Hibs, Depiro stunned in playoff openers

HIBERNIANS                        52

STARLITES REVIVE            57

(9-15, 13-14, 11-16, 19-12)

Starlites stunned Hibernians with a composed win to take Game 1 of their semi-final tie.

Michela Zammit Cordina led the charge with a game-high scoring display built on five three-pointers for 27 points. Jasmine Abela was Starlites’ other double-digit finisher on the day with 10 points on a 57% field goal percentage.

For the post-De Martino Paolites, Hailey McLeod led the scoring with 18 points and 12 rebounds to bag a double-double. Lara Micallef followed with 12.

Hibs’ McLeod opened proceedings with second-chance points, but Starlites rocked the court with a pair of three-pointers from Philippa Riolo and Zammit Cordina, who then put up another to open a quick six-point gap. Georgia Haverlock and Mikela Riolo piled on more points with responses from Sasha Lecuyer and Josephine Diaby as Starlites led by six points at the end of the first quarter.

Marie Buhagiar brought the game to within two early in the second rubber with two three-balls before Micallef tied the game with free throws.

Hibs went as far as to lead by three points midway through play before a 9-2 run gave the lead back to Starlites, who lead 29-22 at half-time.

After the change of ends, Hibs were again on the scoresheet first, this time with a Micallef triple that briefly reignited Hibernians.

However, Starlites responded with two long-range efforts to open the first 10-point advantage. Hibs attempted to bring it back close, but an Abela three-pointer and a pair of layups gave them their biggest lead at 13 points.

Hibernians started a surge to try to come back in the fourth quarter.

Again, McLeod hit first with a layup before Diaby hit from deep. The Paolites managed to reduce the margin to single digits but a Zammit Cordina three-ball made sure Starlites took the lead in their series with a deserved win.

HIBERNIANS M. Buhagiar 6, L. Micallef 12, I. Agius, S. Lecuyer 4, M. Bonett 5, H. McLeod 18, J. Diaby 7, K. Sammut.

STARLITES REVIVE M. Riolo 4, C. Cilia, P. Riolo 5, M. Zammit Cordina 27, M. Fenech, R. Naudi, G. Haverlock 6, M. Napoleon 2, J. Abela 10, J. Dabic 3.

Referees Z. Dobrosaviljevic, F. Ciurariu, L. Silvero.

CAFFE MOAK LUXOL         68

BETSSON DEPIRO               59

(13-8, 18-23, 21-14, 16-14)

Luxol overcame second seed Depiro with a controlled win to open their series.

Olivia Wikstrom led Luxol’s offence and defence with a 19-points, 13-rebounds double-double. Lisa Fenech Pace followed with 15 points and Vanya Baldacchino added 10. Sarah Fenech Pace equalled Wikstrom’s rebounds tally on the day while finishing a point away from a double-double.

At the other end, Lovely Sonnier scored 18 points as Depiro’s leading point-getter, adding 11 rebounds for another double-double. Julia Borg followed with 16 points on 54% accuracy and Julia Borg Xerri rounded the double-digit finishers with 10 points.

Luxol set the tone early through Wikstrom, who opened with a second-chance score before Fenech Pace trio Lisa, Sarah and Rebecca added from shots to build a 10-1 lead after a Borg Xerri freethrow. Their defensive pressure forced turnovers, allowing Wikstrom to extend the margin, and although Sonnier and Borg responded from distance late in the first quarter, Luxol remained in control with a five-point lead.

Depiro grew into the contest in the second rubber. Sonnier’s and Borg’s shot-making brought them level before Borg struck twice from beyond the arc to give Depiro their first lead.

Luxol answered through Baldacchino and Wikstrom, and the sides exchanged scores in a tightly contested spell before heading into the break locked at 31-31.

In the second half, Luxol shifted the momentum. Lisa Fenech Pace and Shanice Farrugia’s three-pointer from a turnover ignited a run, and Wikstrom continued to dominate inside, helping stretch the lead. Although Sonnier kept Depiro within reach, Luxol’s composure saw them build a seven-point advantage by the end of the third quarter.

Luxol carried that control into the final stretch. Wikstrom’s early basket and Ella Abela’s follow-up pushed the lead further despite a Sonnnier triple.

The margin grew to 15 midway in the rubber, and while Depiro attempted a late push, cutting the deficit to six after a burst sparked by Claire Privitera, Luxol responded calmly, with Eve Axisa sealing the result in the closing moments.

CAFFE MOAK LUXOL G. Carabott, E. Axisa 3, L. Fenech Pace 15, R. Fenech Pace 3, J. Said 1, E. Abela 3, S. Fenech Pace 9, O. Wikstrom 19, V. Baldacchino 10, S. Farrugia 5.

BETSSON DEPIRO S. Abela 2, N. Agius, J, Borg Xerri 10, C. Privitera 5, C. Fenech, J. Borg 16, C. Portelli 3, N. Borg 2, L. Sonnier 18, S. Deguara 3.

Referees Z. Dobrosaviljevic, F. Ciurariu, L. Silvero.

PLAYOFFS

(After Game 1)

Hibernians vs Starlites Revive                         0-1

Caffe Moak Luxol vs Betsson Depiro                        1-0