Recap

Hibernians kept up their unbeaten streak on Thursday with a strong victory against last-placed side Tigers BT at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion.

The Paolites opened the game in dominant fashion, establishing a strong lead early in the first quarter. Miguel Mallia’s three-pointer and Neil Cassar’s layup gave the team a quick 5-0 advantage. Tigers BT responded with a three-pointer from Sassoun Saakian, but Matthew Gouder’s efficient shooting, including a three-pointer and a layup, extended Hibernians’ lead to 10-4. While Tigers’ Serge Hamparsoumian made a two-point jumper, Hibernians capitalised on turnovers, with Cassar finishing a fast break with a dunk and Stefan Simic adding a three-pointer. By the end of the first, Cassar led a late surge, scoring three consecutive field goals, helping Hibernians to a commanding 34-18 lead.

The second quarter saw Hibernians’ relentless pressure pay off. Matthew Attard converted back-to-back fast breaks, while Anton Axiaq added points at the free-throw line. Debutant Nathan Akade offered some resistance for Tigers with a driving layup, but Hibernians stretched their lead with a balanced attack. Gouder’s three-pointer and Cassar’s second-chance layup were instrumental as the gap widened to 63-36 by halftime.

After the break, Tigers attempted to find their footing through Hamparsoumian’s consistent scoring, but Hibernians maintained control. Axiaq’s three-pointer and Attard’s scoring runs pushed the lead to 75-49. Despite Tigers’ spirited efforts, including Michel Jalkh’s fast-break three-pointer and Hamparsoumian’s layups, Hibernians’ depth shone. Late contributions from Gouder and Simic ensured the hosts stayed firmly in control at 86-66 by the third quarter’s end.

In the fourth quarter, Hamparsoumian continued to fight for Tigers, finishing the game with a team-high 24 points, but Hibernians’ dominance was undeniable. Simic and Mallia capitalised on turnovers, while Vido Kustudja rounded off Hibernians’ relentless effort with a layup.