Sam Deguara’s consistency continues to show on the court as the Malta center had two double-double games over the weekend despite the side dropping their win streak since February 21. In Australia, Jacob, Nick and Alex Formosa all got into double digits in their games last weekend. The Times of Malta Sportsdesk looks at Deguara, the Formosa brothers, and other Maltese professionals plying their trade overseas in another segment of ‘Maltese Abroad’.
JAPAN
Sam Deguara put up two double-double performances over the weekend against Aisin AW.
On Saturday, Deguara played for 21 minutes in a Tokyo Excellence 88-96 win, scoring 25 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and making an assist.
The next day, the side lost for the first time since February, 92-78 to the same side. Deguara played for 19 minutes, this time scoring 19 and grabbing 13 boards.
The Tokyo Excellence host the same Aisin AW at home on Friday and Saturday.
AUSTRALIA
Jacob Formosa scored 14 points against the East Perth Eagles in their opening game on Friday as the Joondalup Wolves won 98-75. Formosa played for 25 minutes and added four rebounds as well as five steals. This gives him the perfect start since joining the side in February.
The Wolfpack plays the Perry Lakes Hawks in their next NBL 1 West game on Saturday.
In the Big V Division Two, Nick Formosa scored six points on Saturday against the Mornington Breakers, but got 10 the next day against Melton.
The Altona Gators win 105-79 on Saturday as Nick had 16 minutes on court, adding two rebounds and two assists. On Sunday, Nick played for 30 minutes, also grabbing six boards, and making five assists.
The Gators play Wangaratta-North West on Saturday next.
The younger of the brothers, Alex, scored 10 in 21 minutes, despite the Alton Gators youth side losing 64-85 to the Frankston Blues on Sunday.
The Young Gators face the Geelong United next on Saturday in the Big V Youth League One.
USA
Sophie Abela and the Otero Rattler’s journey into Nations, came to an end in the sweet sixteen round in a loss to North West Florida State College on Wednesday, after having beaten Butler Community College in the opening round on Monday as Abela continued to make history.
Abela scored nine when ther Rattlers beat Butler 74-67. She played for 33 minutes, also grabbing 3 boards and making four steals.
On Wednesday, she could not be as impactful however, only scoring one from the line and grabbing five rebounds in 29 minutes, in a visibly tough game against NW Florida State, which ended in a 43-67 loss. This marks the end of a successful season and a great finale for Abela with the Rattlers ahead of a college move.
UK
Sasha Lecuyer scored nine points as the Loughborough Riders beat the Thames Valley Cavaliers 72-66 on Saturday. Lecuyer spent 29 minutes on court and besides her scoring, grabbed six rebounds.
Loughborough face the Cardiff Met Archers next on Saturday.
Fellow rider Aaron Falzon scored five in the Leicester Riders’ weekend game on Friday – a 90-80 loss to the Newcastle Eagles. Falzon had nine minutes of play, where he also grabbed two boards and made two blocks.
In the side’s next game on Wednesday, Falzon was on the court for five minutes, only managing two points this time, as the Riders suffered another loss, 86-81 to the London Lions.
Despite the hiccup, the Leicester Riders remain the top seed so far and face the Glasgow Rocks next Friday. FULL GAME TO BE STREAMED HERE
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