Malta U-16 girls brush aside Kosovo to secure place in FIBA Europe Division C semi-finals

The Malta U-16 women’s national team booked their place in the semi-finals of the FIBA Europe Championships Division after strolling past Kosovo 74-65 at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion.

It was another convincing performance for Roderick Vella’s girls, who secured their second successive win and sealed top spot in the group.

Their reward is a semi-final clash against Armenia on Saturday.

Samira Deguara was Malta’s leading scorer with 27 points.

The Maltese girls were fast off the blocks as two Kirstie Sammut free-throws and an Eve Sammut three-pointer put the team 7-2 ahead.

The Kosovo players tried to fight back and Anila Fazliu potted three points in a row to put her team ahead for the first time with seven minutes to go – 12-10.

There was little separating either side as Kosovo moved three points ahead with just over four minutes to go – 16-13.

But the Maltese girls fought back in the final stages of the match as Claire Portelli and Samira Deguara combined to restore parity at the end of the first quarter – 20-20.

In the second session, both teams remained glued to each other with the score level 25-all with just over five minutes to go.

But in the final part of the quarter, Axisa and Deguara took the game by the scruff of its neck, potting several points to put Malta seven points clear – 38-31.

In the final two seconds of the quarter, Axisa potted successive free throws to send the hosts 40-33 ahead at the half-time interval.

The third quarter saw Malta doing well to administer their healthy advantage with Adria Xuereb converting two free throws to put her team nine points ahead, 45-36.

Kosovo tried to step up a gear and a Kejla Saptahovic three-pointer bridged the gap to just three points – 46-43.

But Malta soon regained control as two free throws by Claire Portelli and a Samira Deguara basket lifted the team to 50-44 ahead.

Portelli’s lay-up further boosted the hosts’ bid as Malta started the final session 57-51 ahead.

Kosovo refused to throw in the towel and an Andrra Rudi three-pointer bridged the gap to just three points – 57-54.

But the Maltese girls had the right response as quick-fire baskets from Kirstie Sammut and Samira Deguara restored the team’s seven-point advantage – 61-54.

A Deguara three-pointer and Lara Micallef’s lay-up further stretched the team’s advantage to 11 points – 67-56.

It was all Malta now and Eve Axisa stole the ball in mid-pitch and did well to set up Deguara for a simple lay-up before the same Deguara hit a three-pointer seconds later to put Malta 16 points ahead – 72-56.

The Kosovo side tried to push their way back into the match but Adria Xuereb’s layup sealed a convincing victory for Malta – 74-60.