STARLITES 72
BETSSON DEPIRO 58
(12-13, 17-11, 23-16, 20-18; Starlites lead series 2-1)
Betsson Depiro have been title favourites from the beginning of the season after retaining their key players over the summer, and it looked destined for a strong culmination in the postseason but the Mtarfa side look to have hit a snag as dark horses Starlites took the lead in this year’s finals with a strong victory at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion on Sunday.
There were no overtime minutes this time around as Peter Shoults’ side bagged their second straight win in the series as they now stand just a win away from winning the championship crown.
Meanwhile, Julian Naudi’s Depiro will be hoping to replicate the path of last season’s champions Caffe Moak Luxol who beat them with a stunning comeback in Santino Coppa’s swansong.
Depiro struck first on Sunday, with Janai Crooms sinking a driving layup to open the scoring. Claire Ciantar extended the lead with two accurate free throws, giving Depiro an early four-point advantage.
Starlites responded through a fast-break three-pointer from Christina Curmi, igniting the Naxxar side’s offence. However, Depiro kept the pressure on, as Julia Borg connected from deep to widen the gap again.
Makaila Napoleon hit from the line before Crooms capitalised on a second-chance opportunity in the paint, maintaining Depiro’s edge. Yet Starlites refused to back down, and Napoleon soon answered with a well-timed three-pointer.
Ciantar’s jump shot momentarily restored Depiro’s momentum, but Starlites’ Sasha Lecuyer and Philippa Riolo combined for two quick baskets to level the score.
Ciantar broke the deadlock once more, only for Ylenia Bonett to chip in from the free-throw line, leaving Depiro narrowly ahead 13-12 after the first quarter.
The second quarter began brightly for Depiro as Nicole Agius knocked down a three-pointer. Mariah Fenech found success in the paint for Starlites, keeping them within touching distance. Agius floated in another basket, but Napoleon responded with a floater of her own.
From there, Starlites seized the initiative; Lecuyer buried a three-pointer to give them their first lead, and Bonett pushed the advantage with successive fast-break scores.
Although Depiro briefly rallied through free throws by Joselle Borg Cardona and a fadeaway jumper from Crooms, Bonett’s three-pointer reasserted Starlites’ control.
Even when Crooms hit from the free-throw line, Bonett responded by converting a fast-break layup and adding the bonus from the line. Starlites entered halftime with a promising 29-24 lead.
Momentum stayed firmly with Starlites after the change of ends. Mikela Riolo started the third rubber with a driving layup, followed quickly by another Lecuyer three-pointer and Michela Zammit Cordina’s sharp shooting from deep.
Depiro struggled to respond – Ciantar and Crooms managed to trim the deficit with free throws and a layup, but Lecuyer steadied Starlites with a perfect trip to the line.
Despite Kristy Galea scoring from close range and the free-throw line for Depiro, Napoleon shifted gears, scoring off a turnover and then floating home a three-pointer to restore Starlites’ double-digit lead.
Philippa Riolo and Bonett kept the scoreboard ticking over, while Zammit Cordina punished another turnover with a three-pointer. Bonett added two from the line before Nicole Agius’s late triple narrowed the deficit to 52-40 at the end of the third quarter.
Starlites quickly reasserted themselves at the start of the fourth.
Zammit Cordina hit another three-pointer, with Napoleon converting two free throws to stretch the lead to 17.
Lecuyer struck again from long range, pushing the advantage to twenty points, before Crooms stopped the bleeding with a tip-in.
Although Agius and Crooms chipped away at the margin from the line, Mikela Riolo and Napoleon kept punishing Depiro’s turnovers, maintaining a comfortable cushion.
A three-pointer from Napoleon and a composed jump shot from Zammit Cordina left Starlites firmly in command.
Galea gave Depiro a brief lift with a three-pointer and a free throw, but Ciantar’s floating jumper and Borg’s late basket only served to limit the damage. Zammit Cordina capped off the scoring with a final three-pointer to seal a convincing victory for Starlites.
STARLITES: S. Lecuyer 12, M. Riolo 2, P. Riolo 6, M. Zammit Cordina 12, M. Fenech 2, M. Napoleon 20, Y. Bonett 15, C. Curmi 3.
BETSSON DEPIRO:N. Agius 13, J. Borg Xerri, L. Sciberras, C. Ciantar 11, J. Borg 7, N. Borg, K. Galea 7, J. Borg Cardona 2, J. Crooms 18.
Referees: B. Vassallo, F. Ciurariu, G. Barbara.
