MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League basketball returned to the Ta’ Qali Pavilion over the weekend for a round that saw Hibernians thump Athleta, Betsson Depiro take a close victory against Caffe Moak Luxol, and Starlites Revive overcome a strong challenge from Valletta Dream.
ATHLETA 50
HIBERNIANS 109
(12-26, 14-29, 14-26, 10-28)
Athleta faced a tough afternoon of basketball on Sunday as they fell to a 59-point defeat following relentless pressure from a ferocious Hibs side that imposed their pace and physicality across all phases of play.
Hibs’ dominance was shown through various double-digit scorers led by Josephine Diaby who finished the afternoon with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Sasha Lecuyer followed with 16, Hailey Mcleod put up 13, Marie Buhagiar fired in 11 and MBA Women’s Player of the Year Steffi De Martino rounded up the double-digit point-getters with another 10 points.
Despite the struggle, Athleta had Julia Schembri and Sharon Vella with 10 points each.
The Paolites opened with a sharp scoring burst as Macleod struck early from deep, added two free throws, and followed with a layup from a turnover.
Andie Saliba soon joined the run with a fast-break finish and another free throw, extending the lead before Schembri responded with a composed drive and a made free throw for Athleta.
Late efforts from Schembri and Caruana steadied Athleta, but Hibs kept control through Diaby to close the first quarter firmly ahead, 26-12.
Momentum continued to favour Hibs as Lecuyer drove inside, before Caruana added two free throws for Athleta.
Jasmine Abela connected twice from long range, and Lecuyer struck again from outside as the pace increased.
Although Jaelle Micallef and Nicole Vella found openings to score for Athleta, Hibernians replied immediately through Buhagiar and De Martino, capitalising on turnovers to extend the gap.
Vella added a three-point play late in the half, followed by a long-range effort from Vella, but Hibernians still held a commanding 55-26 lead at the interval.
After the break, Naomi Farrugia scored quickly for the Paolites, though Schembri replied with a fast-break finish.
Diaby continued to influence the inside battle with a series of layups.
Camilleri offered a positive moment for Athleta with a floating finish, yet Hibernians’ consistent scoring saw them reach 81-40 by the end of the third rubber.
The final quarter brought further scoring from Lecuyer, De Martino, Diaby and Buhagiar as Hibs sustained their tempo until the final buzzer.
ATHLETA E. Farrugia, J. Schembri 10, N. Vella 7, K. Caruana 7, J. Micallef 5, K. Abela, S. Vella 10, K. Abela 2, L. Camilleri 9.
HIBERNIANS M. Buhagiar 11, L. Micallef 4, S. Lecuyer 16, A. Saliba 11, J. Abela 6, M. Bonett 6, S. De Martino 10, M. Marmara 0, N. Farrugia 6, H. Macleod 13, J. Diaby 21, K. Sammut 5
Referees J. Siefert, A. Attard.
BETSSON DEPIRO 59
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL 48
(14-13, 18-12, 17-13, 10-10)
Depiro and Luxol delivered a competitive encounter as has become customary in games between the two sides.
The Mtarfa side’s approach was driven by the influence of Lovely Sonnier, who put up 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Nicole Agius who followed with 14 points, supported by the inside presence of Sophie Abela.
The Violets relied on Olivia Wikstrom’s 15 points, 12 rebounds, as Fenech Pace duo Sarah and Rebecca contributed 11 and 14 points respectively.
However, Depiro’s late-game composure helped sustain their advantage as they edged ahead across the finish line.
Luxol opened with a strong run as Sarah Fenech Pace scored twice inside, followed by a floating jumper from Jada Said.
Depiro responded when Abela settled their rhythm with a fast-break layup and free throw before Sonnier reduced the gap further.
Wikstrom restored Luxol’s cushion with a finish at the rim, but Depiro countered swiftly. Julia Borg Xerri struck from a turnover, and Julia Borg added another basket to turn the contest.
Further scores from Borg Xerri and Sonnier saw Depiro move 14-8 ahead, though Luxol closed the period to just a point’s difference with Said’s late three-pointer.
Abela opened the second rubber with another layup, but Luxol replied through a composed four-point stretch by Rebecca Fenech Pace, who put her side ahead. Nonetheless, Depiro surged into the lead again with efforts from Agius before Sonnier hit five straight points to give her side a 32-25 advantage at the change of ends.
The third quarter began with a Wikstrom free throw before Rebecca Fenech Pace added back-to-back drives to narrow the margin.
Agius restored momentum with a three-pointer, and Sonnier responded with more long-range shots as Depiro held firm, closing the quarter ahead at 49-38.
The Violets attempted a final push when Wikstrom struck early in the fourth quarter, but Depiro responded decisively with a 8-0 run.
A late three-pointer from Wikstrom and a layup from Rebecca Fenech Pace kept Luxol within reach, but Depiro closed out the win at the end of the game.
BETSSON DEPIRO S. Abela 10, N. Agius 14, J. Borg Xerri 6, C. Privitera 5, J. Borg 2, N. Borg, L. Sonnier 22, S. Deguara.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL G. Carabott, E. Axisa, L. Fenech Pace, R. Fenech Pace 14, J. Said 6, S. Fenech Pace 11, O. Wikstrom 15, S. Sciberras, S. Farrugia 2.
Referees B. Vassallo, M. De Flavia.
VALLETTA DREAM 72
STARLITES REVIVE 79
(16-20, 21-21, 11-19, 24-19)
Valletta and Starlites delivered a fast-paced contest marked by strong individual scoring from both teams.
The Capital club relied heavily on the all-round performance of Olesia Malashenko who amassed 43 points and 24 rebounds.
Marie Elise Pollaco added key points for the Citizens to finish with 13 points. Meanwhile, Georgia Haverlock and Philippa Riolo both finished with 24 points for Starlites with Rebecca Naudi following with 13.
Valletta opened brightly when Pollaco struck twice inside before Malashenko added a layup and free throw to extend the early advantage.
Starlites responded through Rebecca Naudi, who fired in twice to keep the margin narrow, and Riolo soon levelled the encounter with a three-pointer.
Malashenko restored Valletta’s lead with two composed finishes, only for Naudi and Haverlock to reply in transition as Starlites shifted the momentum. Riolo added a late tip-in that pushed the Naxxar side ahead 20-16 at the end of the first rubber.
The second quarter began with Riolo converting from the line before Malashenko answered with a floating jumper and another free throw.
What ensued was a series of one-upping from both sets of players as they balenced out with 21 points apiece in the quarter. Still, Starlites held a 41-37 lead at half-time.
Starlites reopened play with free throws from Naudi and two scores from Riolo.
Malashenko responded once again for Valletta, but Starlites extended their advantage again through repeated transition plays. Starlites maintained control and entered the final stretch 60-48 ahead.
The fourth saw Starlites sustain their rhythm despite the valiant efforts of the Citizens. Riolo and Haverlock took over the quarter, with Malashenko being Valletta’s constant response, but Starlites held firm to ensure the victory.
VALLETTA DREAM M. Pollaco 13, O. Malashenko 43, M. Momcilovic 4, A. Caballero 3, H. Grixti 5, M. Mifsud, N. Montalvo 1, S. Kankaras 3.
STARLITES REVIVE Y. Ferrando 4, M. Riolo 8, C. Cilia 2, P. Riolo 24, S. Abugrin 2, M. Fenech 2, R. Naudi 13, G. Haverlock 24, B. Sciberras, L. Zammit.
Referees W. Lim, F. Ciurariu.
STANDINGS: Hibernians, Betsson Depiro 6; Caffe Moak Luxol 5, Starlites Revive 4; Athleta, Valletta Dream 3.
