Hibernians edged past Caffè Moak Luxol in a thrilling 66-60 victory on Sunday at Ta’ Qali Pavilion, capturing their eleventh Women’s John Tabone Shield title and surpassing Luxol, who held nine Shield honours.
For Hibs, this victory broke a three-year trophy drought, restoring a tradition of winning honours to the Paola club. Coach Winnie Buhagiar lauded the hard work that brought Hibernians back to the top, expressing pride in their efforts to reclaim a long-held reputation for honours.
“This means a lot for the club, especially because in the last three years, we didn’t win any honours, and winning trophies has always been part of our club,” Buhagiar stated.
“This summer, we’ve worked hard on rebuilding our team solely because we want to bring titles back to Paola.”
She reflected on the competitive intensity of the season, acknowledging Luxol’s relentless defence and the challenges ahead.
“The game today was hard-fought, but we were always on the front foot. Now, we know every game will be a battle for which we need to fight and work.”
Both teams displayed tremendous resolve on Sunday, with Luxol particularly feeling the absence of their veteran duo Josephine Diaby – still sidelined due to a broken thumb – and Sarah Pace. Without Diaby, the task of containing Hibernians’ Mikayla Brandon fell largely to Sarah and Anna Fenech Pace, while Vanya Baldacchino took on the challenge of shadowing Steffi De Martino. Despite these adjustments, Hibernians raced to an 8-0 lead while Luxol kept pace with contributions from Lisa Fenech Pace and Baldacchino. However, Hibernians widened their lead significantly before the half, with De Martino and Maria Bonett anchoring their scoring efforts.
Luxol found their rhythm in the second half, thanks in large part to Brandy Huffhines, who overcame a slow start to become their primary scoring threat. Her scoring flurry, coupled with Sarah Fenech Pace’s inside presence, reduced the deficit heading into the fourth.
The final quarter saw Hibernians maintain their edge but not without setbacks. Bonett, who had played every minute of the game, landed awkwardly after a rebound with 2:39 remaining and had to be carried off the court for treatment. Brandon, who had been pivotal in the paint, fouled out in the game’s final seconds. Luxol pushed hard in the closing moments, but Hibernians held firm, buoyed by De Martino’s clutch free throws and late-game defence.
‘We need to train harder’
De Martino, who joined Hibernians this season after several years with Starlites in a transfer that moved Andie Saliba, Bonett, and herself to the Paolites, was thrilled with the win and commended her teammates’ preparation.
“I’m super happy we managed to get this trophy,” she said, “a game is a game. If I’m playing for Starlites or if I’m playing for Hibs, I’m going to bring the same game on court.”
Acknowledging Luxol’s effort despite missing senior players, she added, “While I’m happy we won, I believe that we need to train harder and play harder if we want to take this all the way.”
The game highlighted Hibernians’ rebounding strength and inside play, with Brandon and De Martino combining for 53 points. Brandon’s 26 rebounds underscored her dominance in the paint, while Luxol’s Huffhines led her team’s comeback attempt with a 25-point performance. Hibernians’ bench, however, went scoreless, underscoring the heavy reliance on their starting five.
On Luxol’s side, Baldacchino’s close defence on De Martino and Lisa Fenech Pace’s inside scoring were pivotal, showcasing the depth and adaptability coach Roderick Vella’s Luxol brought to the court even without Diaby.
Buhagiar expressed her team’s readiness to tackle future challenges, despite Bonett’s injury, which will be assessed by their physio.
“Maria (Bonett) fell on one leg, but I don’t think it’s going to be a long injury,” Buhagiar noted, hinting at Hibernians’ resilience and depth this season.
With the Shield in hand, Hibernians look ahead with optimism.
“The fact that we managed to win the first cup is motivation for us,” De Martino added.
“We’re a relatively new team, so we have to take some mistakes and learn from them to gel better in the future.”
