Depiro and Starlites played their own playoff warm-up fixture as a Depiro victory confirmed the two sides as third and fourth seeds, respectively.
Earlier, Athleta took sole possession of the fifth spot in the standings with a win over Valletta Dream.
BETSSON DEPIRO 69
STARLITES REVIVE 59
(24-17, 12-17, 17-9, 16-16)
Depiro imposed their tempo and control to secure a composed win over Starlites.
Lovely Sonnier led the way with 24 points, hitting three of four three-pointers on the day. The Depiro import played a major part in the side’s offence but was a menace on defence with five steals and six rebounds. Samira Deguara was the team’s other double-digit finisher with 10 points.
At the other end, Georgia Haverlock was on hand to lead Starlites’ scoring with 21 points as the team’s only player to finish with double-digits.
Starlites set the tone early with scores from Mikela Riolo and Haverlock. However, the tide turned quickly when Sonnier started a Depiro run that saw the Mtarfa side hit 12 consecutive points before Haverlock and Michela Zammit Cordina combined for five points to halt the surge. The two sides matched each other for most of the quarter, but two Sonnier triples in the final minute gave Depiro a seven-point lead at the first buzzer.
Starlites regrouped in the second rubber.
Rebecca Naudi took over with two jump shots and a pair of free throws. Jasmine Abela hit from deep before Haverlock tied the game midway through play. Depiro responded with another run, but Ylenia Ferrando and Catherine Cilia minimised the danger to keep it a two-point game at halftime as Depiro led 36-34.
The game turned decisively after the break as Sonnier became an unstoppable force. The American bagged nine points in between scores from Deguara. Meanwhile, Starlites were held to just free throws for most of the quarter as the gap grew to 10 ahead of the fourth quarter.
Starlites made one final push in the closing stages, with Haverlock continuing to score before handing the scoring baton to Makaila Napoleon for Starlites’ late points. However, Sonnier maintained her side’s 10-point lead with late free throws as Depiro closed out the win.
BETSSON DEPIRO J. Borg Xerri 9, J. Mallia, C. Privitera 5, J. Borg 8, C. Portelli 3, N. Borg 8, L. Sonnier 24, S. Deguara 10, H. Farag 2.
STARLITES REVIVE Y. Ferrando 2, M. Riolo 5, C. Cilia 2, P. Riolo, M. Zammit Cordina 6, M. Fenech 2, R. Naudi 7, G. Haverlock 21, M. Napoleon 9, J. Abela 3, J. Dabic 2.
Referees N. Rincon, M. De Flavia.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL 59
HIBERNIANS 60
(15-19, 10-10, 19-17, 15-14)
Hibernians held their nerve in a tight finish to beat Luxol in a game defined by long-range shooting and late swings in momentum.
Sasha Lecuyer led all scorers with 25 points, striking repeatedly from beyond the arc to stretch Luxol’s defence at key moments.
While Hibs’ scoring was pushed mostly by Lecuyer’s seven three-pointers, Luxol’s points were mostly shared between Olivia Wikstrom and Sarah Fenech Pace on the day as the Violets import player amassed 21 points, adding 11 rebounds for a double-double. Fenech Pace followed with 19 points.
Luxol made the brighter start, with Gwen Carabott and Jada Said setting the early rhythm before Wikstrom imposed herself inside.
However, Hibs quickly settled, as Maria Bonett and Josephine Diaby found space in the paint before Lecuyer hit back-to-back triples to turn the score around. The Paolites closed the opening rubber with a late push to lead by four points.
The second quarter was a balanced encounter. Wikstrom continued to anchor Luxol’s offence with a series of finishes and free throws, while Lecuyer’s scoring touch and Lara Micallef’s three-ball ensured Hibs took a narrow 29-25 lead into half-time.
Lecuyer gave Hibs control with two consecutive three-pointers after the change of ends before Bonett made it a 12-point advantage for the Paolites.
Fenech Pace duo Sarah and Lisa hit back for Luxol, but two more long-range shots from Lecuyer kept Hibs firmly ahead.
Nevertheless, a late run by the Violets cancelled this to reduce the gap to just two points by the end of the third quarter.
The final rubber became a back-and-forth contest. Wikstrom and Fenech Pace kept Luxol within touching distance, while Vanya Baldacchino’s late burst briefly gave them the lead.
Hibs responded through Micallef and triples from Lecuyer, Hailey McLeod, and Marie Buhagiar. However, it was a late layup from McLeod that gave Hibs the last laugh as the side celebrated a close one-point victory that gave them the title of regular season champions.
CAFFE MOAK LUXOL G. Carabott 4, E. Axisa 2, L. Fenech Pace 2, R. Fenech Pace, J. Said 4, E. Abela, S. Fenech Pace 19, O. Wikstrom 21, V. Baldacchino 7, S. Farrugia.
HIBERNIANS M. Buhagiar 5, L. Micallef 8, I. Agius 2, S. Lecuyer 25, M. Bonett 5, H. McLeod 7, J. Diaby 6, K. Sammut 2.
Referees A. Attard, L. Silvero.
ATHLETA 84
VALLETTA DREAM 40
(24-12, 20-10, 16-11, 24-7)
Athleta ended their season campaign in style when they overcame Valletta in Saturday’s late game, controlling the contest from the opening minutes and never allowing the Capital club a foothold.
Macy Tyler Smith gave an impressive show to lead the game with 32 points on 62.5% three-point shooting as part of a double-double after grabbing 20 rebounds.
Kaya Calleja and Nicole Vella followed with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
For the Citizens, Marie Elise Pollacco led with 17 points and 14 rebounds, Maria Mifsud adding 10 points to round the game’s double-digit finishers.
Athleta made a flying start, with Smith opening from deep before Sharon Vella and Nicole Vella established control inside. Their defensive pressure quickly translated into points, as turnovers allowed them to build a double-digit lead, closing the first quarter firmly ahead at 24-12.
That momentum carried into the second quarter. Smith continued to punish loose possession, while Calleja struck from long range to stretch the margin further.
Contributions from Alexia Pisani and Anthea Micallef ensured Athleta’s lead continued to shoot up as the gap grew to 24 midway through the rubber. Maria Momcilovic answered twice for Valletta, with Mifsud and Hayley Grixti also finding space for close-range jumpers but Athleta led 44-22 by halftime.
The third quarter removed any doubt. Smith remained at the centre of everything, combining inside finishes with free throws and another three-ball, while Valletta struggled to slow the tempo. Although Pollaco kept attacking the basket, Athleta pushed their lead out to 27 points heading into the final stretch.
Any hopes of a late response were quickly extinguished. Abela hit a jumpshot early in the fourth, and defence came into play as Athleta conceded just seven points in the final ten minutes. Meanwhile, Smith kept firing from all areas as Athleta led by 44 points by the final buzzer.
ATHLETA E. Farrugia 2, N. Vella 10, K. Calleja 12, A. Micallef 4, M. Tyler Smith 32, N. Cassar 2, S. Vella 8, K. Abela 2, L. Camilleri 5, L. Farrugia 3, A. Pisani.
VALLETTA DREAM M. Trapani 3, M. Pollacco 17, M. Momcilovic 4, H. Grixti 2, M. Mifsud 10, N. Montalvo 4.
Referees F. Ciurariu, M. De Flavia.
FINAL STANDINGS
Hibernians 28; Caffe Moak Luxol 26; Betsson Depiro 25; Starlites Revive 23; Athleta 17; Valletta Dream 15.
PLAYOFFS
Hibernians vs Starlites Revive
Caffe Moak Luxol vs Betsson Depiro
