Starlites overcome Depiro in tight victory
Athleta made a statement on Sunday in the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League to power past Valletta Dream as week after the Knockout final, Caffe Moak Luxol triumphed over Hibernians after the latter lifted the cup trophy at their expense.
Meanwhile, Starlites Revive showed their own strengths with a win over Betsson Depiro.
VALLETTA DREAM 32
ATHLETA 85
(8-20, 10-16, 2-20, 12-29)
Athleta produced a commanding display to defeat Valletta, a victory built on defensive pressure as the Capital club were held to single digits in two of the four quarters played.
Athleta repeatedly turned turnovers into points, as Kaya Calleja led the pack with 18 points while Macy Tyler Smith followed with a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Sharon Vella went 60% from the field and four-of-four from the line to finish with 10 points.
At the other end, Marie Elise Pollacco was the leading contributor for the Citiznes with 19 points and 19 rebounds for another double-double.
Athleta set the tone immediately. Julia Schembri opened with a three-pointer on the break after a turnover, and Nicole Vella added a jumpshot to spark an early surge.
Though Marija Momcilovic and Pollacco responded with free throws and close-range finishes, Calleja and Tyler Smith punished defensive lapses in transition.
Consecutive fast-break scores from Sharon Vella, Calleja and Kaya Abela stretched the margin, and Athleta closed the first quarter 20-8 ahead.
The second rubber continued to push the gap wide open as Tyler Smith rushed for four straight points before Kirsty Caruana hit from deep, before Valletta’s first point of the quarter from the line. Vella duo Nicole and Sharon took over the freethrow line to overcome the 20-point advantage but Pollacco and Maria Mifsud hit back late before half-time to head to the dressing rooms behind by 18 points.
After the break, Valletta needed to step up to overcome a tough margin; however, it got much harder for them as the third quarter turned out to be their worst run of the game, scoring only two points through a Pollacco jumper.
Meanwhile, the Athleta fight continued as Tyler Smith and Sharon Vella took over the team’s offence, Eliza Farrugia eventually making it a 36-point advantage at the end of the penultimate quarter.
The final rubber was a mere formality, but to their credit, Valletta did not throw in the towel. Athleta’s Caruana hit from the mid-range to restart the scoring by Hailey Grixti replied with one of her own.
Coach Karl Borg rotated his Athleta roster and the players off the bench repaid the favour with more scores as the advantage continued to grow.
Valletta’s Pollacco remained her side’s offensive threat but her efforts was not enough as Calleja pushed the lead to 55.
The Valletta forward did make the last shot of the game, but Athleta celebrated a well-deserved victory at the final buzzer.
VALLETTA DREAM N. Pejcic 1, M. Pollacco 19, M. Trapani 2, A. Cutajar 2, M. Momcilovic 4, H. Grixti 2, M. Mifsud 2.
ATHLETA E. Farrugia 9, J. Schembri 3, B. Agius 2, N. Vella 9, K. Calleja 18, E. Frendo, K. Caruana 5, M. Tyler Smith 13, S. Vella 10, K. Abela 3, L. Camilleri 5, A. Pisani 8.
HIBERNIANS 73
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL 79
(20-22, 12-21, 22-14, 19-22)
Just a few days into Hibernians’ reign as the new Knockout champions, Luxol secured a hard-fought victory in the league.
The contest swung on Luxol’s Sarah Fenech Pace and Lisa Fenech Pace, who scored 24 and 20 points respectively.
Olivia Wikstrom followed with a 17-points, 20-rebounds double double.
At the other end, Sasha Lecuyer had a 20-point performance, with Hailey McLeod adding 17. Josephine Diaby and Steffi De Martino rounded the double-digit scorers with 13 and 12 respectively. De Martino also amassed 10 assists – the first double-digit assist finish within the local leagues in a while.
Hibernians made the brighter start. McLeod opened with a layup, and Lecuyer followed with successive finishes in the paint to build a narrow lead.
Luxol responded through Sarah Fenech Pace, who scored inside and then buried a three-pointer to spark a shift in momentum. Free throws from Wikstrom and a second-chance effort from Lisa Fenech Pace helped the Violets edge ahead 22-20 at the end of the first quarter.
The second period put the spotlight on Axisa. She struck three triples in quick succession.
Carabott and Wikstrom added their own shots from range as Luxol’s pressure began to make its effect.
The Paolites steadied through Diaby and De Martino, but Roderick Vella-led Luxol held a 43-32 advantage at halftime.
After the change of ends, Macleod led a spirited response with a string of close-range finishes and free throws. Lecuyer and Diaby closed the gap to a single possession, and De Martino’s trademark three-pointer levelled the contest before Vanya Baldacchino restored the Violets’ edge at 57-54 heading into the final quarter.
Marie Buhagiar briefly tied matters with a long-range effort, yet Rebecca and Sarah Fenech Pace answered with composed mid-range work, and Axisa added another decisive three-pointer. Wikstrom’s late free throws steadied Luxol, and despite Lecuyer’s late long-distance hit, Luxol maintained control to seal the result.
HIBERNIANS M. Buhagiar 4, I. Agius, S. Lecuyer 20, M. Bonett 7, S. De Martino 12, H. Macleod 17, J. Diaby 13, K. Sammut.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL G. Carabott 7, E. Axisa 20, L. Fenech Pace 4, R. Fenech Pace 2, J. Said, E. Abela, S. Fenech Pace 24, O. Wikstrom 17, V. Baldacchino 5.
STARLITES REVIVE 65
BETSSON DEPIRO 64
(12-24, 22-4, 18-17, 13-19)
Starlites edged past Depiro in a dramatic contest that saw Depiro go all in after a weak second quarter. However, it was a case of steady play by Starlites that ensure the victory on Saturday.
The margin reflected a contest shaped by close-range shooting with both sides struggling from deep. Georgia Haverlock led the game’s scoring with 22 points as Philippa Riolo followed her teammate with a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double.
At the other end, Julia Borg led her side with 19 points.
In fact, it was Depiro who struck early through Borg and Julia Borg Xerri, combining for six points. Starlites got into the game with efforts from Haverlock, with Riolo adding a. Layup and Julija Dabic scoring twice from the line.
However, it was mostly Depiro in control as they led by 12 at the first buzzer.
Despite this, the tide turned in the second quarter as Depiro were held to just four points in the entire period.
Riolo sparked a run with a triple, and Michela Zammit Cordina attacked the rim to level the contest. Haverlock and Jasmine Abela added fastbreak scores as Starlites moved 34-28 in front at halftime.
After the break, the Starlites trio of Zammit Cordina, Haverlock and Riolo continued to dominate inside, and though Samira Deguara’s three-pointer and Nicole Agius’ drives narrowed the gap. Starlites held a seven-point advantage entering the final rubber.
Depiro rallied again in the fourth as it appeared like Depiro could make a comeback, drawing level before exchanging baskets in a tense closing spell. Deguara’s late three-ball edged Depiro ahead, but Haverlock’s decisive fastbreak in the closing seconds sealed a narrow victory for Starlites.
STARLITES REVIVE M. Riolo, P. Riolo 17, M. Zammit Cordina 13, M. Fenech, R. Naudi 2, G. Haverlock 22, J. Abela 2, J. Dabic 9.
BETSSON DEPIRO N. Agius 9, J. Borg Xerri 10, J. Mallia, C. Privitera 10, C. Fenech, J. Borg 19, C. Portelli, N. Borg, S. Deguara 16.
STANDINGS
Hibernians 19; Betsson Depiro, Caffe Moak Luxol 18; Starlites Revive 15; Valletta Dream, Athleta 11.
