The MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League tipped off last weekend with two games on Saturday and another on Sunday to put the six teams in action at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion after the John Tabone Shield.
It was a dominant showing for Hibernians and Betsson Depiro as they brushed aside Valletta Dream and Athleta respectively. Meanwhile, Caffe Moak Luxol got the better of Starlites Revive in their first meeting since the Shield final.
VALLETTA DREAM 45
HIBERNIANS 87
(7-25, 19-19, 12-28, 7-15)
Hibernians delivered a commanding performance to dismantle Valletta, securing a dominant 42-point victory built on balanced scoring and relentless defence.
The Paolites had four players in double figures – Holly Macleod led with 19 points, with Sasha Lecuyer and Andie Saliba putting up 18 points each, followed closely by Josephine Diaby with 17.
Marie Elise Pollacco was the star for the Citizens, battling valiantly for 18 points, while Olesia Malashenko contributed eight. Despite spirited moments, Valletta struggled with turnovers and second-chance defence, conceding heavily in the paint.
Hibs set the tone from the opening possession, with Saliba draining a three-pointer just seconds into proceedings.
Lecuyer and Macleod followed with quick baskets as the visitors surged to a 13-0 start before Pollacco’s free throw put Valletta on the board with free throws.
Valletta’s composure briefly improved through Malashenko’s jumpshot, yet Macleod’s confidence from deep saw her finish the quarter with 12 points as the Paolites led 25-7.
Valletta’s brightest spell came early in the second quarter, led by Pollacco’s aggression inside the lane. Her back-to-back layups and composed free throws trimmed the deficit to single digits at 19-28.
However, Saliba’s timely three-pointers reignited Hibs’ momentum.
Lecuyer’s accuracy from long range and Bonett’s mid-range jumper extended the gap to 44–26 by halftime.
After the break, Diaby took over with a sequence of precise jump shots, scoring 11 points in less than four minutes to stretch the margin beyond 20.
Lecuyer joined in as Hibernians punished Valletta’s turnovers repeatedly.
Despite small flashes from Pollacco and Nicole Montalvo, the Citizens’ resistance waned under constant pressure.
By the end of the third rubber, Charles Bonnici’s Hibs were firmly in control at 72-38.
The final quarter merely confirmed the inevitable.
Lecuyer and Diaby continued to exploit open space, while Bonett and Kirstie Sammut contributed off the bench. Adriana Caballero and Maria Mifsud added late points for the Capital club, but Pollacco’s final free throw only softened the margin as the buzzer sounded on a one-sided encounter.
VALLETTA DREAM: M. E. Pollaco 18, A. Cutajar 3, O. Malashenko 8, M. Momcilovic 3, A. Caballero 5, H. Grixti, M. Mifsud 4, N. Montalvo 4.
HIBERNIANS: M. Buhagiar 3, L. Micallef 1, I. Agius 3, S. Lecuyer 18, A. Saliba 18, J. Abela, M. Bonett 6, M. Marmara, N. Farrugia, H. Macleod 19, J. Diaby 17, K. Sammut 2.
Referees A. Attard, F. Ciurariu.
ATHLETA 47
BETSSON DEPIRO 84
(11-17, 12-16, 12-27, 12-24)
Malta champions Depiro produced an impressive second-half display to ease past Athleta.
In the absence of import player Lovely Sonnier, Nicole Agius spearheaded the charge with 17 points, supported by four teammates also in double figures – Andrea Tollar Lopez, Julia Borg Xerri, Sophie Abela, and Julia Borg.
This contrasted sharply with Athleta’s reliance on Izabelle Booth, who posted a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Anthea Micallef chipped in eight while and Kirsty Caruana and Nicole Vella both put up five points, but turnovers and defensive lapses repeatedly undermined Athleta’s rhythm as Depiro’s fast breaks and second-chance points proved decisive.
Julian Naudi-led Depiro began strongly, with Abela scoring five early points through aggressive drives in transition. Tollar Lopez and Samira Deguara extended the lead with mid-range finishes as Athleta struggled to settle.
Booth responded with a pair of three-pointers to keep her side within reach, while Caruana’s jumper reduced the margin to 17-11 by the end of the opening quarter.
Early in the second rubber, Booth’s layup and free throws offered Athleta brief momentum, but Depiro’s disciplined ball movement quickly reasserted control. Agius and Borg Xerri orchestrated a surge featuring multiple fast-break finishes, widening the gap to 33–23 by half-time despite Booth’s efforts to keep Athleta competitive.
Depiro’s third-quarter dominance effectively decided the outcome.
Abela and Borg Xerri combined for a flurry of inside baskets, while Tollar Lopez struck from beyond the arc as Depiro’s lead ballooned past twenty.
Booth’s persistence yielded a pair of mid-range jumpers, and Kaya Calleja and Nicole Vella found the net, but it was Depiro ahead 60–35 at the final stretch.
Agius opened the fourth with another three-pointer before Tollar Lopez and Borg Xerri punished Athleta’s turnovers to extend the advantage.
Late baskets from Micallef and Kelsey Abela offered some consolation, but the margin only widened as Claire Privitera sealed the game with 21 seconds to go.
ATHLETA E. Farrugia 4, J. Schembri, N. Vella 5, K. Calleja 4, A. Micallef 8, K. Caruana 5, I. Booth 16, K. Abela 2, S. Vella 3, L. Camilleri.
BETSSON DEPIRO S. Abela 11, N. Agius 17, J. Borg Xerri 13, J. Mallia 2, C. Privitera 7, A. Tollar Lopez 13, C. Fenech, J. Borg 11, N. Borg 3, S. Deguara 5, H. Farag 2.
Referees W. Lim, A. Attard.
STARLITES REVIVE 49
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL 53
(7-18, 14-11, 17-8, 11-16)
Luxol gained redemption for their recent cup defeat with a disciplined victory over Starlites.
Both imports, Olivia Wikstrom for Luxol and Georgia Haverlock for Starlites, top-scored with 25 and 21 points respectively, yet it was the supporting cast that proved decisive.
Sarah Sciberras delivered 14 points as the only other double-digit scorer of the encounter.
The Violets raced out of the blocks, with Sciberras and Wikstrom driving up for early layups to build an 11-0 cushion before Haverlock finally broke Starlites’ drought. Luxol’s passing and fast breaks left Starlites chasing with the margin growing to 18-7 by the end of the first quarter.
Starlites responded in the second, led by Haverlock’s triple and Mikela Riolo’s drives to the basket. Catherine Cilia’s jumper brought them within four at 19-23.
But Luxol countered through Sciberras and Lisa Fenech Pace. Despite Haverlock’s persistence inside, Luxol’s steadier execution saw them retain a 29-23 lead at half-time.
The third quarter produced Starlites’ best run of the game.
Haverlock sparked an 8-2 run that tied the scores at 31-31, capped by Riolo’s layup that gave Christina Curmi’s clan the lead.
Despite Wikstrom’s three-pointer, Julija Dabic hit a layup and bonus free throw, and Philippa Riolo’s late jumper restored Starlites’ lead at 38-37 entering the final quarter.
Luxol regained composure when Sciberras hit a mid-range jumper to reclaim the advantage. Wikstrom then buried consecutive three-pointers to silence the Starlites crowd and push Luxol ahead.
Although Haverlock levelled once more, Luxol’s poise in the closing minutes stretched the lead beyond reach. Haverlock and Riolo scored late baskets to narrow the gap, but Luxol’s early dominance secured the win as time expired.
STARLITES REVIVE Y. Ferrando, M. Riolo 9, C. Cilia 4, P. Riolo 9, B. Sciberras, G. Haverlock 21, J. Dabic 6.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL G. Carabott 2, E. Axisa 2, L. Fenech Pace 3, R. Fenech Pace, J. Said, E. Abela 1, S. Fenech Pace 6, O. Wikstrom 25, V. Baldacchino, S. Sciberras 14.
Referees B. Vassallo, G. Barbara.
STANDINGS
Hibernians, Betsson Depiro, Caffe Moak Luxol 2, Starlites Revive, Athleta, Valletta Dream 1.
