Starlites Revive overcame Athleta’s challenge at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion on Saturday to go just a point below third seed Betsson Depiro after the latter fell to leaders Hibernians in an end-to-end showdown later in the day that could only be separated by a point at the final buzzer.
Meanwhile, second seed Caffe Moak Luxol took an easy victory to stay on course after Valletta Dream issued a walkover ahead of their fixture.
STARLITES REVIVE 72
ATHLETA 50
(24-13, 19-14, 17-10, 12-13)
Starlites secured a commanding victory over Athleta, using an early surge in three-pointers to take control of the contest.
Starlites’ dominance was rooted in various players having a piece of the action. Georgia Haverlock led Starlites’ offence with 17 points while Michela Zammit Cordina followed with 16.
Mikela Riolo rounded the double-digit scorers for Christina Curmi’s side with 11, while Makaila Napoleon grabbed 15 boards.
At the other end of the court, Athleta relied on Macy Tyler Smith’s athleticism, which led her to a game-leading 21 points and 15 rebounds – the only double-double finisher of the game.
However, it was enough to counter Starlites’ efforts as the rest of the Athleta roster struggled.
Starlites burst into rhythm from the opening moments, as Riolo and Haverlock struck from beyond the arc to spark an early run.
Zammit Cordina soon joined in from deep, stretching the lead before Nicole Vella briefly steadied Athleta with a three-point play as both Vella and Tyler Smith put up long-range efforts.
Yet Starlites responded with a sharp scoring sequence, driven by Riolo to open a clear gap. By the end of the first quarter, they led 24-13.
Athleta attempted to stay within reach through Laura Camilleri and Tyler Smith, but Starlites maintained control with quick breaks.
Despite a compilation of free throws, a mid-range jumpshot from Tyler Smith, and a triple from Julia Schembri to bring the deficit to single digits, Rebecca Naudi and Napoleon surged ahead with either close-range finishes before Zammit Cordina made it a 16-point half-time lead for the Naxxar side.
The third quarter effectively settled the game. Zammit Cordina and Ylenia Ferrando extended the advantage early on, and although Schembri and Tyler Smith tried to respond, Haverlock took over with a decisive scoring stretch, combining a triple, a three-point play, and a strong finish in the paint as Starlites surged ahead 60–37 heading into the final rubber.
Athleta restarted the fight in the fourth quarter through Tyler Smith and Eliza Farrugia, but Starlites hit them back with an 8-0 run that made it a mountain to climb for the Gżira side.
żTyler Smith attempted to bring her side back by potting several freethrows but there was no chance of an upset by the final buzzer as Starlites sealed the win.
STARLITES REVIVE Y. Ferrando 2, M. Riolo 11, C. Cilia 2, M. Zammit Cordina 16, M. Fenech 2, R. Naudi 8, G. Haverlock 17, L. Zammit 3, M. Napoleon 7, J. Abela 3, J. Dabic 1.
ATHLETA E. Farrugia 4, J. Schembri 7, N. Vella 9, K. Calleja 1, A. Micallef, K. Caruana 2, M. Tyler Smith 21, K. Abela, L. Camilleri 6, A. Pisani.
Referees M. De Flavia, W. Lim.
HIBERNIANS 60
BETSSON DEPIRO 59
(15-13, 16-16, 15-15, 14-15)
Hibernians edged past Depiro in the day’s late game in an exciting encounter that saw the two side fight for every possession and could only be separated by a point at the end of proceedings.
Steffi De Martino led the game’s scoring with 24 points on the day, while Hailey McLeod followed with 15. Josephine Diaby bagged a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Depiro’s Lovely Sonnier was the only other double-double finisher of the game with 23 points and 11 rebounds as Julia Borg Xerri and Neve Borg added 12 points and 10 respectively as the double-digit finishers for the Mtarfa side.
Depiro hit the ground running with a Borg three-pointer, driving in for a layup before De Martino rose up for Hibs’ first two points.
Momentum shifted towards the Paolites and a McLeod basket put them in the lead but Borg was again on hand to shift Depiro ahead again midway through the first quarter.
Borg and Xerri took over the scoring before Celine Fenech made it a five-point lead with two minutes to go in the first quarter.
However, a strong finish from Sasha Lecuyer and a trademark triple from De Martino assured a two-point Hibs lead at the first buzzer.
The second rubber was as tight as ever with defence playing a vital part, particularly in the paint as most players opted for drives as a result of tough perimeter defence.
In fact, it was a De Martino layup that restarted the scoring before a Sophie Abela drive kept it a close game.
Borg Xerrit from deep to make a one-point game four minutes in as both sides struggled to find a way through. Sonnier muscled her way up to tie the game, but a late Diaby hook shot sent Hibs for halftime up by two once again at 31-29.
Macleod sprinted off a turnover to get the first bucket of the second half with De Martino hitting from deep as Hibs carried the momentum from the previous rubber.
Tough defence and difficult shots took over the agenda in the third quarter as both sides matched each other’s efforts, and another tied quarter kept Hibs ahead by two with just one quarter to go.
The contest looked set for a tense finale when Claire Privitera fired in first to bring the game to par early on.
From then on it was a case of both teams emulating each other until a smooth De Martino triple opened the gap again.
Nevertheless, Sonnier was accurate from beyond the arc to give her side the fighting chance. Hibs faced a major setback when, leading by just a point, they had to continue the last six minutes of the game with De Martino, who landed awkwardly inside the paint and had to be carried off the court by her teammates.
Depiro looked to exploit this with their attacks but the Paolites managed their time diligently to take a slender one-point victory at the final buzzer.
HIBERNIANS M. Buhagiar, L. Micallef 5, S. Lecuyer 4, M. Bonett 2, S. De Martino 24, H. Mcleod 15, J. Diaby 10.
BETSSON DEPIRO S. Abela 6, J. Borg Xerri 12, C. Privitera 4, C. Fenech 2, J. Borg 2, N. Borg 10, L. Sonnier 23, S. Deguara.
Referees J. Siefert, A. Attard.
STANDINGS
Hibernians 26; Caffe Moak Luxol 25; Betsson Depiro 23; Starlites Revive 22; Valletta Dream, Athleta 15.
