Kurt Cassar’s Janus Fabriano had a rough start to the playoffs with a Game One loss to Geko PSA but tied the series in Game Two. In the UK, Sasha Lecuyer and the Loughborough Riders made it to the WNBL Playoffs semifinals with a win over the Reading Rockets. The Times of Malta Sportsdesk looks at Cassar, Lecuyer, and other Maltese professionals plying their trade overseas in another segment of ‘Maltese Abroad’.
ITALY
Kurt cassar scored seven points and grabbed ten boards on Sunday but this was not enough to help his team overcome the challenge of Eighth-seed from Serie B Group D Geko PSA as the side fell to a 72-80 loss in Game One of the Serie B playoffs.
However, the side made up for the loss with a 99-70 win on Tuesday in game Two. Cassar scored 16 this time, adding another three rebounds.
The teams play again in Game Three on Friday.
UK
Sasha Lecuyer’s Loughborough Riders made it to the WNBL Semi-finals on Saturday after beating the Reading Rockets in the quarters with a 62-53 win. Lecuyer scored six points, adding six rebounds in 20 minutes of play.
The team has yet to find out who their next target will be.
In the WEABL, fellow Malta player Julia Borg once again got into double figures as she scored 15 for Sheffield College, despite the side losing again, this time to the Derby trailblazers 56-64.
Sheffield will be hoping to turn things around in their next game against the Manchester Mystics.
In the BBL Finals, Aaron Falzon’s Leicester Riders could not hold onto their title as they fell 69-88 to the Newcastle Eagles in the second leg of the semi-finals on Thursday. Falzon was not utilized in the second leg.
JAPAN
Sam Deguara made it a weekend to remember with another set of double-doubles, this time in the Tokyo derby against Tokyo Hachioji Bee Trains on Friday and Saturday.
On Friday the side won 71-55 and Deguara scored 12 while grabbing 11 boards in 14 minutes. The next day the side won again, 66-57, and the Malta center scored 24 points in as many minutes, adding 12 rebounds.
The side faces Veltex Shizuoka on Friday and Saturday next.
AUSTRALIA
Nick Formosa also got a double-double last weekend after scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 boards in 32 minutes against Sherbrooke as the Altona Gators won 79-86 on Saturday.
The side plays the Maccabi warriors on Sunday next.
Youngest brother Alex and the Youth Altona Gators managed a full winning weekend as they beat Sherbrooke 63-76 on Saturday, with Alex Formosa grabbing one board and making two assists in 17 minutes. The next day, the side won 102-104 against the Hume Broncos as he scored four, adding a rebound and another assist in 19 minutes.
The side faces Warrandyte on Sunday.
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