LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES 98
HIBERNIANS 101
(24-21, 15-27, 16-21, 33-19, 10-13; Hibs lead 2-1 in five-game series)
With the BOV Division One Finals series tied at one apiece, Game 3 delivered another tense showdown between Luxol Sherries Estates and Hibernians that needed overtime to separate the sides for the second time in the series. Ultimately, it was Hibernians who emerged victorious, holding off a ferocious late rally to claim the win and regain the upper hand.
Luxol started sharply, with Vukasin Jandric hitting an early jumper followed by a fast-break three-pointer. Darron Howard responded with a putback and a made free throw to settle Hibernians. Jandric then drained another three in transition to give Luxol a double-digit lead. Adam Azzopardi and Nathan Xuereb joined the scoring efforts, while Ivan Demcesen kept Hibernians in touch with trips to the line and second-chance finishes.
A mini-run by Hibernians, sparked by a Matthew Gouder triple and free throws from Nikola Djakovic and Neil Cassar, narrowed the deficit. Caleb Jones-McCrary added a putback dunk, but the Violets’ efficient transition game – emphasised by Howard’s mid-range jumper – kept them narrowly ahead, 24-21, at the end of the first quarter.
Hibs quickly drew level in the second quarter through Cassar, who converted both free throws before finishing a fast-break layup. Luxol replied through Tedrick Wolfe and Jones-McCrary, but Demcesen’s persistence on the glass and outside shooting from Miguel Mallia nudged Hibernians ahead.
Xuereb’s fast-break floater and subsequent free throws put Luxol back in front momentarily, but Wolfe’s composed finishing in transition sparked an 8-0 Hibs burst. Demcesen added a pair of late baskets, and Jones-McCrary’s tip-in before the buzzer couldn’t prevent the Paolites from taking a 48-39 lead into half-time.
Luxol came out determined in the third, as Howard and Jandric chipped into the lead. However, Hibernians stretched the margin again with second-chance points from Demcesen and back-to-back threes from Matthew Attard.
Xuereb kept Luxol within touching distance with consistent free-throw shooting, but Hibernians continued to dominate the offensive boards. Late baskets from Azzopardi and another putback by Demcesen sent Hibernians into the final quarter ahead, 69-55.
Howard sparked Luxol’s comeback attempt early in the fourth with a driving layup and a series of free throws. Wolfe responded in kind for Hibernians, but Luxol began to turn defence into offence with a Xuereb three-pointer and fast-break finishes from Azzopardi and Djakovic.
Despite Demcesen’s continued scoring, Luxol closed the gap to single digits thanks to clutch shooting. In the closing minute, Azzopardi hit three free throws and Howard powered to the rim for a dramatic game-tying layup with two seconds remaining, forcing overtime at 88-88.
Howard gave the Violets the lead from the line in the extra rubber, but free throws from Demcesen and Gouder restored Hibernians’ advantage. Xuereb hit a timely three-pointer, and the teams traded baskets in a frenzied sequence.
With the score still in flux, Demcesen and Gouder stepped up once more, combining for a crucial run of free throws and a layup to create just enough breathing room. Djakovic knocked down a late three to cut the deficit to two, but Demcesen – who capped a dominant performance with his 31s point – sealed the win from the line.
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES: D. Howard 28, A. Azzopardi 12, V. Jandric 10, JP Schembri 3, N. Xuereb 24, N. Bukva 2, C. Jones Mccrary 8, M. Matijevic, S. Cappello, N. Djakovic 11.
HIBERNIANS: N. Cassar 9, T. Wolfe 33, P. Attard, L. Farrugia, A. Axiaq, M. Gouder 10, M. Attard 6, M. Mallia 3, J. Agyeman 6, I. Demcesen 31, S. Simic 3.
Referees: B. Vassallo, Z. Dobrosaviljevic, M. De Flavia.
