Busy summer for the Malta Basketball Association
Following the gold medal success of the women national team in the Games of the Small States held in San Marino earlier this month, the Malta Basketball Association will, in the coming weeks, continue with its busy Summer including organising a European championship in Malta.
In fact, Malta will host the FIBA Under 18 Women’s Championship Division C between Tuesday 4th July and Sunday 9th July with the games all being played in the National Sport School Gym in Pembroke.
Five countries will be competing in this round robin format championship with Malta opening its commitments against Gibraltar and then playing Armenia, Kosovo and Cyprus in that order.
Coach Sandro Farrugia, who will be assisted by Silvia Gambino, selected the following final squad: Kristy Galea, Sophie Abela, Kaya Calleja, Lena Ferrante, Martina Ferrante, Christine Borg Millo, Jaelle Micallef, Nicole Hili, Nicole Vella, Nina Jo Buttigieg, Kirsty Caruana, Katya Zerafa.
In the meantime, the Malta Under 18 male squad will be flying to Nicosia in Cyprus to play in this year’s FIBA Under 18 Men’s Championship Division C.
Eight countries will be vying for the top spot and were drawn in two groups. Group A will consist of Norway, Armenia, Cyprus and Kosovo whilst Malta will feature in Group B and will first play with San Marino followed by Gibraltar and Moldova. The top two from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
Coach Andrea Paccarie, assisted by Ruben Baldacchino, selected the following players in the final squad: Paul Attard, Nicholas Formosa, Isaac Bonett, Ian Felice Pace, Alex Xuereb, Nathan Xuereb, Keith Dimech, Mirco Azzopardi, Owen Psaila, Matthias Buhagiar, Michael Sjoberg, Kurt Cassar.
Further national commitments await the Malta Basketball Assocation in the following weeks, including the first ever participation in the FIBA Under 20 Men Championships to be held in Oradea in Romania between 14th and 23rd July as well as the FIBA Under 16 boys and girls Division C Championships in Andorra and Gibraltar respectively at the end of July.