Day: October 8, 2024

MBA announces 2023-24 Player of the Year nominations

The Malta Basketball Association (MBA) has confirmed this year’s nominees for the BOV Player of the Year Award, which will be handed out during the MBA Awards on October 14. 

In a statement, the local basketball association referred to the award as one that is “presented to the best-performing players of the season, both on and off the court and judged by a panel of experts from the basketball scene.”

Last season’s winners Alec Felice Pace and Steffi De Martino are both in the running again as the two former Starlites players remained at the top of their game last season, before moving to CityBasket Recklinghausen and Hibernians respectively.

Fellow national team players Ian Felice Pace and Nathan Xuereb complete the men’s frontrunners for the award, as last season’s finals MVP Anna Fenech Pace and runner-up Kristy Galea form the women’s list of nominees. Fenech Pace is in contention for a second award, having also been nominated for the U19 Women’s League accolade.

This year’s MBA Awards come at a special time in the associations’ history as the MBA celebrates its 60th anniversary. In turn, the association has announced that FIBA World General Secretary Andreas Zagklis is set to be the guest of honour for the event. 

2023-24 MBA Player of the Year Award nominees

BOV 1st Division Men

Alec Felice Pace (Starlites)

Ian Felice Pace (Startlites)

Nathan Xuereb (Luxol)

MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League

Steffi de Martino (Starlites)

Anna Fenech Pace (Luxol)

Kristy Galea (Depiro)

BOV Amateur League

Neil Cassar (Mosta)

Miladin Cubic (Fusion)

Alex Sultana (Startlites)

St James Hospital U23 Men’s League

Isaac Azzopardi (Luxol)

Nathan Xuereb (Luxol)

Ian Felice Pace (Starlites)

St James Hospital U23 Women’s League

Sarah Fenech Pace (Luxol)

Mikela Riolo (Starlites)

Michela Zammit Cordina (Starlites)

U19 Men’s League

Adam Azzopardi (Luxol)

Isaac Azzopardi (Luxol)

Alex Sultana (Starlites)

U19 Women’s League

Anna Fenech Pace (Luxol)

Sarah Fenech Pace (Luxol)

Andie Saliba (Starlites)

U16 Boys’ League

Kai Fabri (Starlites)

Mark Iloube (Luxol)

Chen Junxi (Eurobasket)

U16 Girls’ League

Shanice Farrugia (Luxol)

Rebecca Fenech Pace (Luxol)

Claire Portelli (Depiro)

U14 Boys’ League

Giacomo Camilleri (Starlites)

Mathias de Flavia (Athleta)

Zac Said Hollier (Starlites)

U14 Girls’ League

Lara Micallef (Hibernians)

Claire Portelli (Depiro)

Kirstie Sammut (Depiro)