Luxol now a step away from league title

Mapfre MSV Life Play Offs - Women - Final 2

Luxol tie the series, at 1-1

Caffe Moak Luxol 52 Hibernians 49

(9-10, 10-13, 19-9, 14-17)

Luxol; L. Fenech Pace , V. Selvaggi , S. Pace 12, M. Mercieca 13, F. Camilleri , H. Galea , P. Marcal 15, A. Borg , P. Ellul 5, M. Camilleri , J. Diaby 13, A. Fenech Pace 3

Hibs: E. Farrugia , I. Agius , Y. Bonett 9, A. Van Vliet 15, S, Brincat 3, J. Abela , C. Camilleri , K. Jenkins 13, N. Farrugia , K. Caruana 6, K. Conti

Mapfre MSV Life Play Offs - Women - Final 3

Hibernians 46 Caffe Moak Luxol 60

(16-13, 8-10, 13-20, 9-17)

After bouncing back from their opening final defeat, The Violets made amends by winning the second Play Off, to tie the series. A few days later Luxol kept on teh winning trail, by disposing of their opponents for a second time, with back to back victories. Luxol kept on a par with their adversaries till the interval buzzer, and then let loose after the break, as the Paolites couldn't keep up with the pace of the match, and began to fade away. Luxol were on a six point advantage, going into the last quarter, and everyone expected Hibs to make their move, but this didn't materialise, as the Violet kept a good leash in defence, and then dealt the mortal blows late in the match, as they edged away, to leave the Paolites in the lurch. Hibs were at a distance, late in the match, and couldn't make up any leeway, as Luxol played out time, to hit Hibs with a double blow, in the space of a few days time. Next Wednesday comes the fourth Play Off, and Hibs have to win it, to force a deciding rubber, otherwise it will be Luxol engraving their name on the league trophy for the fourteenth time in their history, going just one short of Hibs' tally, with fifteen successes.

Luxol replied to Hibs' opening hoop with a brace of buckets, but the Paolites made up a 9-0 run, with an Ashleigh Van Vliet triple, and American, Kenyotta Jenkins, hoops. After treys at either end, from Luxol's Brazilian, Palmira Marcal, and Hibs' Van Vliet, the Violets went to with a point, another Jenkons hoop had the Paolites three ahead. The next session had Luxol forging in fraont, as Marcal sank a second trey. The lead changed hands three times, with Kirsty caruana obtaining a Hibs triple. Marcal tied the score for Luxol, but a lone free shot had the Paolites' with their noses in front, at the interval, on a tight 24-23 score.

After the break Ylenia Bionett nailed a Hibs trey, but Luxol strode forward in earnest, with a solid 15-4 run, as Sarah Pace put in a brace of triples. Bonett stopped them with another trey, but Luxol were dictating play, and their score went up to 43-37 at the end of the period. Jenkins tried to pull Hibs back at the start of the last quarter, but Luxol had Mandi Mercieca with hoops at the right time. to thwart their opponents. Mercieca and Pace combined to put more distance between the two sides, as Luxol were playing with confidence. Van Vliet made free shots for the Paolites, but they were in vain, as Luxol had Josephine Diaby with a triple, to jolt their opponents' chances of a comeback. Luxol wrapped the game up with late points, from Merciaca and Paula Ellul, to go in front in the series for the first time, after their opening day setback. Next Wednesday could be the decisive day, if the Violets win for the third time in succession, but a Hibs victory will tie the series once more, with the series going all the way, to a fifth Play Off, for nest Sunday.

Hibs: E. Farrugia , I. Agius , Y. Bonett 9, A. Van Vliet 15, S, Brincat 3, J. Abela , C. Camilleri , K. Jenkins 13, N. Farrugia , K. Caruana 6, K. Conti

Luxol; L. Fenech Pace , V. Selvaggi , S. Pace 12, M. Mercieca 13, F. Camilleri , H. Galea ,P. Marcal 15, A. Borg , P. Ellul 5, M. Camilleri , J. Diaby 13, A. Fenech Pace 3

Referees: B. Vassallo, D. Torok, Z. Cobrosavljevic