HIBERNIANS 91
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES 100
(18-15, 17-24, 27-14, 19-28, 10-19)
Luxol Sherries Estates refused to let top-seeded Hibernians think about a championship sweep, clawing their way back into the BOV Division One Finals with a dramatic overtime victory in Game 2 at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion on Sunday.
After falling behind early, Luxol regrouped, overcame multiple double-digit deficits, and held their nerve in the extra rubber to level the series.
Hibernians began with a burst of intensity, racing to an 8–0 lead through baskets from James Agyeman, Ivan Demcesen, and Tedrick Wolfe, who was particularly active on the fast break. Luxol responded via Darron Howard’s second-chance tip-in, but Matthew Attard’s three-pointer pushed Hibernians ahead by nine.
Caleb Jones-McCrary kept the Violets in touch with a pair of free throws before Demcesen and Wolfe extended the advantage again.
Late in the quarter, Nikola Djakovic and Howard narrowed the deficit, with Howard scoring again just before the buzzer to close the first quarter at 18-17 in Hibernians’ favour.
Neil Cassar opened the second quarter with a driving layup, but Howard, finding rhythm, replied immediately to reach double figures.
Miguel Mallia struck from beyond the arc for Hibernians before Djakovic and Wolfe traded scores.
Another triple by Mallia gave Hibernians a ten-point cushion, yet Luxol slowly chipped away.
McCrary scored six points in a run that, combined with Howard’s scoring and free throws from Nathan Xuereb, saw Luxol take their first lead of the game.
The Paolites were held to just two points in the final two minutes as Luxol surged to a 39–35 lead at half-time.
The third quarter saw Hibs reclaim momentum.
Attard’s fast break layup, followed by Matthew Gouder’s three-pointer and free throw, swung the lead back their way.
Demcesen added from the line, and Wolfe and Agyeman spearheaded an 11–0 run that made it 54–45. The Violets again battled back, with Howard, Djakovic, and Stefan Cappello combining to reduce the gap.
Wolfe’s three-pointer and a follow-up layup gave Hibernians a nine-point cushion, before Xuereb and Stefan Simic exchanged free throws to end the quarter at 62-53.
Agyeman’s free throw opened the fourth quarter, but Howard kept Luxol within striking distance. Free throws from Gouder maintained the lead before McCrary and Howard spurred a 10-2 Luxol run to close it to 67-64.
Wolfe and Agyeman responded for Hibernians, but Luxol refused to go away.
With under a minute to play, Xuereb nailed a game-tying three-pointer to make it 78-78.
After Adam Azzopardi pushed Luxol ahead with a clutch three, Agyeman buried a last-second triple to force overtime at 81-81.
Howard opened overtime with a deep three, and although Attard responded, McCrary and Howard combined to push Luxol further ahead.
Hibernians struggled to keep pace as Luxol’s composure at the line, particularly from Xuereb and Djakovic, sealed the result. Despite a late triple from Attard, Luxol closed out the win to level the finals series.
HIBERNIANS: N. Cassar 2, T. Wolfe 34, L. Farrugia, A. Axiaq, M. Gouder 7, M. Attard 12, M. Mallia 6, J. Agyeman 16, I. Demcesen 9, S. Simic 5.
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES: D. Howard 37, V. Jandric, A. Azzopardi 3, JP Schembri, N. Xuereb 19, N. Bukva 3, C. McCrary 23, S. Cappello 3, N. Djakovic 12.
Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, M. De Flavia.
