Nothing could separate Hibernians, Caffe Moak Luxol, and Betsson Depiro at the top of the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League standings as the leading trio remained perfect after two games.
Last weekend, Hibs beat Starlites Revive as Luxol brushed aside Athleta.
On Sunday, Depiro gave Valletta Dream their second defeat of the league campaign with a 27-point drubbing.
HIBERNIANS 58
STARLITES REVIVE 49
(16-11, 12-8, 19-10, 11-20)
Hibernians earned a composed win over Starlites, building a 22-point advantage that proved decisive despite a late surge from their opponents.
The strong early control, balanced scoring and defensive organisation allowed them to withstand Starlites’ spirited final-quarter push.
Hailey Macleod led Hibernians with 17 points, while Josephine Diaby added 11 points, and Maria Bonett contributed nine points.
Lara Micallef went four-of-four from the field for eight points.
For Starlites, Philippa Riolo led with 14 points and Mikela Riolo 13, supported by Georgia Haverlock’s nine, but their offence only found rhythm when the deficit had grown too large.
The opening exchanges were balanced, with Haverlock and Philippa Riolo giving Starlites a narrow lead in between a Macleod effort.
Bonett added a composed jumper, and although Starlites stayed close through two early three-pointers from the Riolo tandem, the Paolites then shifted momentum.
Bonett tied the score with an and-one, while Diaby and Steffi De Martino added inside baskets to complete a 7-0 run and establish a 16-11 lead at the first buzzer.
Hibs extended that advantage early in the second quarter to stretch the gap to 22-11. Starlites pulled back baskets through Rebecca Naudi and Philippa Riolo, yet Charles Bonnici’s clan kept control to maintain a comfortable 28-19 margin at halftime.
The third rubber proved the decisive stretch. Andrea Saliba and Micallef hit first, and after a brief reply from Naudi, Hibernians unleashed their strongest run of the night.
Macleod, Saliba, and Micallef all contributed to open a 20-point cushion before Diaby confirmed a 47-29 scoreline ahead of the final quarter.
Starlites produced their best run in the fourth, bringing the deficit down to five at one instance.
Hibernians, however, closed it out through Bonett’s composed jumper and Macleod’s strong drive and final free throw, sealing a fully-earned win.
HIBERNIANS L. Micallef 8, I. Agius 2, S. Lecuyer 2, A. Saliba 5, M. Bonett 9, S. De Martino 4, H. Macleod 17, J. Diaby 11.
STARLITES REVIVE Y. Ferrando 4, M. Riolo 13, C. Cilia, P. Riolo 14, R. Naudi 5, G. Haverlock 9, J. Dabic 4.
Referees A. Attard, F. Ciurariu.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL 84
ATHLETA 50
(21-12, 23-12, 19-16, 21-10)
Luxol claimed an assertive victory over Athleta, setting the tone early with quick ball movement and fastbreaks that opened a gap the Gzira side could never recover from.
Their balanced scoring, led by an impressive all-round display from Vanya Baldacchino, ensured control throughout despite Athleta’s efforts.
Baldacchino led Luxol with 29 points and strong rebounding, while Lisa Fenech Pace added 13 points, five rebounds and three steals in a composed display.
Athleta replied through the scoring of Sharon Vella who put up 12 points, and the work on the boards from Nicole Vella who managed 13 rebounds.
The Violets opened brightly as Sarah Sciberras hit a triple to kickstart the game’s scoring.
Although Athleta replied with free throws and driving finishes from Izabelle Booth, Luxol steadily edged ahead.
Wikstrom and Eve Axisa both hit three-balls in between Baldacchino efforts as Luxol closed the first spell 21-12 ahead.
The second quarer saw Roderick Vella’s Luxol tighten their grip. Baldacchino continued to find space inside, Said connected from deep and Fenech Pace added a well-taken jumper.
Athleta kept the scoreboard moving through free throws yet struggled to break Luxol’s rhythm. Wikstrom’s driving layup and another composed finish from Fenech Pace widened the margin further.
Even with late points from Sharon Vella and Micallef, Luxol carried a comfortable 44-24 lead into half-time.
After the change of ends, Luxol got back up to speed. Said hit another three-pointer and Baldacchino replied to Athleta’s free throws with a mix of inside finishing and long-range shooting. Wikstrom and Fenech Pace added further baskets as the Violets closed the third quarter firmly in control.
The final run followed the same pattern. Athleta’s Laura Camilleri initiated the quarter with a layup but Baldacchino added two more inside scores and a shot from the line, while Wikstrom struck twice from second-chance plays.
Athleta found late replies through Vella, Kirsty Caruana and Camilleri, but Luxol’s early dominance secured a deserved win.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL G. Carabott, K. Magro, E. Axisa 5, L. Fenech Pace 13, H. Galea 3, R. Fenech Pace 9, J. Said 9, E. Abela, O. Wikstrom 11, V. Baldacchino 29, S. Sciberras 5,
ATHLETA E. Farrugia, J. Schembri 2, N. Vella 7, K. Calleja 3, A. Micallef 5, K. Caruana 6, J. Micallef 7, I. Booth 4, S. Vella 12, L. Camilleri 4.
Referees N. Da Silva, F. Ciurariu.
BETSSON DEPIRO 68
VALLETTA DREAM 41
(18-16, 20-11, 14-12, 16-2)
Depiro closed out a solid victory over Valletta with a dominant final quarter, producing a decisive 16–2 run after the game had remained competitive through the first three quarters.
Lovely Sonnier led the Mtarfa side with 18 points as Sophie Abela contributed 12 points. Claire Privitera added 10 points while Julia Borg Xerri scored nine points. For Valletta, Olesia Malashenko led from the front with 15 points, supported by Andriana Caballero’s 13.
Depiro opened brightly as Borg Xerri struck twice from deep in quick succession. Malashenko replied with strong inside finishing, yet Depiro found answers through Privitera and Sonnier. Valletta briefly swung momentum with baskets from Caballero and Alexis Cutajar, even edging ahead after Malashenko added a triple. Abela steadied Depiro with back-to-back scores and converted two late free throws for an 18–16 lead.
Depiro controlled much of the second rubber. Sonnier hit six straight points before Samira Deguara amde it a double-digits lead. Valletta eventually reduced the margin temporarily through Caballero and Marie Pollaco, but Depiro led by 11 at the interval.
The penultimate quarter remained competitive. Pollaco and Caballero kept Valletta within striking distance, and Malashenko added another five points. Yet Depiro always produced timely responses to restore a double-digit buffer.
In the final stretch, Depiro then produced an emphatic closing spell. Sonnier opened with a series of composed finishes with Privitera, Abela and Maya Borg adding to the push. Valletta found a final reply through Caballero, but it was Depiro who finished in the winning column once again.
BETSSON DEPIRO S. Abela 12, N. Agius 8, J. Borg Xerri 9, J. Mallia, C. Privitera 10, C. Fenech 4, N. Borg 3, L. Sonnier 18, M. Borg 2, S. Deguara 2, H. Farag.
VALLETTA DREAM M. Pollaco 7, A. Cutajar 4, O. Malashenko 15, M. Momcilovic 2, A. Caballero 13, H. Grixti, N. Montalvo, S. Kankaras.
Referees W. Lim, L. Silvero.
STANDINGS
Hibernians, Betsson Depiro, Caffe Moak Luxol 4, Starlites Revive, Athleta, Valletta Dream 2.
