CAFFE MOAK LUXOL 59
HIBERNIANS 62
(16-12, 7-21, 13-3, 23-26)
Hibernians edged past spirited dark horses Caffe Moak Luxol to claim the knockout final and move a step closer to a season double.
It was a final that did not necessarily live up to expectations, with both sides relying on a few players to provide the energy as Steffi De Martino powered Hibs’ victory while Olivia Wikstrom fought tooth and nail to try and cause an upset to the league leaders.
Luxol’s resistance was driven by Wikstrom, whose 26 points, five three-pointer and commanding 22 rebounds repeatedly pulled her side back into contention. Eve Axisa added 10 points with steady free-throw shooting.
Hibernians’ De Martino produced 20 points, including key second-chance scores and 11 rebounds, while Hailey Macleod added 16 through persistent drives and late free throws.
Luxol opened with sharpshooting triples as Wikstrom struck twice from long range for an early lead.
Macleod answered inside, but Gwen Carabott replied from deep. Hibs steadied through free throws and another McLeod layup, and De Martino’s three reduced the margin before Jada Said restored distance.
De Martino again hit from deep with less than a minute remaining in the quarter, but Luxol still held a narrow advantage at the first buzzer, four points ahead.
Momentum shifted early in the next spell when De Martino attacked in the open floor, and Maria Bonett followed with consecutive finishes to level matters.
Free throws and a three-pointer from Andie Saliba pushed Hibernians ahead, and layups from De Martino and Buhagiar stretched the gap into double digits. De Martino capped a 19-1 run before Carabott halted the slide from distance, but the Paolites carried a clear half-time lead at 33-23 as Luxol were held to just seven points in the quarter.
Luxol regrouped after the change of ends and issued payback in the third quarter as they restricted Hibs’ scoring to a mere three points from McLeod through the entire 10 minutes.
Lisa Fenech Pace opened the scoring for the second half before Wikstrom, Sarah Fenech Pace, and Axisa combined for 10 points to regain the lead, one which was brought back to par with a Mcleod freethrow one minute from the buzzer.
The game was brought to life in the final quarter as the gloves were off, and it became make or break with just 10 minutes on the clock remaining.
De Martino, Marie Buhagiar, and Lara Micallef all scored from close range to open the fourth. However, Wikstrom and Vanya Baldacchino fought back as the Paolites pushed up to a 10-point lead midway through the rubber.
The Violets managed to bring it back down to two points with a minute and a half to go, and it seemed like nothing could separate the two sides after Wikstrom’s two late three-pointers.
But closing free throws from McLeod and De Martino confirmed victory, reinforcing Hibs’ status as favourites to complete the double.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL G. Carabott 6, E. Axisa 10, L. Fenech Pace 7, R. Fenech Pace, J. Said 3, S. Fenech Pace 1, O. Wikstrom 26, V. Baldacchino 6, S. Sciberras.
HIBERNIANS M. Buhagiar 5, L. Micallef 7, S. Lecuyer, A. Saliba 5, M. Bonett 7, S. De Martino 20, H. Macleod 16, J. Diaby 2.
Referees N. Rincon, F. Ciurariu, W. Lim.
