HIBERNIANS 103
STARLITES GIG 88
(31-17, 22-21, 26-18, 24-32)
After an 80-78 win in the first round, Hibernians managed to get the league double over Starlites GIG and gain the upperhand in the league standings.
This was an important encounter as the first place was being sought by both teams.
At the end it is now Hibs who may surpass Gżira Athleta and take the top spot at the end of the regular league, always if thay manage to beat BUPA Luxol in the last game.
That would put them in a semi-final series with fourth-placed Floriana MCP Car Parks in one of the semi-final series.
The most crucial moment of the game was probably the final half of the first quarter when Hibs notched a 17-2 streak, thereby opening an early big lead and putting pressure on Starlites who could not never fight back.
The game, however, had a very balanced start with Starlites, who now have to do without one of their initial four Americans as Drew Sears has left, having respective treys from the other three import players Jordan Stotts, Cameron Ward and William Darley for a tight 14-13 scoreline after five minutes.
Here, Hibs set off on their 17-2 run as Chad Patus hit three-long distance shots and Luca Tardito scored back-to-back hoops whilst Anton Axiaq added to his initial basket.
Trailing 15-31, Starlites did try to up their offensive game at the start of the second quarter with a 10-2 run. But with Tardito continuing to notch points and then Ivan Demcesen using his height advantage underneath the boards, Hibs were 53-38 ahead at half time.
The Paolites further extended this lead when play restarted after Alvaro Lizaur and Roderick Vella grabbed their respective second trey in the game for a 63-41 scoreline.
Darley and Alec Felice Pace responded with long-distance shots at the other end.
Starlites had an impressive tally of 14 treys in the game whilst Hibs were not far behind with ten three-pointers.
However it was Hibs who maintained the upper edge with Demcesen creating loads of damage under the Starlites’ boards.
The last quarter, with Hibs firmly in control, was an open one with not much emphasis on defence.
Starlites managed to reduce the deficit with half a dozen treys as Hibs surpassed the century mark late in the game with a brace of Patus shots from the charity line.
HIBERNIANS: R. Vella 14, P. Attard 4, K. Sultana, L. Farrugia 5, M. Formosa, I. Bonett, L. Tardito 18, A. Axiaq 8, M. Matijevic, A. Lizaur 16, I. Demcesen 14, C, Cuschieri Patus 24.
STARLITES: A. Felice Pace 14, N. Formosa 8, R.Bonnici, I. Felice Pace, C. Ward 15, M. Falzon, M. Scerri, R. Carabott 1, W. Darley 29, J. Stotts 21.
Referees: B. Vassallo, T. Mantere, Z. Dobrosavljevic.
DEPIRO 88
GŻIRA ATHLETA 97
(21-31, 18-13, 27-25, 22-28)
Gżira Athleta closed off their regular season commitments by registering the league double over Depiro to end with nine wins from 12 games.
The Maroons are now at the top of the standings and await eagerly to see what their fate in the league play-off semi-finals would be as they are presently one point above Hibs, who meet BUPA Luxol on the final regular season game day, and two points above Starlites GIG who face Balkan Fusion on the closing day.
Depiro, who are eyeing this weekend’s important fixture when they face Hibs in the 2019 BOV Knock-Out final, were very much into the game and were also close to repeat their 89-86 success a few weeks ago, over the same opponents in the KO semi-final phase.
Five Vincent Pace points spearheaded Gżira Athleta to an early lead with a respective brace of hoops, at the opposite end, from Trent Steen and Jack Nygaard acting as a neutralising factor.
With Julio Guity netting four free-throws followed by three Connell Crossland baskets, Gżira opened a nine-point lead at 24-15 and although Depiro did manage to somewhat reply, Pace was instrumental to help Athleta close off the first quarter with a double digit margin, 31-21.
Eight minutes into the second quarter there were still nine points separating the two sides at 42-33 after a Nikola Vasovic jumper.
Yet, inspired by Trent Steen’s on-form play, Depiro had a positive end to the first half and they managed to go for the interval break five points away from their opponents, 39-44.
Although initially in the third quarter Gżira managed to re-establish a double digit lead, 53-43, after a Peter Shoults trey, Depiro responded with a very positive streak as they outscored Athleta 18-6 in the next five minutes to even take the lead at 61-59.
Steen and Nygaard continued to be the main point getters with Daniel Farrugia also hitting a three-pointer in the process.
Aleksandar Perunicic hit three straight free-throws at the start of the final quarter to again give some breathing ground to Gżira at 72-66.
But Nygaard was quick to reopen the encounter and make it a two-point game a minute later.
Merely two minutes down the line, the margin diminished to a solitary point after a Steen floater.
Even though Depiro lost Nygaard on two major fouls and Gżira momentarily had two baskets from Pace and four free-throws from Vasovic, Depiro still were much in the game after Keshaun Hamilton notched his only basket and made it a 84-87 game with three minutes to go.
Here, Gżira had a very important six-point run as they found themselves 93-84 ahead with just under two minutes to go.
Julian Naudi’s side did try one last effort but the clock was in Gżira’s favour as the latter controlled the last possessions to take home the win.
DEPIRO: T. Steen 37, K. Hamilton 2, J. Attard, D. Farrugia 7, N. Grech, O. Said 10, M. Mallia, M. Borg 1, J. Nygaard 25, A. Chomo 6, A. Attard.
GŻIRA ATHLETA: N. Vasovic 14, C. Crossland 22, P. Shoults 5, L. Stefanovic, A. Perunicic 13, N. Xuereb 6, M. Gouder 2, V. Pace 28, J. Guity 7.
Referees: B. Vassallo, D. Torok, K. Dworniczak.
Standings
Gżira Athleta (9-3) 21; Hibernians (9-2) 20; Starlites (8-3) 19; Floriana (6-5) 17; BUPA Luxol (4-7) 15; Depiro (3-8) 14; Balkan Fusion (0-11) 9.
Note: Balkan Fusion forfeited two games.