading 21-8.
Cameron Cornelius tried to cut into the deficit early in the second quarter with a three-point jumper, but Wolfe responded once again, pulling up for another jump shot.
Porter provided some energy for Depiro with a dunk in transition, yet the Paolites continued to find open looks, with Wolfe connecting on consecutive mid-range shots.
Gouder then extended the lead further, converting a fast-break layup and drawing a foul to complete the three-point play.
Depiro’s offensive struggles persisted, with Nikola Bozovic managing a rare score inside before David Bugeja tipped in a layup for a second-chance basket.
However, Anton Axiaq and Wolfe responded swiftly, each finishing at the rim as Hibs’ transition game continued to thrive.
With Hibs in control, Wolfe drilled a three-pointer before Demcesen added two free throws to close the half 41-22 ahead.
Coach Christian Narciso’s Hibernians maintained their dominance after the break, with Wolfe floating in a jump shot before Matthew Attard knocked down a fast-break three-pointer.
Demcesen remained effective in the paint, tipping in a missed shot before hitting a hook shot to stretch the lead to 26.
Depiro attempted to respond through Bozovic, who converted consecutive inside baskets, but Hibernians continued to punish them on the break.
Gouder hit another three, while Demcesen and Wolfe added further layups.
By the end of the third quarter, Hibernians had all but sealed the victory, leading 63-35.
Depiro had a more balanced scoring effort in the final period, with Sean Galea knocking down a three-pointer, and Porter and Bozovic adding inside points.
However, Hibs had the game under control, with Axiaq finishing strong at the rim and Wolfe continuing his impressive night.
Miguel Mallia added free throws before Treodor Gjurovski capped off the win with a final three-pointer.
SIGMA DEPIRO: S. Galea 3, D. Bugeja 3, N. Bozovic 16, N. Zivkovic, L. Stefanovic, B. Porter 9, M. Brincat 5, C. Cornelius 10, M. Debattista 3, J. Guity 8.
HIBERNIANS: N. Cassar 3, T. Wolfe 37, P. Attard, L. Farrugia, V. Kustudja, A. Axiaq 6, M. Gouder 9, M. Attard 3, T. Gjurovski 3, M. Mallia 2, I. Demcesen 14, S. Simic 2.
Referees: B. Vassallo, Z. Dobrosaviljevic, M. De Flavia.
