Day: August 18, 2024

Starlites sign Canadian forward Joe Davis

After confirming American guard Trevon Reddish-Rhone earlier last week, Malta title-holders Starlites announced their second import player for the upcoming FIBA Europe Cup qualifiers when they named Canadian forward Joe Davis to their roster on Sunday.

Davis, who joins the team both as a senior team player and youth team coach will be bringing in his experience from the Australian Big V Championship after three seasons at the Pakenham Warriors.

“Welcoming Joe Davis from Kamloops, Canada to the Starlites organisation for the 2024-25 season,” a club statement read. 

“Joe brings along years of playing experience to our Senior Men VisitMalta Starlites Naxxar squad, while also taking the role of Head Coach for all the Starlites U16 Boys teams this season.”

The 6’6 forward averaged 30.5 minutes a game last season with Pakenham, putting up 16.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals per game and shot 34% from 3PT.

This showing also led to him getting awarded a place in the Big V All-Star Second Team for the final home and away games of the season earlier this month.

“I’m really excited to be joining this club as it is an excellent program,” Davis told the Starlites socials. 

“I’m extremely looking forward to getting around the Starlites community and spending time with the kids I will be coaching within the organisation. Last but not least, I’m looking forward to playing my best basketball going into the season!”

This enthusiasm was echoed by Hamriding Sports Management, which represents Davis.

“Couldn’t be happier for Joe Davis couldn’t have happened to a better human being. This one is not only special for Joe but he also becomes Hamriding Sports Management’s first client to take part in a FIBA domestic tournament,” his agent Reece Hamriding said.

Davis joins a Starlites squad which is in the process of building a strong enough roster ahead of September’s run in European competition before they return home to defend the four titles they won last season in an incredible campaign for Paul Ferrante and his players.

Starlites women’s team aim for revolution after signing Napoleon

226 years since Napoleon Bonaparte landed in Malta during the French occupation of the islands, a new Napoleon will be among the local community, this time as a Starlites’ women’s team player called Makaila Napoleon, who the club announced this weekend.

US-born guard-forward Napoleon was confirmed by the Naxxar-based club on Saturday as they aim to rebuild after the departure of trio Steffi De Martino, Maria Bonett, and Andie Saliba to Hibernians earlier this summer. 

“A new addition to the Starlites community as Makaila Napoleon has joined our organisation for the upcoming season,” a Starlites statement read. 

“Joining us all the way from Jessup University in California, Makaila’s dedication and resilience will definitely have a positive impact on the Senior Women squad this year.”

Jessup University, an NAIA college until the end of last season before transitioning to the NCAA Division Two for the coming season, saw Napoleon start 12 of the 13 games she played last season.

The 5’11 player finished her final season at Jessup with a 43% field-goal percentage and 67% freethrow-shooting percentage as she averaged 12.6 points per game. She grabbed 6 rebounds and blocked 2.3 shots a game while at the other end of the court, she assisted 3.1 scores. This was crucial for the team as Jessup won a program-record 22 games in the 2023-24 campaign and earned an at-large bid into the NAIA National Tournament.

“I’m very excited to be joining Starlites BC. It has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl to be a professional athlete and I’m extremely grateful that Starlites is giving me this opportunity,” Napoleon told the club’s socials.

“What I’m most looking forward to is meeting new people within the organisation and learning about the culture in Malta”.

Starlites will now be hoping it won’t be another six-day stay in Malta for Napoleon as they push to turn around their favour under new coach Peter Shoults who was announced as Fatih Dedelioglu’s replacement this past week. 

Last season, Starlites lifted the Super Cup and were finalists for the John Tabone Women’s Shield before leading the women’s league standings for the majority of the regular season campaign before their form faltered at the business end. 

Depiro complete double signing to bring in Barrs, Tomasi

After confirming David Bugeja and Luca Stefanovic as two major local signings this summer, and extending the contract of US guard Cameron Cornelius, Depiro continued to make inroads into their summer acquisitions with the confirmation of forwards Chase Barrs and Dom Tomasi.

Announcing the pair this past week, the Mtarfa side showed its excitement to have them play under new coach Sasha Dimitrijevic this coming season.

“Depiro is excited to announce the signing of 23-year old Chase Barrs from Florida, USA to our Senior Men’s Team,” a club statement read.

“We’re all looking forward to seeing Chase with the rest of our team in Ta Qali. Welcome to Depiro, Chase!”

This statement was echoed in the case of Tomasi, who follows the footsteps of older brother Joshua who played for the club during the John Tabone Shield last season before moving to Spain and eventually back to Australia’s NBL One.

Florida-native Barrs joins the team after his final season in the NCAA Division One with the Florida A&M Rattlers who play in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). He comes to Malta looking to get higher individual numbers after averaging 1.8 points per game on 45.2% field goal and 62.5% freethrow shooting last season. The 6’10 forward played 21 games throughout the campaign and grabbed 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 blocks a game on defence.

Meanwhile, Tomasi heads to Malta after his time in Australia in the Big V. The 20-year-old will play for Depiro as a local as did his brother last season in a similar move made by Starlites in the case of Matt Attard and eventually Jacob Bourke-Doggett.

The duo will most likely wrap up Depiro’s summer business as they aim to push ahead after last season’s run in the men’s campaign that led to a Knockout final appearance and eventually a place in the playoffs under coach Ruben Baldacchino who stepped down at the end of the season.

Starlites announce Peter Shoults as women’s team coach

Former Malta international Peter Shoults is Starlites’ new women’s team coach, the club announced this past week.

Shoults, who was on the court as a Valletta Fighters player last season before an off-court injury forced his retirement from the game, now makes the shift to mentorship as he replaces last season’s coach Fatih Dedelioglu to lead the team that finished second in the regular season.

“Join us in welcoming the new head coach of the Senior Women and U23 Women squads for the upcoming 2024-25 season – former national team captain Peter Shoults,” a club statement read. 

“He needs no introduction with the local basketball community after winning four Divison One Championships, one Finals MVP award, and one MVP award, amongst other domestic trophies and awards. 

“He has also won several medals with the Senior Men national team, including the Gold medal in 2018. The club is confident that Peter’s vast expertise and work ethic will be a key tool for the upcoming season.”

Last season under Dedelioglu, the team started in fine fashion as they won the Women’s Super Cup and their early push saw them take a quick leap to the top spot of the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League standings despite falling to Caffe Moak Luxol in the John Tabone Shield final. However, this momentum began to die down and it began to indicate that it would not be their season.

With a new coaching route, Starlites will be hoping to turn things back to winning ways. Speaking to the club’s socials, Shoults said he expects his side to remain competitive.

“I’m honoured to be given this opportunity by the Starlites committee and eager to get started,” he said. 

“(I’m) Looking forward to working with some of the best young talent on the island. I expect us to be competitive but since a lot of changes have happened to the roster, we’ll take it one step at a time and build up slowly. 

“The objective is to keep on building on our team chemistry and strive to achieve the goals we set out.”

The Shoults announcement was the first ‘good news’ for the club this summer after losing out on three key players –Steffi De Martino, Maria Bonett, and Andie Saliba – who all moved to Hibernians to play under new coach Winnie Buhagiar. 

One will be eager to see what replacements, the Naxxar-based side bring in to cover for the three local players.