STARLITES 101
HIBERNIANS 97
(26-21, 21-28, 30-18, 24-30)
The BOV Men’s Super Cup served as the curtain raiser for the new campaign on Sunday, and both Knockout holders Starlites and reigning Malta champions Hibernians showcased the fruits of their summer recruitment.
But it was the Naxxar side that prevailed in the first clash of titans at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion for this season.
Starlites unveiled an almost transformed roster, highlighted by the return of Alec Felice Pace from Germany and the arrivals of Travis Fee, Marcus Duffy, Jayden Iturmendi, Jackson Threadgill, and Musa Jallow.
Hibernians also reinforced their roster, adding Piotr Stelmach who joined from Valletta BC, alongside Elijah Simmons, Ayomide Ajiboye, and Deonte Jackson.
Statistically, the game underlined the significance of Starlites’ summer overhaul.
Fee delivered a dominant display with 26 points, exploiting Hibs’ interior defence while remaining perfect from the line in the closing stages. Threadgill added 22 points, mixing outside shooting with incisive finishes.
Felice Pace, on his return, contributed 18 points and provided vital stability when the game threatened to tilt away. Jallow impressed with 17, showing athleticism at both ends.
The Paolites, for their part, leaned heavily on Jackson, whose 29 points reflected his determination to drag his side into contention.
Demcesen and Simmons supported with interior play, while Stelmach’s perimeter threat kept the champions alive late on.
From the outset, Starlites imposed themselves.
Felice Pace, back in home colours, wasted no time, sinking early free throws before knocking down a three-pointer to set the tone.
Iturmendi’s long-range effort and Fee’s aggressive finish under the rim extended the early momentum.
By mid-quarter, coach Paul Ferrante’s Starlites had carved out a lead with contributions across their line-up, Jallow and Threadgill also joining the scoresheet.
Hibernians looked unsettled, relying on Ajiboye’s persistence at the line and inside presence to keep in touch. Simmons added a series of points from offensive rebounds and free throws, but Starlites’ balance in attack kept them ahead 26-21 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw a marked response from the Paolites.
Ivan Demcesen and Ajiboye combined in the paint to claw back the deficit, and when Jackson powered inside on consecutive possessions, Hibs edged into the lead for the first time.
Felice Pace and Fee responded with mid-range baskets, while Threadgill’s composed fast-break finish restored the advantage to Starlites.
Yet Christian Narciso’s Hibs remained on target, Demcesen proving a difficult assignment with his inside play, while Simmons stayed aggressive.
Stelmach added valuable free throws, and by the latter stages of the quarter Jackson’s penetrative drives and layups were decisive.
Though Jallow hit a key three-pointer for Starlites, Hibernians had the final word of the half through Simmons at the line, sneaking into the interval with a 49-47 lead.
The third rubber became a showcase of the new signings’ impact. Jackson extended Hibernians’ lead with a confident jumper, while Stelmach and Matthew Attard added points from the perimeter.
Starlites, however, were far from subdued. Fee began to assert himself, scoring repeatedly inside and on the break, while Felice Pace drove through traffic to finish strong.
Matthew Scerri chipped in with free throws, and by mid-quarter Starlites were back in front. The turning point came with a powerful dunk from Threadgill, followed quickly by Fee capitalising on turnovers.
Threadgill then buried back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute of the quarter, sending Starlites into the fourth with a double-digit cushion, 77-67.
ith their depth now on display, Starlites looked poised to close out the contest. Threadgill opened the final stanza with free throws, but Hibs’ resilience shone through.
Jackson led the charge, scoring inside and out to narrow the gap, supported by Stelmach’s accuracy from the line and beyond the arc.
When Neil Cassar levelled the game with a turnaround jumper at 85-85, Hibernians had reignited belief. Starlites, however, demonstrated composure in the decisive minutes.
Felice Pace’s penetration in the lane gave them back the edge, but Jackson, in solid form on his debut, drained a triple to push Hibernians ahead again. Stelmach followed with another from deep, and suddenly they were three points clear with just over three minutes to play.
The final exchanges were worthy of the occasion. Felice Pace steadied Starlites with clutch free throws before Threadgill, who had grown in influence as the game wore on, struck a timely three-ball to restore their lead.
Felice Pace then added a layup to stretch the margin, only for Simmons to reply from close range. A composed Cassar levelled matters again at the line, yet Jallow nudged Starlites back in front with calm execution at the line.
Fee, the most consistent presence throughout, then sealed the victory. His pair of free throws pushed the lead to four before he broke away for a decisive layup inside the final 30 seconds.
Though Jackson hit one final three-pointer to keep Hibernians within reach, Scerri converted at the line to secure a 101-97 win for Starlites.
STARLITES: A. Felice Pace 18, T. Fee 26, A. Aquilina, I. Felice Pace, M. Fabri, M. Duffy 1, M. Scerri 11, J. Iturmendi 6, J. Threadgill 22, M. Jallow 17.
HIBERNIANS: N. Cassar 6, E. Simmons 14, A. Ajiboye 14, L. Farrugia, P. Stelmach 13, M. Gouder 2, D. Jackson 29, M. Attard 5, I. Demcesen 14.
Referees: B. Vassallo, M. De Flavia, F. Ciurariu.
