Threadgill's 29 points and Jallow's all-around brilliance clinch BOV League D1 title for Starlites in decisive Game 5

Starlites Naxxar captured the 2025-26 BOV League Division I championship on Sunday, pulling away from Depiro 98-77 in a decisive Game 5 at the Ta' Qali Basketball Pavilion to win the best-of-five finals 3-2 and claim the Maltese men's title.
After the two sides had traded blows across four tightly contested games to reach a 2-2 deadlock, the decider was anything but tight. Starlites exploded offensively, shooting a blistering 50.8 percent from the field (32-of-63), converting 28-of-33 free throws (84.8%), and racking up 24 assists as their ball movement overwhelmed Depiro's defense in the biggest game of the season.
Jackson Threadgill (198-G-1997, college: App State) was the star of the show with a game-high 29 points on 8-of-13 shooting including two three-pointers and a remarkable 11-of-13 from the free-throw line, along with five rebounds and five assists. Musa Jallow (196-G-2000, college: Charlotte) was equally devastating with 25 points on 11-of-16 from the field, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals, and a block in a dominant 37-minute display that touched every facet of the game.
The supporting cast was equally impressive. Matthew Scerri (183-SG-2002) drilled two triples on his way to 12 points, Alec Pace (178-PG-1998) contributed eight points, four rebounds, and four steals, while Ian Felice Pace shot a perfect 3-of-3 from the field with four rebounds. Kai Fabri (175-PG-2008) added six efficient points off the bench. The depth of scoring eight players contributing reflected a team performance that Depiro simply could not match.
For Depiro, Deonte Jackson (175-PG-2001, college: LeTourneau) led with 16 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including three triples and 5-of-6 from the line, along with four assists. Ayomide Ajiboye (196-F-2000, college: Roosevelt, agency: Interperformances) added 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Elijah Simmons (198-F-2001, college: OUAZ) also scored 13 but turned the ball over four times. Ivan Demcesen contributed 10 points and seven rebounds. However, Depiro were undone by 20 turnovers that Starlites converted into easy opportunities, and their 66.7 percent free-throw shooting (12-of-18) paled in comparison to Starlites' clinical 84.8 percent clip. Matthew Gouder (194-F-1998)'s 1-of-12 shooting night (0-of-6 from three) was symptomatic of a team that could not find offensive rhythm when it mattered most.
The 21-point margin in the deciding game belied how competitive the series had been through four games, with the two clubs splitting victories on alternate nights. But when the stakes were highest, Starlites' superior depth, shooting, and composure proved the difference.