Malta Division One champions Starlites discovered their opponents in the qualifying round of the FIBA Europe Cup on Friday as the Naxxar side were pitted against Anorthosis Famagusta.
At the draws held in Munich, Starlites were part of the group of unseeded teams and now face the Cypriot side in a home-and-away format in September with their first fixture taking place on September 24 at Ta’ Qali and their away fixture in Famagusta on three days later.
Starlites’ opponents Anorthosis have consistently participated in the FIBA Europe Cup, showcasing their talent on the international stage. However, they have never reached the later stages of the competition.
Domestically, Anorthosis are a dominant force in the Cypriot Basketball Division 1. They consistently compete for the championship title and finished second in the regular season this past campaign. This means Starlites will have a tough bone to pick in two months’ time.
In a club statement after the draws, Starlites president Ivan Riolo said: “We are looking forward to facing Anorthosis Famagusta next September for our Qualifying Game. The club has received significant support and interest locally following its announcement on Tuesday. This is not just a first for the club, but something Maltese Basketball clubs should keep looking at year after year, as it will allow the Maltese Basketball game to develop further and Maltese Basketball players to gain international exposure.”
“This is not just an achievement for Starlites Naxxar Basketball Club, but an achievement for the Maltese Basketball community.”
Were they to progress into the regular season, Starlites would then play in Group B of the competition against the likes of Casademont Zaragoza, Bursaspor, and the loser of the Basketball Champions League qualifiers’ semifinal.