BOV Division One basketball returned to the Ta’ Qali Pavilion on Sunday with the race for the top spots already heating up. Luxol Sherries Estates edged past Athleta AtoZ as Starlites Revive broke The Plaza Depiro with a 35-point drubbing.
Finally, Hibernians made sure to end the afternoon in style as they brushed aside Valletta Dream.
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES 86
ATHLETA ATOZ 80
(22-23, 23-14, 22-20, 19-23)
Luxol claimed a hard-fought victory over a resilient Athleta side, holding their nerve in the closing stages as Jayden Johnson’s scoring and late free throws secured the result.
The Violets relied heavily on the scoring strength of Johnson, whose 24 points were central to their win, while strong supporting displays came from Burke Smith, Dom Tomasi, and Miguel Brincat.
Athleta stayed in touch throughout thanks to an impressive 29-point, 10-rebound double-double performance from Wesley Jordan, who was effective both in transition and at the rim.
Duane Goodman also contributed consistently with outside shooting for 26 points.
Luxol made a quick start as Connor James replied immediately after Athleta’s opener from Isaac Bonett.
Tomasi nudged Luxol in front from the line before Johnson struck from three-point range to extend the momentum.
Athleta stayed close through Jordan and Goodman, who prevented the gap from widening despite Luxol’s brief scoring burst. Athleta finished the quarter strongly, with Medved’s late three-pointer giving them a one-point lead.
The second quarter shifted back towards Luxol as Stefan Cappello and Brincat found their shot from range.
Bonett and Jordan briefly restored Athleta’s lead with three-point responses, but Luxol hit back. Smith scored from close range while Johnson produced a series of composed finishes to rebuild control, and Stefano Marra’s late three-pointer sent the Violets into half-time 45-37 ahead.
Luxol opened the third with confident shooting from Tomasi and Johnson, stretching the lead to double figures.
Athleta fought back through a jumpshot from Goodman, Duffy’s free throws, and Jordan’s consistent scoring, narrowing the deficit to three.
Luxol steadied themselves via Brincat’s shooting and Johnson’s three-pointer before Cappello pushed the margin to 10 entering the final frame.
Athleta’s last surge came through Jordan’s power at the rim and a timely three-pointer from Duffy, cutting the gap to two.
Luxol answered through Smith and Brincat, while Johnson’s three-pointer from a turnover provided the final separation. Athleta kept pressing through Jordan and Goodman, but late free throws from James, Smith, and Johnson ensured a hard-earned victory.
LUXOL SHERRIES ESTATES A. Azzopardi, I. Azzopardi 7, C. James 5, J. Johnson 24, M. Brincat 11, D. Tomasi 12, B. Smith 18, S. Cappello 6, S. Marra 3.
ATHLETA ATOZ M. Duffy 6, S. Ebelashvili, R. Vitale 4, I. Bonett 9, D. Goodman 26, M. Spiteri, I. Medved 4, L. Borg 2, W. Jordan 29.
Referees G. Barbara, N. Da Silva, M. De Flavia.
THE PLAZA DEPIRO 72
STARLITES REVIVE 107
(11-26, 17-32, 21-23, 23-26)
Starlites powered to a dominant victory over Depiro, breaking the game open early and maintaining complete control, added to an outstanding scoring display from Jacob Threadgill.
Starlites’ superiority stemmed from their accuracy beyond the arc, hitting 44 per cent from three-point range, and from Threadgill’s prolific 30-point outing. Musa Jallow added 22 points, while Alec Felice Pace and Travis Fee provided valuable perimeter support with 19 and 11, respectively.
Depiro struggled to match that offensive pace despite Trevon Reddish Rhone contributing 27 points on his return against his former club.
Starlites seized control from the outset, with Threadgill hitting a three-point play.
Jallow and Fee capitalised on turnovers as Depiro struggled to settle, and although Sean Galea and Luca Stefanovic briefly halted the slide, Threadgill’s sharp shooting, including two clean three-pointers, widened the margin. Iturmendi extended the damage, and Threadgill added a fast-break dunk as Starlites closed the opening quarter with a 26-11 advantage.
In the second rubber, Reddish opened with two points, but Jallow and Threadgill responded with confident outside shooting, pushing the lead past 20.
Felice Pace hit consecutive three-pointers, Fabri added layups, and Threadgill struck again from deep as the advantage ballooned to 30. Reddish tried to keep Depiro afloat, but Starlites maintained their dominance, taking a 58-28 lead into the break.
The third quarter kept the same pace.
Felice Pace opened with another three-pointer as Starlites moved further ahead. Depiro found occasional success through Reddish and Cameron Cornelius, yet Threadgill and Jallow remained powerful at both ends, with Felice Pace adding yet another three to send the margin beyond 30, approaching the final frame.
The fourth offered little change. Galea scored early for Depiro, but Threadgill, Jallow, and Fabri continued to punish defensive lapses. Reddish persisted with determined drives, but Starlites’ depth ensured the margin kept stretching. Late contributions from Zac Said Hollier and Giacomo Camilleri added to the tally as Starlites’ dominance prevailed.
THE PLAZA DEPIRO S. Galea 9, T. Reddish 27, N. Zivkovic 2, L. Stefanovic 8, JP Schembri 8, A. Trapani 2, M. Grubacic, J. Turner 3, S. Kenely, M. Sammut 7, C. Cornelius 6.
STARLITES REVIVE A. F. Pace 19, K. Fabri, T. Fee 11, A. Aquilina, G. Camilleri 2, M. Fabri 9, Z. S. Hollier 4, M. Scerri 2, J. Iturmendi 8, J. Threadgill 30, M. Jallow 22.
Referees Z. Dobrosaviljevic, N. Rincon, W. Lim.
HIBERNIANS 116
VALLETTA DREAM 93
(29-22, 39-23, 28-19, 20-29)
In the final game of the afternoon, Hibernians delivered a powerful response in the race for top spot, outgunning Valletta by 23 points.
The Paolites produced a balanced scoring display with six players in double figures, led by Ivan Demcesen’s impressive 21 points in just 21 minutes. Ayomide Ajiboye, Elijah Simmons, Neil Cassar, and Deonte Jackson all contributed consistently. Valletta relied heavily on their imports, with Eugene Campbell pouring in 44 points and Tyler Murray adding 24.
Hibs opened aggressively, with Cassar and Ajiboye scoring as turnovers immediately favoured them.
Campbell replied with determined drives to keep the Citizens close, but Piotr Stelmach, Stefan Simic, and Jackson kept their side’s tempo high, stretching the margin with fast-break finishes. Campbell continued to carry Valletta’s scoring, including a series of free throws and quick layups, yet Christian Narciso’s clan closed the quarter ahead by seven.
Demcesen made an instant impact in the second quarter, converting multiple tip-ins, while Matthew Attard, Ajiboye, and Matthew Gouder extended the gap.
Campbell and Murray tried to stabilise Valletta’s offence with mid-range shots and three-pointers, but Hibs pushed their tally to 68-45 by half-time.
It was the same after the change of ends. Cassar’s second-chance scoring and Jackson’s creativity widened the margin, while Simmons and Ajiboye repeatedly broke through the defence. Murray kept Valletta scoring with a steady flow of mid-range efforts and tip-ins, and Campbell added more drives and free throws, but Hibs’ pace saw the gap extend beyond 30.
The fourth quarter followed the path. Despite a late run by Valletta, Hibernians were never threatened as they closed out a convincing win.
HIBERNIANS N. Cassar 10, E. Simmons 11, A. Ajiboye 16, L. Attard 2, P. Stelmach 11, V. Kustudja 2, M. Gouder 9, D. Jackson 16, M. Attard 8, T. Gjurovski 4, I. Demcesen 21, S. Simic 6.
VALLETTA DREAM N. Grech 2, F. M. Bonnici 5, K. Caruana 6, E. Campbell 44, T. Murray 24, F. Lisondra 6, C. Penaloza 4, M. Rieger 2.
Referees B. Vassallo, L. Silvero, A. Attard.
STANDINGS: Starlites Revive, Hibernians 4; The Plaza Depiro, Luxol Sherries Estates 3; Valletta Dream, Athleta AtoZ 2.
