Starlites JSD’s reign as BOV Division One champions has come to an end after the winners of the last three championships were eliminated by Luxol Sherries Estates 2-0 in the playoff semifinals.
Top seed Hibernians also secured their ticket to the finals in the same way as they pushed past SiGMA Depiro after a phenomenal showing from Tedrick Wolfe over the two games.
HIBERNIANS 89
SIGMA DEPIRO 70
(24-23, 15-17, 27-16, 23-14)
Top seed Hibernians secured their place in the BOV Division One finals with a commanding performance over Depiro in Game Two of the playoff semi-finals, completing a 2–0 series sweep.
The game once again underlined the dominant form they have shown throughout the season, powered by a masterful display from Tedrick Wolfe, who notched 41 points in a performance that reaffirmed his status as the league’s standout player.
The chemistry between Wolfe and coach Christian Narciso, honed across the season, was again evident as the Paolites executed their game plan with clinical precision.
Wolfe opened the scoring with a second-chance tip-in and quickly added a fast break jumper.
Ivan Demcesen and Wolfe combined to push Hibernians to an early 6–2 lead, but Depiro responded through Brandon Porter’s and-one and a three-pointer from Nikola Bozovic to edge ahead.
The teams then traded scores in a high-paced exchange, with Matthew Attard hitting two three-pointers for Hibernians and Cameron Cornelius replying in kind for Depiro.
Wolfe’s three-point shot gave Hibernians a slight advantage, but Depiro kept pace and eventually took the lead after a pair of free throws by David Bugeja. Just before the buzzer, James Agyeman ignited the Hibs bench with a spectacular half-court shot to end the quarter 24–23 in the Paolites’ favour.
The second quarter saw the momentum shift repeatedly. Wolfe continued to lead the Hibernians offence with a step-back jumper and a floating shot in transition, but Bozovic and Jospeh Guity replied for Depiro to keep scores level.
A three-pointer from Stefan Simic briefly restored a cushion for Hibernians, but Depiro again rallied, with Porter converting a layup and free throw to put his side 40–39 up at the half.
Depiro extended their lead with another driving layup from Porter early in the third, but Wolfe took over with a flurry of scoring that turned the game on its head.
A series of fast break layups, a pull-up three, and made free throws saw Wolfe score 17 of Hibs’ next 21 points.
Agyeman also chipped in with back-to-back baskets, stretching the gap to double digits. Although Bugeja and Porter tried to keep Depiro within reach, Hibernians closed the quarter strong to take a 66–56 lead.
Neil Cassar opened the fourth with a three-pointer, before Wolfe showcased yet another trademark dunk. Demcesen took over inside, scoring three successive baskets as Hibernians began to pull away.
Wolfe continued his dominance, reaching 41 points with a composed layup midway through the period.
Late scores from Liam Farrugia and Luke Galea added polish to the win as the bench contributed in the final minutes. Though Bozovic and Guity fought hard to reduce the deficit, the outcome was long decided.
HIBERNIANS N. Cassar 5, T. Wolfe 41, P. Attard, L. Farrugia 3, V. Kustudja, A. Axiaq 2, M. Gouder, M. Attard 6, M. Mallia 3, J. Agyeman 15, I. Demcesen 11, S. Simic 3.
SIGMA DEPIRO: S. Galea 5, D. Bugeja 14, N. Bozovic 15, L. Stefanovic, B. Porter 17, M. Brincat, C. Cornelius 10, J. Guity 9.
Referees: B. Vassallo, N. Azzopardi, F. Ciurariu.
STARLITES JSD 65
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES 74
(15-16, 23-21, 15-16, 12-21)
Luxol sealed their place in the BOV Division One final with a composed and tactically sharp performance, eliminating reigning champions Starlites to complete a 2–0 series sweep.
The result guarantees a new name on the championship trophy at the end of the postseason, ending Starlites’ reign in decisive fashion.
Caleb Jones-McCrary set the tone early with a fast break layup off a turnover, and although Trevon Reddish-Rhone and Zekiah Owens hit back for Starlites., Luxol responded with Nathan Xuereb’s three-pointer and Vukasin Jandric’s transition basket.
Starlites briefly edged ahead after back-to-back scores from Reddish-Rhone but a three from Xuereb and Luxol’s control of second-chance opportunities gave them the edge. Jones-McCrary, Stefan Cappello, and Jandric led a late push to give Luxol a narrow 16–15 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Jones-McCrary continued to dominate in the second period, adding a floater and two free throws to stretch the lead. However,
Reddish-Rhone sparked a response with consecutive baskets, including a fast break and-one that gave Starlites a 22–20 advantage. Darron Howard and Owens traded buckets, but Luxol’s reaction was swift and clinical.
Kurt Xuereb struck from deep, Matthew Scerri scored in transition, but Cappello capitalised on a defensive lapse with a long-range effort. Starlites kept it close through a thunderous dunk by Owens and a floater from Kurt Xuereb, but Luxol maintained composure, taking a narrow 40–37 lead into the half.
Owens kept Starlites in the hunt after the break with a driving layup, and although Jandric answered with a three-pointer, Luxol found themselves momentarily trailing.
Yet the back-and-forth nature of the game continued, with Jandric and Howard combining for a quick seven-point burst that gave Luxol a 4844 cushion. Ian Felice Pace and Max Curran pulled Starlites level, and two free throws from Curran tied the game at 53–53 heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter began tightly, with Jandric nudging Luxol ahead and Miguel Fabri putting Starlites briefly in front with a three-pointer.
The game swung again through Owens and Reddish-Rhone, but Luxol’s depth proved decisive. JP Schembri drained two crucial three-pointers, while Howard produced key scores inside.
Nathan Xuereb’s late layup restored a six-point lead, and while Reddish-Rhone’s free throws brought some hope, Schembri iced the game with another perfect trip to the line. Howard finished it off with a fast break layup as the Violets held firm to close out the series.
STARLITES JSD: M. Curran 4, Z. Owens 17, A. Aquilina, I. Felice Pace 6, M. Fabri 3, M. Scerri 5, K. Xuereb 9, T. Reddish-Rhone 21.
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES: D. Howard 13, A. Azzopardi 2, V. Jandric 17, J. Schembri 8, N. Xuereb 11, N. Bukva 2, C. Jones McCrary 18, S. Cappello 3, N. Djakovic.
Referees: G. Barbara, Z. Dobrosaviljevic, N. Rincon.
