Category: Men’s Division 1

James, Crooms Named BOV Players of the Month for November

Starlites’ Kai Fabri wins BOV Amateur League accolade

AtoZ Athleta’s Kurt James, Betsson Depiro’s Janai Crooms, and Starlites’ Kai Fabri have been recognised as the BOV Players of the Month for November 2024 by the Malta Basketball Association.

American forward Kurt James, who joined Athleta from Starlites this season, earned the top accolade for the BOV Division One for November. The 6’5” all-rounder demonstrated his versatility, excelling across multiple positions and finishing last month as the league’s leading scorer with an impressive 169 points over six games, averaging 28.17 points per game.

James was equally dominant under the boards, securing an average of 14.4 rebounds per game to top the league’s rebounding charts.

His all-around contribution extended to 2.6 steals per game while enduring an average of 6.17 fouls per match. Clocking 35 minutes per game, his influence was pivotal for Athleta.

The winners of the BOV Player of the Month award for November. PHOTO | BOV

In the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League, Janai Crooms of Depiro claimed the Player of the Month title. The 25-year-old Rwandan-American, a standout player for her team since joining earlier in the month, delivered consistently stellar performances, averaging 19.5 points per game.

Across four games, Crooms amassed 55 rebounds, showcasing her tenacity in the paint, alongside 11 assists and 11 steals.

16-year-old Kai Fabri of Starlites was awarded the honour for the BOV Amateur League. The young shooting guard demonstrated remarkable poise, scoring 65 points in four games, including nine three-pointers, for an average of 16.25 points per game.

Fabri also led the local second division in court time, averaging 33 minutes and 10 seconds per game, highlighting his importance to the team’s success.

The awards were presented by Bank of Valletta’s Chief Officer, Ernest Agius, during a ceremony at the Ta’ Qali Basketball Pavilion. Each recipient was awarded a custom-made trophy to commemorate their achievement.

Howard, Napoleon named October’s MBA Players of the Month

The Malta Basketball Association (MBA) awarded the Players of the Month on Sunday at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion, naming Luxol Sherries Estates guard Darron Howard and Starlites guard Makaila Napoleon as October’s award winners.

Luxol’s Howard was one of two US import signings who joined the Violets over the summer and has since shown his mettle as one of the top players in the division so far.

Over the course of October, Luxol progressed to the John Tabone Shield final, falling to eventual winners Hibernians in November. However, Luxol were a force on court, with Howard, compatriot Caleb Jones McCrary, and Malta international Nathan Xuereb all leading a revolutionised roster under coach Duncan Fenech.

With four games in all competitions played in October, Howard averaged 37 minutes on the court, scoring 30.5 points and assisting 6.8 scores a game. On defence, Howard grabbed eight boards, and was a menace in steals with 3.3 per game. 

Luxol are on a 3-0 run in this season’s BOV Division One campaign.

Miguel Falzon, Darron Howard, BOV Chief Officer Ernest Agius, and Makaila Napoleon. PHOTO | BOV

Starlites’ Napoleon, who joined the team over the summer, has been an instrumental part of coach Peter Shoults’ roster so far as the team bounce back after last season’s woes. With stars Steffi de Martino, Maria Bonett and Andie Saliba off to Hibernians, it was a good opportunity for Napoleon and the rest of the Starlites clan to show they can move on.

Throughout October, the Naxxar-based side played three games in the John Tabone Shield with Napoleon playing around 33 minutes a game as she averaged a double-double and led the team in scoring with 21.3 points per game. On defence, the former Jessup University guard averaged 14.7 rebounds, with 2.8 blocks a game. 

Starlites are currently on a 2-1 record in the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League, their only defeat coming against Betsson Depiro in their second league fixture of the new campaign. 

Starlites’ Miguel Falzon won the Division Two honour. Falzon finished the month of October with 57 points from four outings.

The BOV Player of the Month award winners are voted for by the local media at the end of each game.

Valletta BC sign Ashton Spears

BOV Division One side Valletta BC  have signed US import player Ashton Spears, Malta Basketball can confirm. Spears is said to have joined the capital club over the week, with sources saying the 6’2 guard is signed and in line for his debut on Sunday as Valletta face Luxol in the day’s early game.

Spears joins the Citizens after overseas stints in France, Germany and most lately Portugal when he played for SC Lusitania EXPERT in the Portuguese top division last season. While his time there was that of just three games, the Louisiana native put up an average of 14.3 points, three assists and two rebounds after spending 29.3 minutes a game.

The former St Edwards University player played his final college season with the Hilltoppers after moving from Jacksonville State University. 

Spears now joins coach Harry Savaya’s Valletta roster which has grown significantly and will be the team’s third American summer signing after they had brought over Lorenzo Anderson and Eric Terry in the offseason to complement the addition of Piotr Stelmach and local Division One transfers Francesco Mifsud Bonnici and Nicholas Grech amongst others. 

Valletta are currently second in the BOV Division One standings on a 2-1 record so far after three games played.

Athleta sign Ghana forward Amoafo

BOV Division One side Athleta have expanded their squad depth for the new season with a new import signing last week as they named Ghanaian forward Maxwell Amoafo to coach Sandro Farrugia’s roster, the club announced on Sunday.

The 6’7 player joins the Maroons after having played college basketball at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada before moving to Spain for his professional debut with Coto Cordoba CB in the Spanish Segunda league. 

“We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to the Athleta Basketball Club for the 2024 season—Maxwell Amoafo!” A club statement read. 

“Standing tall at 6’7”, Maxwell brings strength, agility, and a wealth of experience from his time in Spain and Canada. As a versatile forward with a tenacious defensive presence and a knack for rebounding, he is set to be a key player in our quest for success. Let’s give Maxwell a warm welcome to the Athleta family!”

Last season, the forward averaged 18 minutes per game over 16 appearances where he put up 6.8 points and seven rebounds a game. 

Amoafo becomes the team’s third import for the season after the Gzira-based side acquired former Starlites big man Kurt James and compatriot Caleb Matthews over the summer. Together with local signings Robert Vitale, Billy Joel Zammit, and Isaac Bonett – who has not yet made his Athleta debuts so far due to injury – the three overseas players will be hoping to combine for a turnaround after an unlucky opening to the new league campaign which has seen them fall to four defeats, one of which was Amoafo’s debut. 

On Sunday, Athleta suffered a closed 74-71 defeat to Valletta Lions with Amoafo putting up a 17-minute performance where he put up five points, grabbed five rebounds and made three assists.

‘We Want to Win Everything’ says Narciso as Hibernians seal John Tabone Shield

In a high-stakes John Tabone Shield final at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion, Hibernians outlasted Luxol 94-86 to claim their first title of the season, with Hibs point guard Derek Brown leading the charge in an intense, fast-paced contest. Fans witnessed the resilience and determination of both teams, but Hibernians’ tenacious defence and late-game composure proved decisive in their victory.

Reflecting on his team’s grit, Coach Christian Narciso praised the Hibernians’ collective spirit.

“You can see on the court my guys are tough, they are playing defence with their heart,” he told Malta Basketball. 

“In the last quarter, they decided the game without any instruction from me. They just found out on their own: they played together, trusted each other and played tough defence – that’s the biggest victory for me.” 

Narciso, who previously coached Mellieha Libertas, returned to Malta and joined Hibernians with high aspirations over the summer. 

“We want to win everything. We had the example of Starlites last year – we want to follow their example. So that’s what we’re aiming for,” he emphasised, setting the tone for a season of championship ambition.

The game on Sunday unfolded as a thrilling display of Maltese basketball, with Hibernians initially grabbing an early lead before Luxol mounted a comeback to edge ahead by halftime. But it was in the fourth quarter that Narciso’s clan found their rhythm, ignited by Brown’s precise shooting and Ivan Demcesen’s crucial second-chance points. Luxol, fighting back, were dealt a setback when key player Nathan Xuereb fouled out after a stunning 20-point performance, leaving them vulnerable to Hibs’ final push.

For Brown, who led all scorers with 36 points, the victory was a result of focused preparation. 

“I was mentally locked in. I get up at 6AM and put in my shots just so that we could be ready for today,” he shared with Malta Basketball, reflecting on his dedication. 

“When Hibs came and got me, I heard we hadn’t won a Shield in about two or three years, so we were determined to definitely get this one.” 

The Shield final also showcased a high level of Maltese talent, with Matthew Gouder and Nathan Xuereb emerging as standout performers, as they both finished the game with 20 points after impressive shooting on the day. Gouder, in his first final as a Hibs player since joining from Athleta over the summer, contributed with efficient scoring and strong defence, while Xuereb’s early three-pointers were critical in keeping Luxol in the game. 

When Mellieha disbanded over the summer, most of their players found a new home at other clubs, with Tedrick Wolfe heading to Hibs and Vukasin Jandric moving to Luxol. The former Libertas duo delivered top-drawer performances for their respective side on Sunday, as Wolfe went home with a double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Jandric shot 80% from three-point range for a final 16-point total.

Competitive nature

Narciso highlighted the competitive nature of this season, noting that with Mellieha’s players joining different teams, the league is as tough as ever.

“It’s like all of the teams can be in the first four. I see a really tough competition but it’s also more satisfying when you win finals like this.”

On Sunday, both teams displayed tactical depth, with Hibernians capitalising on fast breaks and points in the paint, while Luxol demonstrated resilience in second-chance opportunities.

Despite the defeat, Luxol will also be ones to take many positives from their Shield run. Unlike last season, the Pembroke-based side look like a solid outfit this season under coach Duncan Fenech and the dynamic duo of Howard and Caleb Jones McCrary has surely shown there is added character to their team. 

In fact, while last season, their Shield campaign lasted just two defeats, this year, the Violets have gone unbeaten until the final which suggests the team requires simply that pinch of added experience together to keep up their formidable showing in the business end. Nevertheless, it looks like Luxol will be one of the challengers for the season’s honours, especially with the likes of Malta international Xuereb now boosted by the team’s new additions and the re-emergence of Stefan Cappello who has become a dominant presence for the team. 

As Hibernians bask in their Shield victory, however, the message is clear: this team is determined to dominate Maltese basketball this season. With seasoned players and renewed determination, Hibernians have set a high bar, leaving supporters eager for more finals.

Valletta BC embrace city’s legacy as club launches new identity

Valletta BC, a local basketball club now in its second season, has rebranded over the summer as part of significant upgrades and they made all of their changes official with a launch of their logo, kits and teams for the 2024-25 season on Wednesday in Valletta.

Speaking at the event, club president Harry Savaya referred to the launch as a big event because of the city’s identity, saying it is their ambition to live up to the name through the club.

“For us, it’s big because it’s Valletta,” Savaya told the audience, “(Valletta) has a big name, it has a history, and it has shown us a lot during the years. Hopefully, it will be a great image for us to emulate. We will be able to show them who we are, to show them real basketball, fair play, good attitude, and definitely at the end of this, the results.

“But our main target is not just to show what we have or show our level or show good sportsmanship. Our target is to put Valletta and Malta on the highest podiums, at the highest level.”

Speaking about the new branding, as Valletta Fighters became Valletta BC in the offseason, Citizens representative and assistant coach Daniel Bugeja said the process took on numerous phases and emphasised their pride in representing the capital city.

“The logo, which was designed by our club secretary, Carmel Spiteri, has passed through a lot of phases,” Bugeja said. 

“The lion on the logo holds a basketball, reflecting the club’s dedication to the sport. The intensity of the expression on the lion underscores the competitive spirit of the team. In the background, a basketball is incorporated with elements of the multi-spectrum, signifying the club’s deep roots in Malta. As we all know, no city or village in Malta represents the country more than here. And there was the idea to have the Maltese flag incorporated into our logo.

“The team’s name, Valletta Basketball Club, is displayed prominently. This showcases our pride in representing the country. We are proud to represent Valletta for its heritage, for its history, for its people.”

Summer upgrades

Over the summer, one highlight was the introduction of a new women’s team for the club. Together with this, Valletta BC have invested heavily into its men’s team which last season suffered throughout its debut campaign which saw them only win one game in all competitions. Unlike last season, Valletta have already matched their record with a Division One win earlier in October. 

Speaking to Malta Basketball, Savaya, who is also the head coach of the team’s men’s and women’s teams said their target was always to upgrade.

“Our main target is always to upgrade, always to improve year after year. Our main goal was definitely the Valletta men. Our secondary goal was to push for a women’s team, and improve the basketball women’s side, especially, because they kind of lack attention in a way like supporting-wise and the number of teams,” he explained. 

Valletta BC's Women's team stand for a team photo.
Valletta BC women’s team photo. PHOTO | Olaf Mckay

“Hopefully, hand-in-hand with the basketball association, we will be able to get to their targets and our targets, especially when you’ve seen lately in the past five small countries’ tournaments or championships, Malta has always been in the final, whether for the men or the women – great results.

“So (Malta) is a great place, it’s a hotspot to have teams and to upgrade and work together as one unit, try to improve. 

“As far as the men’s team is concerned, we upgraded the team by signing more experienced players. With all respect to last year’s players, last year we had a young team, this year we upgraded it because we have higher ambitions, we want to go further in the tournaments. 

“We’re not dreaming, but it should be like a primary target to be in the final four, hopefully.”

Valletta to debut in Sharjah Tournament in 2025

Valletta’s ambition was expressed during the event as Savaya announced the club will be taking part of the Sharjah International Tournament in Dubai in September. 

The competition, which features sides from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Lebanon will now also feature Valletta in 2025.

“Our target is to put Valetta and Malta onto the highest podiums, at the highest level. I would like to announce from this podium that Valetta Basketball Club, on September 5, will be in the sixth Sharjah International Tournament and we will be participating as the first Maltese club to play in such event.”

Asked about this by Malta Basketball, Savaya said it came as an invitation from Ahmed Suleiman, founder of Jam Sport Academy, and that their participation would be the start of a new collaboration.

“It’s kind of a cooperation, because to expand, you need to work with high-aiming people and clubs, so hand-in-hand, hopefully with many clubs that I have good connections with, this will help us build. 

Valletta BC's men's team stand for a team photo.
Valletta BC men’s team photo. PHOTO | Olaf Mckay

“My ultimate aim is hopefully to participate in a European tournament like Starlites did, but Starlites played the qualifications. I respect that as it is a great job as a first step. But we’re aiming to play in the international tournament and to be in the standings, hopefully, and to add to what Starlites did because, in the end, we are together in this. 

“We compete against each other for a cup, but our ultimate goal, is for us as Valletta, Starlites, and the rest to get to the highest point and show the image of basketball, because people underestimate a lot the basketball in Malta, and they don’t know what’s happening. That’s why they downgrade us, but the stats are talking, even last year, many players played in Valletta or played in other clubs and went to Germany, went to Ecuador, went to Kazakhstan, and vice versa. So, hopefully, together, we will stand higher and stronger.”

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)

Athleta sign US guard Caleb Matthews

With just a few days to go until the start of the John Tabone Shield, Athleta have named their second import player signing of the new season, naming American guard Caleb Matthews to their squad.

“We’re excited to welcome Caleb Matthews to the Athleta Basketball Club for the 2024 season!” a club statement read on Thursday. 

“Caleb, a standout guard from Wilmington University, brings a sharp shooting touch, incredible court vision, and a winning mentality to our team. Known for his leadership and clutch performances, Caleb is ready to make an impact and lead us to new heights.”

Matthews heads to Malta after his time in the NCAA Division Two where last season, he averaged 10.7 points per game in 29 showings for the Wilmington Wildcats. An accurate freethrow shooter – averaging 83.3% from the line last season – Matthews will be aiming to continue this in Malta under new coach Sandro Farrugia who also joined the team during the summer.

Matthews is Athleta’s fourth high-profile signing of the summer and comes as a replacement for captain Francesco Mifsud Bonnici who left for Valletta BC this summer. Since the departure of Mifsud Bonnici, together with Matthew Gouder and Luca Stefanovic, the 2019 Malta champions have brought in former Mellieha Libertas duo Robert Vitale and Isaac Bonett, as well as former Starlites forward Kurt James. 

Lesson learnt says Ferrante after ‘stage-fright’ quarter in Larnaca ahead of return to local game

Malta champions Starlites ended their run in the FIBA Europe Cup on Friday after a second defeat to Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta in Larnaca. Two days later, the Naxxar side will be back on the Ta’ Qali court to open the new season with the MBA Super Cup. 

Speaking to Malta Basketball, Starlites coach Paul Ferrante said it was a learning experience for himself and the team and an eye-opener to the reality of European basketball.

“I believe the thing that made the most difference and what was most mentioned by our players and the president watching from the stands was their physicality and contact. We are not used to playing with so much contact off the ball and with point guards who take on all the pressure,” Ferrante said.

“They had many physiologically capable players. However, having said that, when one sees that we were at times eight points or less away in a game in which we had a terrible start, I believe that with maybe two more weeks of practice together, we would have done better. That first quarter was like stage fright for us as when you watch it again, you’d see we found a lot of the options we had to find and we did many things well, but we just didn’t finish them off.

“When you consider that there was the lucky loser rule and we missed qualification by eight points, we felt it even more. But it would have been a growing experience as the teams we would have come against are tougher.”

It is no secret that with the local league allowing only two import players on the court at any given time, having five import players on the team’s payroll would have been redundant and while all five players will be available for Sunday’s game, the next week will determine the future of the five imports brought over during summer. Ferrante said that while it is not 100% just yet, the initial decision was for Trevon Reddish Rhone, Max Curran, and Joe Davis to stay on for the 24/25 Division One season, while Carson Newsome and Kolten Mortensen depart after the Europe Cup.

“There are a number of factors which go into this which are not necessarily related to the individual player, but more about team chemistry,” he said.

Asked about the debut performance of new local signing Andrew Aquilina, Ferrante said he was very happy with how the former Depiro captain performed.

“I’m very happy with Andrew (Aquilina). He didn’t play the first game solely because as a 35-year-old, we wanted to save him for the second game as he can provide hassle for their point guard and defend the ball handlers. At the same time, we could distribute minutes to local players as well.

“But now that we have the Super Cup final so close, we are keeping them all and deal with that next week. Considering the fact that we have such a game after two days, at least we can use this unpredictability to our advantage in terms of the game-day roster. 

“[Aquilina] was a crucial signing and the fact we have another Maltese player for tomorrow who has had running time in Europe as well is helpful. I know he is a team player, who gives his all on the court and is very disciplined, so I’m very happy with him.”

Starlites now face a largely changed Depiro side on Sunday and Ferrante said it would be impossible to say what they can expect from their opponents.

“I would be lying if I said I’m expecting anything in particular as Depiro are practically a new team – new coach, a team that used to revolve around (Kameron) Rooks and now Rooks is not there anymore – they’re a different team so it will be a game of adjustments,” he explained.

“Having said that, every team coached by Sasa Dimitrijevic has always been well organised and when he was here before we had many great games so I was very happy to see him return as his ideas will continue to help the level increase.”

With less than 48 hours from the team’s arrival back in Malta, it goes without saying that match-fitness will be a concern but the Starlites coach believes the rotation they played in Larnaca was considerate of Sunday’s game.

“I’ve just put our players in Revive’s ice baths to help their recovery,” he joked.

“The fact we had more imports helped us to avoid overplaying our locals, who got the right experience and playing time nonetheless. So, hopefully, a one-day recovery should be enough to get us back. Getting back right after a game could be positive as well – everyone is still locked in.”

While Starlites will have that import factor as a weapon on Sunday, Ferrante did give one away as the side will likely be without Max Curran who is out sick.

‘It’s up to us to show our work’ says Depiro coach Dimitrijevic ahead of Super Cup

Depiro enters this new season’s Super Cup final a changed team after numerous updates over the summer – from administration and branding, to a new coach and several new players. Now, new coach Sasa Dimitrijevic believes it’s time to show what the team has worked for.

Speaking to Malta Basketball ahead of the clash on Sunday at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion, Dimitrijevic, who was appointed head coach in July, said the club enters the new campaign with a ‘new vision’.

“Depiro enters this year with a new team, a new coach, new goals and a new vision,” the North Macedonian said.

“We’ve only been working for a month and a half, and our biggest problem is that we haven’t played a single friendly game. In contrast to our opponent, who played the qualifiers for the FIBA Europe Cup this year – This is very good experience.”

Depiro will play in the final after what Dimitrijevic called a ‘gift’ as the Mtarfa-based team finished as Knockout runners-up and playoff semifinalists against Mellieha Libertas, who despite finishing the season as beaten finalists, decided to opt out of the new season this summer. 

On the other hand, Starlites are on the back of a European debut following an impressive season which saw them lift every domestic trophy possible. The Depiro coach called Starlites favourites for the tie while urging his team to show what they’ve worked on.

“Starlites is the favourite tomorrow: they have a good team, a good coach and continuity of work for many years,” he said, “it is up to us to show how we worked in this preparation period. 

“I hope it will be a good game and I would like to see a lot of people in the gym.”

Asked about the addition of local duo David Bugeja and Luca Stefanovic, the Depiro coach believes they have fit in perfectly within the team

“I worked with Luca at Athleta and David is the best Maltese player. Both of them are great people and great players.”

Depiro will be heading into the game with a full squad as all players are confirmed to be available with Dimitrijevic remarking that: “Everything is in the best order and all the players are looking forward to tomorrow’s game. I believe that everyone will give their maximum.”