Day: January 3, 2025

Hibernians Women sign Ashiala Monee Jackson

Minutes after Hibernians confirmed Malta women’s national team coach Charles Bonnici as their new mentor, the Paola-based club named Illinois-native Ashiala Monee Jackson to their roster.

“The Hibernians Basketball Club would like to announce the new recruit from Illinois-USA, Ashiala Monee Jackson. Welcome on board Ashiala!” The club said in a statement on Thursday evening.

6’1 forward Jackson joins the team on the back of a half-season stint in Chile with CD Universitario Conception in the Chilean LNF where she averaged 30.6 minutes a game, putting up 14 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game in nine showings. 

Before that, the new Hibs player plied her trade in the Kazakhstan Division One with Barsy Atyrau and Irtysh after her college career in the NCAA Division 2 at Tuskegee University.

She now joins a Hibs team which has begun their campaign looking for redemption after numerous disappointing seasons. Having started the season under coach Winnie Buhagiar, the team managed to secure the John Tabone Women’s Shield but stumbled at the beginning of the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League. 

Now moving onto a new path under coach Bonnici, the team which currently stands on three wins and four defeats so far this season will be hoping for a quick start after the winter break this weekend as Maltese basketball returns to the Ta’ Qali Pavilion.  

Hibernians name Bonnici as women’s coach after Buhagiar departs 

John Tabone Women’s Shield winners Hibernians announced a new coaching path on Thursday as they named Malta Women’s national team coach Charles Bonnici as their new team coach for the remainder of the season. 

This move comes as Winnie Buhaigar, who has led the team since July, departs the Paola-based club after a rollercoaster start to the season.

“The Hibernians Basketball Club would like to announce that Charlie Bonnici has been appointed as the new coach for our Hibernians Women’s Senior Team. Welcome on board!” The club said in a statement.

“In the meantime, the Hibernians Basketball Club would like to thank former coach Winnie Buhagiar for her commitment throughout the past months.”

Under Buhagiar, the Paolites made significant roster changes, with former Starlites trio Steffi de Martino, Maria Bonett, and Andie Saliba all joining the team before the signing of American forward Mikayla Brandon. This newly built squad depth reaped instant rewards, as the team looked solid at both ends of the court. Eventually, the Shield Trophy gave Hibs their first accolade after a long drought. 

In spite of this momentum, the team struggled to match the pace once the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League campaign started, losing their opening fixtures. Nevertheless, Hibernians eventually got back to winning ways and are now in fourth place in the standings on 10 points (3-4). 

While it is still unclear why Hibs and coach Buhagiar parted ways, this change brings to the team an experienced mentor in Bonnici, whose last stint in senior women’s basketball saw him win the league with Starlites. 

Bonnici, who was appointed Malta NT women’s coach last season, comes to the team with a FIBA Small Countries Games silver medal on his resume after a strong showing by his team in Kosovo in the summer. While it was rumoured that he could return to Starlites for this season, the Naxxar side announced former Malta guard Peter Shoults with Bonnici seemingly to remain only the NT coach. However, he now rejoins his former trio and the rest of the Hibs roster as they focus on climbing up to the top positions of the league.