Malta U-16 girls strike gold at FIBA Europe Division C, boys selection settle for silver

Roderick Vella’s girls completed a perfect week when they crushed Albania 76-51 to secure the gold medal at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion.

The men’s selection, under the charge of Omar Said, fought valiantly against hosts Armenia but could do nothing to avoid a 97-68 defeat.

Still, it was a brilliant result for the Maltese boys, who enjoyed a very impressive tournament in Armenia, and their efforts were rewarded with a well-deserved silver medal.

The Maltese girls looked well in control in the first quarter as they raced into a commanding 10-1 lead after five minutes of play.

But the home side failed to hold that early momentum, and the Albanians managed to crawl their way back into the match.

Antea Filopati was the catalyst of the Albania fightback as she managed to win a series of fouls and she kept a perfect percentage of conversion to pull her team level by the end of the first quarter – 14-14.

In the second quarter, after a balanced start, Albania seemed to gain the upper hand as baskets from Klea Szyziu and Antea Filopati saw them move seven points clear – 26-19.

But Malta turned on the style in the final five minutes as a lay-up by Claire Portelli and a Samira Deguara three-pointer put the team 33-28 ahead.

Albania tried to fight back, but Malta managed to maintain their advantage to head into the half-time interval, three points clear – 36-33.

In the third quarter, the match remained tight but the Maltese girls started to impose themselves in the final five minutes as an Even Axisa three-pointer put them five points clear – 43-38 ahead.

Two free throws converted by Kirstie Sammut ensured the team started the final session seven points clear – 48-41.

The fourth and final quarter, Malta showed all its strength across the court as they quickly stormed out of the blocks, and a Samira Deguara three-pointer put them 15 points clear – 56-41.

Deguara continued to punish the Albanians as she hit another five points to extend the team’s advantage to 20 points – 61-41.

The match was as good as over as the Maltese girls diligently administered their lead and at the final buzzer they could celebrate a well-deserved triumph.

Omar Said’s boys were under the cosh for large parts of the first part of the opening quarter as the Armenians, backed by the passionate home support, were off to a flier.

Dmitri Hajyan and Anthony Sarkesian combined to put the team 14-5 ahead.

Malta tried to fight back with Samuel Kisvarda potting crucial points but it was the home side who looked in control as they raced to a ten-point lead by the end of the first session – 29-19.

The Armenians started to lose a bit of their precision in their shooting and that enabled Malta to make some inroads.

Three pointers from Levi West and Darcy Russell helped the team to bridge the gap to just five points – 34-29.

But Sarkesian was soon back on fire as he stretched his team’s lead to ten points with less than five minutes to go – 39-29.

More three-pointers from Kisvarda, West and Said Hollier lifted Malta to seven points adrift – 51-44.

But it was Sarkesian who had the final say to enable Armenia to take a nine-point lead at the half-time interval – 53-44.

In the third quarter, Armenia took the game from the Maltese players as they started to drift clear as five successive points from Haiyjan lifted the hosts to a commanding 20-point lead 66-46.

Malta tried to fight back, but the Armenians’ pressure was relentless, with Jivan Dorian extending their advantage to 73-50.

A Juan Matias De Flavia three-pointer at the death cut the gap to 18 points – 76-58.

But there was no stopping the Armenians in the final quarter, who continued to pile up points when a three-pointer by Mihail Petrov lifted them to a 31-point lead – 94-63.

The remaining minutes saw the home side administering their advantage and strolling to victory, with Malta forced to settle for the silver medal.