Malta women reach Small States Championship semi-finals

Men’s selection thump San Marino to revive hopes

The Malta Basketball national teams have enjoyed a mixed start at the FIBA Championship for Small States but remained on course for medal success at the FIBA Championship.

Charles Bonnici’s side showed a lot of promise in their opening two matches which saw the team secure impressive victories over hosts Kosovo and Georgia to book their place into the semi-finals.

On Tuesday, Malta had to battle hard to overcome the challenge of Kosovo 72-65 in Pristina.

After a tight first quarter, which saw the Maltese take a 19-18 lead, the visitors sped on the accelerator in the second quarter to go into the interval 38-30 ahead.

Kosovo came out firing in the third quarter and managed to level the match at 50-all with one quarter to go.

But the Maltese quickly regrouped their poise and went on to clinh the spoils when surging to a 72-65 victory.

Amber Costance Melgoza was the team’s leading scorer with 21 points while Danika Galea had 14.

On Wednesday, Malta were in dominant form as they brushed aside Georgia 88-68.

The Maltese took some time to get going as they trailed 23-14 in the first quarter.

But they stepped up a gear in the second quarter to take a a six-point lead at the interval, 44-38.

From then on, the Maltese showed a lot of discipline to keep at bay their oppoonents and start the last quarter 69-59 ahead.

In the final ten minutes, the Maltese girls stamped their authority to rubberstamp their dominance and secure a passage in the semi-finals.

Steffi De Martino was Malta’s leading scorer with 30 points.

On Thursday the Maltese girls face Cyprus to decide top spot in the group.

In the men’s tournament, being played in Andorra, Malta suffered a poor start when they lost to Gibraltar 89-81.

Gibraltar opened a 15-point lead in the first quarter to surge 26-11.

The Maltese fought back to manage to cancel the deficit and take a one-point lead at the change of ends, 33-32.

The match remained tight with Gibraltar taking a one-point lead before the final quarter.

The Maltese failed to turn the match in their favour as Gibraltar went on to secure an 89-81 victory.

Kurt Cassar was Malta’s leading scorer with 22 points.

Malta needed a strong response in their second match against San Marino and Duncan Fenech’s boys duly delivered with an emphatic 92-52 win over San Marino.

Deguara finished as the game’s leading scorer with 22 points.

Malta will be bidding to a favourable semi-final draw when they face Andorra on Thursday.