Hibernians issue statement to level men’s league finals series

HIBERNIANS                        88

STARLITES REVIVE            83

(23-20, 20-33, 20-21, 25-9)

Hibernians refused to let their season end quietly as they fought back from 18 points down to beat Starlites Revive and force a decisive Game 5 in the BOV Division One playoff finals at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion.

Starlites had entered Game Four leading the best-of-five series 2-1 on Wednesday, after winning the previous two games, and for long spells they looked set to close it out. Instead, Hibs found a second-half response spearheaded by a powerful fourth quarter to ensure one of their most important wins of the season.

Matthew Gouder was the game’s scoring leader on the day. The forward led the Paolites with 25 points, doing much of his best work after halftime, while Ayomide Ajiboye added 16. Neil Cassar and Deonte Jackson finished with 12 points each, while Ivan Demcesen added 10.

For Starlites, Musa Jallow and Travis Fee both scored 16 points, while Jackson Threadgill and Ian Felice Pace added 14 each. Alec Felice Pace followed with 12 to round the double-digit scoring.

Starlites made the opening basket through Jallow, but Hibs settled quickly. Cassar levelled with second-chance points before Ajiboye completed a three-point play.

Threadgill answered for Starlites, yet Stefan Simic combined with Cassar to keep Hibs in the lead. Albeit a close margin after two straight Jallow layups at the end of the quarter, Hibs led by three points at the first buzzer.

The second quarter changed the tone as Starlites took over. After a Jackson three-pointer, Kurt Xuereb fired five straight points to tie the game, before Ian Felice Pace gave Starlites the lead for the first time in the game.

Gouder and Demcesen fought to keep the gap as close as possible but in the last two minutes of the half, Ian Felice Pace’s drive made it a double-digit game and despite a Cassar triple, Threadgill ensured a 53-43 halftime score in Starlites’ favour.

After the change of ends, Starlites continued to push on offence, their lead climbing up to 18 two minutes into second-half play.

Gouder stopped an 8-0 run to halt the scoring momentum, and his three-pointers in the second part of the third quarter helped chip away the deficit, bringing it down to 10 points. Cassar freethrows briefly brought it down to single digits but an Iturmendi layup sent Starlites into the final rubber up by 11.

Gouder took charge with four points at the start of the fourth quarter before Threadgill fired in from deep. However, that effort did not inspire another Starlites surge, instead being the only shot to go in bar two layups and a pair of freethrows.

In the meantime, it was ‘go’ time for Hibs as Ajiboye dashed into the paint for accurate drives, in between more Gouder efforts.

The gap trickled down quickly and Jackson stunned the crowd as he overturned the scoreline and with Starlites unable to find a late response, Demcesen held his nerve at the line to complete the comeback.

Hibernians had survived, levelled the series at 2-2, and ensured the league will now be decided in Game 5.

HIBERNIANS N. Cassar 12, E. Simmons 4, A. Ajiboye 16, L. Farrugia, P. Stelmach, M. Gouder 25, D. Jackson 12, M. Attard, I. Demcesen 10, S. Simic 9.

STARLITES REVIVE A. Felice Pace 12, K. Fabri, T. Fee 16, I. Felice Pace 14, M. Fabri 2, M. Scerri, J. Iturmendi 2, J. Threadgill 14, K. Xuereb 7, M. Jallow 16.

Referees B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, A. Attard.