Recap

Betsson Depiro dominated the Valletta Lionesses in a one-sided encounter, securing a commanding victory on Saturday.

With Valletta missing their top scorer, US import Janae Barnes, Depiro capitalised on their defensive intensity and consistent scoring to cruise to a comfortable win.

Depiro set the tone early with Janai Crooms leading the charge. Her second-chance layup opened the scoring, and her fast-break free throws helped Depiro race to a 5-0 lead. Kristy Galea then drained a three-pointer, quickly extending the advantage to 10-2.

Depiro’s defence was on par with their offence, forcing multiple turnovers, which were converted into points by Crooms, Julia Borg, and Claire Ciantar. By the end of the quarter, Galea nailed another three-pointer, capping a dominant start with Depiro leading 26-6.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern, as Depiro continued to smother Valletta’s offence. Julia Borg Xerri and Neve Borg punished Valletta’s turnovers with fast-break layups, stretching the lead to 34-8.

Valletta’s Nicole Caruana managed a couple of jump shots from outside the paint, but their scoring remained few and far between. Ciantar added another layup, and Depiro went into halftime with a commanding 36-12 lead.

In the third quarter, Depiro showed no signs of taking their foot off of the gas. Ciantar and Borg Xerri continued to dominate in the paint, with Ciantar scoring on consecutive fast-break layups to push the lead to 45-14. Valletta’s Maria Mifsud provided a brief spark with two mid-range jumpers, but Depiro’s Hannah Farag and Galea ensured their control remained intact. At the end of the third, the score stood at 47-21.

The final quarter was just a formality, with Depiro sealing their dominance.

Borg Xerri added a three-pointer and another layup, while Ciantar capitalised on fast breaks to extend the margin. Valletta’s Jennifer Apap Brown scored two late layups, but it was far too little to stem the tide. Depiro’s relentless defensive pressure and scoring depth proved too much as they cruised to victory.