Category: Malta Basketball

Birthday boy Scerri extends Starlites contract

Starlites guard Matthew Scerri has re-signed with the Malta champions, the Naxxar-based club announced.

In a statement, made on Scerri’s 22nd birthday, Starlites lauded his leadership and dedication. 

“We’re thrilled to announce that one of our very own Maltese National team player Matthew Scerri has agreed to extend his playing career at the club,” the statement read. 

“The four-time MVP (U14, U16 and 2x U23) joined the club at the young age of five years old and to this day, he has won several championships both at youth level and at senior level. 

“Scerri’s leadership and dedication will surely play a vital role in VisitMalta Starlites Naxxar’s aspirations going into this season, both on a local level and internationally.”

Scerri missed most of last season through injury, but his return was well received and he repaid the faith with 5.4 points per game in 15 games (seven as a starter) played across all competitions.

The Starlites guard averaged 2.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists a game and his energy was well-noticed by Malta National Team coach Duncan Fenech who called him up to the team for this year’s FIBA Small Countries Championships. 

“It’s going to be an amazing season full of new opportunities and challenges,” Scerri told the team’s socials. 

“I’m honoured to be experiencing these with my boyhood club, playing alongside guys which I’ve been playing with since a very young age. 

“My main goal this season is to be there for the team in every way necessary in search for European qualification and retaining every local championship once again!”

Athleta Women sign Nicole Vella

New MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League team Athleta have begun their preparations for their debut and have signed former Fusion Quest player Nicole Vella, Malta Basketball has learnt.

Athleta introduced themselves to the women’s league in July when they announced former Depiro women’s coach Adrian Baldacchino as their new coach for the senior and Under-23 teams. Now they have landed an experienced player in Vella.

Sources have told Malta Basketball that Vella chose Athleta after having been presented with two different offers and will be playing as the team’s captain this coming season. 

The former Hibernians and Luxol player was on the books of Fusion last season upon her return to the court but it was not to be for the club as the league minnows disbanded after the end of the season.

Having failed to secure sponsorship for the coming season, the team struggled to make ends meet, ultimately opting out of the coming season. Now, the club’s players have returned to the player market, with a number of them said to be heading to the two new clubs. 

Athleta have also recently issued a call for tryouts that took place this past week with hopes of further building up their roster for the coming season.

MBA finalises new season’s draws

As Maltese clubs prepare for the 2024/25 basketball season, the many changes made over the summer will be in full focus in two months’ time after the Malta Basketball Association (MBA) made its draw for the new campaign last week.

With an official start date of September 29 with the Super Cup finals for men and women, a trio of leagues will pit against each other seven teams in the BOV Division One, six teams in the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League, and seven more teams in the BOV Amateur League.

Following the Super Cup fixtures, the league campaign begins for Division One on October 3, with the John Tabone Shield tipping off during the following week. The MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League will begin in November after the Shield. Later on, in February, teams will compete for the second cup competition of the season when they battle for the Knockout.

The MBA drew the initial Men’s Knockout draws on Thursday where they pitted against each other six teams as Hibernians were awarded a bye.

Malta champions Starlites will be aiming for anything close to what they achieved last season, as they defend their crown in all domestic competitions, starting off with the Super Cup where they are set to face last season’s Knockout finalists Depiro. Paul Ferrante’s clan have since upgraded their squad despite the loss of captain Alec Felice Pace, bringing in fresh faces for their debut in the FIBA Europe Cup qualifiers and their return to the local league. 

They face Depiro after three successive finals against Mellieha Libertas who have opted out of the coming season. Instead, they will come against a Depiro side in transition this coming campaign as they have made changes in all departments of the club. Sasha Dimitrijevic now leads the team as head coach, while a number of new players have made their way from rival clubs.

After the unfortunate ending of Mellieha Libertas, the BOV Division One looked set for a season with six clubs in action at the Ta’ Qali Pavilion. However, the league will be back to seven teams this coming campaign as last season’s Division Two side Mosta Tigers has made the step upwards to play in Division One as Tigers Basketball Team this year.

Tigers Basketball Team to be Division One’s seventh club

After a social media post by a local Valletta Facebook page hinted about the introduction of a new team, Malta Basketball can confirm that the team, a partner club of Valletta Basketball Club – who will be playing as Valletta Lions this season – will be part of the MBA league. 

“Valletta Basketball Club is thrilled to announce that this year we will have FIVE incredible teams competing!” The post read.

“Our club is stronger than ever, and we’re ready to bring passion, skill, and excitement to every game. Join us in cheering for our teams as they aim for glory in their respective divisions!

The new team is just one of many improvements made by the Valletta Basketball Club after securing new players for their original team while introducing a new women’s team.

While the team’s introduction is yet to be made official by the capital club, Tigers Basketball Team has already been drawn in next season’s competitions, assuring participation in all MBA Division One competitions.

Meanwhile, two new teams will hit the court in the Women’s League as Valletta and Athleta both introduced a team of their own, compensating for the loss of Fusion Quest who, like Mellieha, decided to stop participating.

In Division Two, no less than three new teams will be taking part with two Valletta BC-managed teams: Pieta Tamaraw and Qormi Dragons, and another team called Kylin will join Starlites, Depiro Hoops, Hibs, and Shamrock Stars.

Men’s Knockout Draws

First Round Fixtures will take place on February 16

DepiroTigers BT
LuxolValletta Lions
StarlitesAthleta

Sasha Lecuyer returns to Malta, joins Starlites

Former Loughborough Riders guard Sasha Lecuyer has returned to Malta after five seasons in the UK to join MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League side Starlites, the club announced this week.

“Welcoming back Sasha Lecuyer, a familiar face with the Starlites organisation,” the Naxxar-based club said in a statement. 

“The last time Sasha played for the club was 6 years ago when she had been awarded the MVP award in the U16 women’s category. Now, after her stint playing in the UK for Loughborough University in D1, where she ranked in the top 10 for 3-pointers made across the league, as well as the professional WBBL team Riders, Sasha is ready to share her leadership and playing expertise with a young, but promising Senior Women squad this season.”

Lecuyer heads back home after a successful stint in the WNBL, with experience in the WBBL with the team’s higher-ranked side the Leicester Riders during the 2020/21 season.

Last season in the WNBL Division One, Lecuyer played 13 games, averaging 9.1 points, 2.5 assists, and four rebounds per game and will be hoping to bring back home her shooting accuracy after last month, she was named eighth in the WNBL’s All-time three-point leaders with 121 throughout her UK run.

“I’m really looking forward to the season ahead of us. Being surrounded by such a young team brings a sense of energy and excitement. It feels great to be back here and can’t wait for the season to start!!” Lecuyer told the club’s socials.

Starlites will be aiming for a steady transition after taking on a different direction within their team for the coming season but it seems with the acquisition of Lecuyer and import player Makaila Napoleon. Malta Basketball believes the club will also be bringing on former Hibernians player Fanni Fabok by the end of the transfer season as the team looks to maintain height among the squad.

Hibernians sign Mikayla Brandon

After a double import signing announcement for Hibernians’ men’s team, the Paolites announced their next import signing when they named US forward Mikayla Brandon to their squad for the coming season.

“From the USA to Malta, via Ireland! We’re thrilled to announce that Mikayla Brandon is joining our Women’s Senior Team,” a club statement read.

“Mikayla, an American talent who made waves in Ireland last season, brings her skill, experience, and competitive spirit to our court.”

6’1 player Brandon joins the team after a professional debut in Ireland with the Limerick Celtics in the Irish Women’s Division One. In 17 games played, the Illinois native averaged 14.2 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. Brandon was the starting small forward for the team as they finished second in the South Conference in the regular season. She was also awarded the Women’s Division 1 Cup MVP award at the end of the season after the team won the cup competition. 

Before that, she played college ball in the US NCAA Division One with Denver University.

Now she joins a Hibs side heading in a new coaching direction after the club appointed Winnie Buhagiar earlier this summer. Since then, the team has upgraded its roster, bringing to Paola former Starlites trio Steffi De Martino, Maria Bonett, and Andie Saliba. 

Valletta sign Fusion Quest duo as Schembri joins from Depiro

As Valletta BC continues to extend its rosters for the men’s and women’s teams, the club has announced three new additions to the squads, naming Serbian player Sara Kankaras (women’s team) and Maltese duo Alexia Parnis (women’s team) and Darryl Schembri (men’s team) as the newest Citizen players.

Kankaras brings with her experience in her home country, having played with Vrbas Medela in the Serbian Druga Zenska Liga Srbije back in the 2017-18 season. Added to that was her stint with Fusion Quest last season before they opted out of MBA basketball over the summer due to financial difficulties.

“We can officially announce Sara Kankaras as a citizen player,” a club statement read. Sara used to play for Vrbas in Serbia where she won various national and regional titles. She was also part of the Serbian national team and grabbed many individual honours in her young career.”

A few hours later, the team announced local guard Parnis.

“We are proud to announce Alexia Parnis as a Lioness,” the Capital club said. 

“Alexia is a fast guard with vast experience in the Junior Categories where she was crowned champion in the Under-16 section.”

Parnis joins the team as another acquisition from Fusion Quest’s end. The former Luxol youth player made her return to basketball in January and will now be starting anew with Valletta as the team adds to its squad depth ahead of an interesting debut in the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League.

Schembri joins Citizens

Meanwhile, former Depiro Hoops player Darryl Schembri has joined the club’s men’s team, the Citizens have confirmed.

“We would like to announce Darrel Schembri as a Valletta Basketball Club player,” Valletta said in a statement.

“The 192cm player started basketball at the age of 7 years, he won the second division title two years ago and represented Malta in the FIBA competitions.”

Wolfe extends Malta stint to join Hibernians as part of double import signing

After finishing off their summer business when it comes to local player transfers, Hibernians announced a double import signing on Tuesday when they named former Mellieha Libertas forward Tedrick Wolfe and Derek Brown to their roster.

“We’re thrilled to have Tedrick Wolfe and Derek Brown join our Men’s Senior Team!” a club statement read.

“These two international standouts bring a wealth of experience and dynamic skills that are sure to electrify the court.”

Wolfe is no stranger to Maltese basketball after an impressive campaign with the Northerners last season where he reached the finals of the John Tabone Shield and the playoffs with Ian Terribile’s team after making his Maltese debut in last season’s Super Cup. 

With Mellieha, he may not have won any trophies, however, he was a force on the court as he started 22 of the 24 games he played for Libertas. He averaged 29 points per game across all competitions, making him one of the top scorers of last season’s entire Division One.

Wolfe also averaged 12 rebounds with close to two blocks per game while making close to three steals in every outing. 

However, with Mellieha waving goodbye to senior basketball, all of the team’s players sought different teams. While fellow imports Kwame Thompson and Alexander Peacock have both returned to the US, Wolfe will be leading his pack again under new coach Christian Narciso, another former Mellieha employee. 

Meanwhile, 6’0 guard Brown joins after his time in Canada with the Montreal Alliance who play in the Canadian CEBL.

The former Portland State Vikings player will likely be the Paolites’ starting point guard this coming season as the team pushes for a major upgrade to their squad and performance under Narciso who was appointed head coach in August. 

Starlites welcome Carson Newsome

Just a few days after announcing the signing of Kolten Mortensen, Malta champions Starlites showcased another import player when they named American swingman Carson Newsome to their roster on Sunday.

“Join us in giving a warm welcome to Carson Newsome, who will be joining our VisitMalta Starlites Naxxar roster for the upcoming season. Carson will be a great addition to the team due to his professional experience and work ethic,” a club statement read.

The 6’7 player joins after experience in Nicaragua with Jaguares de la UAM in the Nicaragua-LSB where he joined after stints with the Vancouver Volcanoes in US league TBL, Caballeros de Culiacan in the Mexican league, and the TBL with the Cincinnati Warriors.

This will be his fifth season as a professional player. He now joins a Starlites team that is stacking up in preparation for its debut in the FIBA Europe Cup this month where they are set to face Anorthosis Famagusta at the end of the month.

“I am personally looking forward to playing a different style of basketball,” Newsome told the club’s socials. 

“I have been playing in the Latin American market for quite a while so coming to play a European style basketball looks very fun at the same time. Looking forward to competing with Starlites and winning.”

Newsome is Starlites’ sixth summer signing after the club brought on Trevon Reddish-Rhone, Joe Davis, Andrew Aquilina, Max Curran, and Mortensen. While it is unknown if all these players will remain after September’s Europe Cup games, it will be interesting to see these players combine with the Starlites nucleus led by Ian Felice Pace and Kurt Xuereb who were confirmed as club co-captains back in July by coach Paul Ferrante. 

Nicholas Grech moves to Valletta as Citizens set for two import signings

Depiro forward Nicholas Grech is a new Valletta Basketball Club player, the club announced on Sunday.

“We are proud to announce Nicholas Grech as a Valletta Basketball Club player,” a club statement read. 

“Nicholas is well known in the basketball community, he has a vast experience in the senior and junior categories. He also was part of the national team and for four years, he represented Malta in the FIBA competitions held in San Marino, Andorra and Gibraltar.”

The signing was teased in a Valletta video hours before the signing was made official, with the club confirming the move as part of their summer transfer coup in which they have brought it than four players from opposing BOV Division One teams.

Grech will be moving to the Capital club in search of better minutes after being used as a rotation player by the Mtarfa club in the past few seasons. Last season, he was brought off the bench in all of the 12 games he was utilised in by coach Ruben Baldacchino across all competitions. 

Despite his limited minutes, Grech shot 33.3% from the field and the same percentage from deep and the Citizens will be hoping for this and more from the former Malta international as they look to improve on their debut season in the top division of Maltese basketball. 

Grech is the third announced new signing for Valletta this summer after the club confirmed the arrival of former Hibs guard Nick Vasovic, fellow guard Francesco Mifsud Bonnici who joined from Athleta. 

Valletta Import Signings

With former Athleta big man Piotr Stelmach (revealed by Malta Basketball earlier in July) together with American imports Lorenzo Anderson and Matthew Brown who are all yet to be announced, the team seem to have replaced last season’s star players who all departed after the end of their contract last season.

6’3 guard Anderson signed with the club late in August with the news confirmed by his agent at ASG Sports.

The Georgia native joins the team after a season in Kazakhstan with BC Irbis where he was part of the team that won the League Cup. Last season, Anderson averaged 17.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in his rookie season as a professional basketball player. 

Meanwhile, Brown, a 6’6 forward, will also be joining the team after his time in the East Coast Basketball League (ECBL) with the SC Letitfly Webdogs after his college career in the NCAA Division Two at the Anderson Trojans and earlier with highschool team The Spartanburg Day Griffins where he shared the court with now NBA star Zion Williamson.

Unlike Anderson, it was the player himself who confirmed all suspicions on Sunday announcing the signing on his socials.

Valletta sign Maria Mifsud

After the confirmation of Sabrina Abugrin earlier this week, Valletta Basketball Club Women announced another signing on Saturday, naming Maria Mifsud to their roster.

“Another addition to our Women’s team is Maria Mifsud. Maria’s family roots are from Valletta and apart from the local experience she played in Australia with Parramatta Wildcats and Rooty Hill High School,” a club statement read.

“Her favourite player is Magic Johnson and she started basketball after watching a game on TV. Her positivity and dedication are an asset for the new Women’s team representing the Capital.”

Mifsud, a former youth player with Athleta, holds experience from years spent in Australia. Mifsud was on the books of Waratah Basketball League (WABL) side Parramatta Wildcats after her time with Rooty Hill High School.

She now joins the capital club as the team prepares for its debut in the MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League after its introduction over the summer as the league’s sixth competitor after the addition of Athleta and the citizens covered the loss of Fusion Quest who opted out of the coming season.