Starlites GiG and ARMS Depiro are set to face each other in today’s MAPRFRE MSV Life Women’s Knockout Cup Final in Ta’ Qali Basketball Pavilion. After a week off from any competition for all senior women clubs, league-leaders Starlites are poised to claim another title this season, and their first Knockout Cup in club history. However, they will have to fend off an ever-improving and dangerous Depiro.
Depiro earned their spot in the Knockout Cup Final by defeating Luxol 90-70 on 1 December; Starlites edged out Hibernians 71-65 earlier that day.
Starlites are 7-1 in MAPFRE MSV Life League play and, according to head coach David Baudot, are at full strength with their roster heading into today’s game.
“Our team is ready with the whole squad,” said Baudot. “We have done some adjustments (since the Christmas break) but the main idea is to be loyal to our way of playing.”
“We have players such as Patricia Arguello, Steffi de Martino and Maria Bonett who must show their capacity of leadership,” continued Baudot when asked about what is important for Startlites to do to secure the victory. “But, on the other hand, the rest of the team is ready for a good performance.”
The Naxxar side are shooting 42 percent overall from the field in all competitions. Arguello leads the team in both rebounds per game (11.2) and steals per game (2.1).
Depiro head coach Ruben Baldacchino is confident in his young squad and is excited to see them perform against the favourites in Starlites. Limiting Arguello, de Martino, Bonett and Starlites’ other experienced players will be key for Depiro.
“We know we go into the game as the underdogs, being a young team,” he said, “yet we did our homework to limit their veteran players. It will not be easy as in these games experience plays a major role, yet I believe in my team to succeed.”
“It’s always an honor to make it to a major final,” Baldacchino said. “For a club with such a long history in local basketball, it is one of the goals at the beginning of every season.”
The engine driving Depiro’s climb is Hannah Johnson, the American import who leads the league in total rebounds with 211, averaging 15 per game. Although Depiro is just 1-7 in MAPFRE MSV Life League play, it has been clear to everyone watching the season that the club from Mtarfa are on the rise.
“Depiro is improving each week, their young players are getting experience on court day by day and being more dangerous each week,” commented Baudot.
Depiro recently added ex-Hibernians player Julia Scerri to the mix, and the high-energy guard has fit in nicely with Depiro’s lineup. Francesca Mifsud also made the transfer to Depiro a few weeks ago.
“Julia has a great character and did not have problems to integrate,” said Baldacchino. “The same goes for Francesca, who joined us in the winter transfer window. It definitely takes time to build team chemistry, but as time goes by they will leave a big impact on the team. They are both talented players.”
The MAPFRE MSV Life Knockout Final is set to tip off at 16:15 at Ta’ Qali Basketball Pavilion.
League action continues next weekend Sunday, 23 February: Depiro will face Luxol (1-7) at 11:00 and Starlites will battle Hibernians (7-1) for first place in the league at 14:30.
PHOTO CREDIT: Wally Galea
STATS CREDIT: Colin Schembri