Recap

Starlites JSD took over the BOV Men’s Division One’s top spot on Sunday with a dramatic two-point victory over Hibernians at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion. With Mellieha out of action this weekend, the onus was on the Malta champions to try and pip their rivals into a higher seed for the playoffs. On the other hand, Hibs desperately needed points to safeguard their fourth spot.

Paolites guard Nick Brennen hit first with a shot-clock-beating three-pointer. Alec Felice Pace responded for Starlites with a pair of freethrows on the next play to get things going. 

The pair became each other’s offensive threats before a Matthew Attard Hibernians triple and two straight Starlites scores from Kurt James kept them at par midway through the first quarter. 

Energetic play from Ian Felice Pace on both ends of the court shifted Starlites into the lead but a triple and a completed and-one play from Hibs’ Luke Farrugia levelled terms yet again with three minutes to go in the rubber.

This momentum remained with both sides finishing the first quarter level at 24-24. 

Starlites guard Matt Attard opened the second quarter with a three-ball before an Ivan Demcesen hook shot immediately brought the game to a point’s difference. 

With 5.50 to go in the first half, Hibs retook the lead with a Farrugia corner-three but there was nothing to separate them as Starlites’ Attard levelled again with a long-distance effort himself.

With both sides in the bonus for the final minutes, Mario Tabone’s side took over the game’s offence for a six-point lead at the break.

After the change of ends, Christina Hinckson started the second half scoring with a drive through contact in the paint before an Attard triple and an Alec Felice Pace layup gave them a temporary lead ahead of a Demcesen effort for Hibs’ first third-quarter basket.

Solid defence was on the cards for the title holders and they used this to their advantage and power up their lead to eight before a Brennen triple halted their run. Nevertheless, an Ian Felice Pace three-ball gave Starlites a 10-point lead ahead of the final two minutes of the third quarter. Hibs attempted to fight back but could only reduce the margin to eight by the third buzzer.

Hibs forward Keith Charleston hit first with a crucial fourth quarter now in progress. Brennen grabbed the next two baskets with the Starlites lead cut down to two points. 

Foul trouble was another issue for Paul Ferrante’s clan with Hibs in the bonus for the final half of the rubber. This was not the only trouble for the side as with 1.13 to go in the game, a Demcesen layup put the Paolites a point ahead in the lead while Starlites looked rattled under pressure. 

With 16 seconds to go, all hell broke loose when Attard gave Hibs the lead with a triple to cancel out a late pair of scores from the line by Starlites’ James. Albeit this, Alec Felice Pace was his side’s saviour with a long-distance winner before another James freethrow as the Naxxar side took a close victory over the Paolites.  

This victory gives Starlites a one-point lead at the top of the standings while Hibs will now be at the mercy of Depiro who play Luxol in the day’s later game.