New guard to play as local
Malta title holders Starlites JSD have signed Maltese-Australian guard Jacob Bourke-Doggett, the Times of Malta can confirm.
The signing, made before the transfer deadline of January 10, brings to Malta a former youth league most valuable player (MVP) in the Australian Big V league with the Sherbrooke Suns.
Once referred to as Sherbrooke’s youth team star player, Bourke-Doggett averaged 15.5 points a game last season on the youth Division 1 squad of a Sherbrooke team that also featured former Hibernians forward Christian Soderholm on its Division Two roster.
The new Starlites player joins as a replacement for the injured Kurt Xuereb and Matthew Scerri, the former out after a mid-game injury this season and the latter injured before the start of the season.
Coach Paul Ferrante has already had success in such a move as sharpshooter Matt Attard, who was eventually re-signed for his second season over the summer, was brought over from Australia in 2022 to play as a local. This season, Attard, who was on the Malta national team’s initial squad list ahead of the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE 2023), has averaged 14.2 points a game and shot 66% from three-point range.
Bourke-Doggett will be able to make his debut on Sunday as Starlites host SiGMA Depiro at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion (tip-off: 12.30).
World Cup News
360 Sports Malta Premier
Birkirkara beat Sliema Wanderers to four points clear at the top
360 Sports Malta Premier
Balzan overcome Gżira United to secure second victory
360 Sports Malta Premier
Naxxar Lions and Melita cancel each other in goalless draw
