Day: July 4, 2024

Melgoza Leads Charge as Malta Put on Show in the FIBA European Small Countries Women’s Championships

In Kosovo, Malta showcased a formidable performance in the FIBA European Small Countries Women’s Championships under the debut leadership of coach Charles Bonnici.

The team, largely composed of locally-based players from four of the five clubs in the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League, was bolstered by the dynamic addition of Amber Melgoza, who plays in Spain for Cadi La Seu. Melgoza, participating in her second tournament with the national team. Melgoza replicated the energy and skill she demonstrated during last summer’s GSSE held in Malta, earning her the title of tournament MVP despite Malta’s narrow defeat to Norway in the final.

From the onset, Malta exhibited dominance, winning most of their games by double-digit margins and displaying strength on both ends of the court. Their journey began with a hard-fought 72-65 victory against Kosovo, followed by an emphatic 88-68 win over Georgia. The team maintained their momentum with an 82-71 triumph over Cyprus, setting the stage for a semi-final clash against Albania, which they won comfortably, 75-62.

Malta Collective Effort

A critical component of Malta’s success was the outstanding performance of Melgoza. Her playmaking abilities and defensive prowess were pivotal, as evidenced by her tournament average of 19.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.2 steals per game. Melgoza’s leadership on the court was complemented by the prolific forward Steffi De Martino, whose 30-point performance against Georgia was a tournament highlight. 

Another key player was Danika Galea, who is poised to follow in the footsteps of Josephine Diaby. Galea, at just 18, showcased her potential and synergy with Diaby, Malta’s starting centre, whose experience and leadership were crucial throughout the tournament. Diaby, fresh off a title-winning season with Caffe Moak Luxol, continued to be a cornerstone of Malta’s frontcourt.

The Depiro duo, Kristy Galea and Sophie Abela, were instrumental in Malta’s backcourt. Abela’s athleticism and fastbreak capabilities, alongside Melgoza, added a vital dynamic to Malta’s offensive strategies. Galea’s consistent form as a creator, along with Melgoza and De Martino, ensured a balanced and potent attack.

Despite their strong run, Malta’s only downfall came in the final against a fellow unbeaten side, Norway. Malta led for much of the game, but Norway’s resilience and strategic adjustments culminated in a second-half comeback, resulting in a 61-54 victory for Norway. This loss, however, does not overshadow Malta’s overall impressive performance throughout the tournament.

Coach Charles Bonnici, supported by assistant coaches Adrian Baldacchino and Maria Agius, implemented effective strategies that highlighted the team’s strengths. Their collective efforts resulted in a team that played cohesively and with purpose, setting a high standard for future competitions.

A team photo of the MAlta women's National Team.
Malta’s women’s National Team at this summer’s FIBA European Small Countries Games. Photo: FIBA

REPORT CARD

Offence: A

Malta consistently demonstrated the ability to score efficiently, with key contributions from Melgoza, De Martino, and the Galea-Abela duo.

Defence: A

The team’s defensive strategies were robust, highlighted by Melgoza’s steals and the overall defensive cohesion.

Team Dynamics: B+

The synergy among players from different clubs was evident, contributing to their strong performance. While the team performed admirably throughout the tournament, their inability to counter Norway’s second-half surge highlighted an area for improvement in high-pressure situations.

Coaching: A

Charles Bonnici’s debut as coach was marked by effective game plans and player management. His adjustments proved fruitful on the court against most of Malta’s opponents. While he could not guide Malta to gold, this does not detract from the effective coaching shown during the tournament.

Overall Performance: A-

Malta’s performance in the FIBA European Small Countries Women’s Championships was impressive, characterised by dominant wins, strong team dynamics, and standout individual performances. The team’s ability to execute both offensively and defensively was evident, and Coach Charles Bonnici’s strategies were well-implemented, showcasing effective preparation and leadership.

However, the grade reflects a minor shortfall in handling high-pressure situations, as evidenced by their second-half struggle against Norway in the final. While their overall performance was excellent, this area presents an opportunity for growth and refinement.

Demcesen re-signs with Hibernians

Veteran centre Ivan Demcesen has extended his stay at Hibernians for the next two years, the club has confirmed. Demcesen has, since joining the Paolite club, become a mainstay for the team and this extension will surely be a relief for new coach Christos Kousidis, who was confirmed on Tuesday.

The 7’1 centre was at his best last season despite the team falling at the final hurdle in the BOV Division One and will be looking to replicate his form as Hibs seek to level up and fight for the postseason during this coming campaign. 

Last season, Hibs leveraged the newly introduced regulation whereby foreigners who have been living in Malta for over three years would be classified as locals on the court. This meant that Demcesen was no longer restricted to sharing his minutes with the rest of the import players. This worked wonders as the Serbian averaged 23.3 points a game in the league, going up to 24 in the KnockOut and 29 per game in the John Tabone Shield.

Naturally, at such height, grabbing boards is a normality for Demcesen, the Serbian averaging 13.6 rebounds a game across all competitions throughout the last campaign in which he started all but one game from the 24 he played. 

In a statement, Hibs president Ronnie Callejja sounded his enthusiasm towards having Demcesen back for yet another two seasons.

“We are very pleased that Ivan Demcesen has decided to extend his stay with us; his contributions to the team have been invaluable,” Callejja said.

Further changes

After securing a new coach, the club has set its sights on a decent squad depth ahead of the new season, with Malta Basketball aware that the club will be announcing a new local addition to their roster. 

This, added to ongoing negotiations with a few other players, should be an important push for Hibs to challenge for silverware after a tough run these past few years.