Category: Transfers

Depiro sign Luca Stefanovic

Days after announcing the signing of former Mellieha Libertas captain David Bugeja, Depiro have made their second announcement, confirming Athleta guard Luca Stefanovic to their roster ahead of the coming season.

“We’re excited to welcome Luca Stefanovic to the Depiro family,” a club statement read on Monday.

“Luca has represented Malta in U16, U19, and U20 Division B tournaments, even earning a Gold medal with the U16 team. He has also earned various individual awards across different local basketball categories throughout his career. Welcome to Depiro, Luca!”

This comes as a strategic transfer for the club as they brought in a player with time left on his Athleta contract with the move having been agreed between the two clubs and the player earlier on this month, subject to a medical.

With all of that in place, the signing was confirmed as sources tell Malta Basketball that he will replace Andrew Aquilina who seems set to join another Division One side this summer.

Together with Bugeja, Stefanovic is the second confirmed Depiro player for the season with sources telling Malta Basketball that import guard Cameron Cornelius could be heading for yet another season in Malta with the Mtarfa club. However, the latter has not been confirmed yet.

Stefanovic joins new coach Sasha Dimitrijevic‘s side after a number of years at Athleta where he became one of the crucial players on the roster. Last season, the team returned to the playoffs under coach Christos Kousidis, who has now joined Hibernians, as the league’s third seed ahead of Depiro. Despite his role in the team, Athleta’s move for Robert Vitale and Isaac Bonett made the transfer easier as Stefanovic was allowed to leave the Gzira club.

Last season, Stefanovic averaged 9.3 points per game across all competitions, assisting 1.6 baskets a game in the process.

Athleta set for ex-mellieha duo signing

After Mellieha Libertas’ decision to opt out of Division 1 this summer, most of the club’s senior team players appear to be confirmed or close to signing with new clubs as league rivals swoop in for new acquisitions.

Last season’s regular season third-place finishers Athleta are heading towards what seems to be a double swoop to sign Isaac Bonett and Robert Vitale (Bonnici), sources have told Malta Basketball.

Bonett, who joined Mellieha back in 2020 from Hibernians, became an established name among the Libertas community as a player and youth coach at the club. Last season, Mellieha played in all but the Knockout final and Bonett was a starter for 18 of those games. Throughout these performances, he averaged 6.2 points, 3.6 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game across all competitions as Mellieha led the BOV Division One for most of the regular season.

Meanwhile, Vitale leaves Mellieha after a two-year stint following a long run at Starlites. Along with Bonett, Vitale was part of former coach Christian Narciso’s Louis Borg Cup-winning squad. Last season, the 30-year-old was generally used off the bench but was a crucial part of Ian Terribile’s rotation. In fact, he finished the season with an average of 26.9 points, 3.7 assists, and 7.0 rebounds a game. Known as a consistent shooter, Vitale completed his final Mellieha campaign with a 42.2% FG percentage.

While Athleta are yet to make an official announcement, all signs point towards the former Mellieha duo becoming the club’s top local signings for the summer. This would mean that the Gzira-based club would be bringing in a shooter and a playmaker to their squad now led by coach Sandro Farrugia, who was announced earlier last month.

The pair will provide cover for newly departed Matthew Gouder, who joined Hibernians, and what seems to be the imminent transfer of Luca Stefanovic who is said to have agreed terms with another Division One club.

Felice Pace set to join Recklinghausen in German Regionalliga 1 West

Starlites captain Alec Felice Pace is set to become the next Maltese abroad after putting pen to paper on a deal with German Regionalliga 1 West side Citybasket Recklinghausen in the coming days.

The Malta international guard who has been one of the biggest names in Maltese basketball these past few years, will now be trying his luck overseas in Germany’s fourth tier on a professional contract. Sources close to negotiations have told Malta Basketball that the 26-year-old should be flying out to complete his move next week.

Felice Pace takes with him the momentum of having lifted four domestic trophies last season. Throughout the campaign in which he played 22 games, he averaged 16.2 points a game across all local competitions as Starlites completed a historic quadruple under coach Paul Ferrante. 

The speedy guard who is a nightmare for the opposition on fastbreaks was also a leading assist-maker for Starlites, averaging 5.2 per game. On defence, he grabbed 8.9 rebounds while stealing the ball twice per game.

Now he heads to a Recklinghausen side which will be hoping for better fortune this coming season after a troubled campaign in the league, finishing in the penultimate spot of the standings with an 8-16 record. 

Sticking with the white kit as was the case at Starlites, Felice Pace will be aiming to provide enough value to convince coach Dhnesch Kubendrarajah as he now competes for a position in the starting five with current point guard Niklas Meesmann who was last season’s most utilised player on the roster.

This move spells further transfer planning for Starlites coach Ferrante ahead of the club’s journey into FIBA Europe Cup qualifying, with fellow guard Matt Attard also leaving the club earlier this month. While both club and player would have preferred the move happening after the qualifiers, club sources emphasised that Starlites would in no way hinder such an opportunity for its players. 

Bugeja to join Depiro after Mellieha departure

New Depiro coach Sasha Dimitrijevic will begin his stint at the club with a well-sought-after boost as former Mellieha Libertas and Hibernians guard David Bugeja is set to become a new Depiro player, sources have told Malta Basketball. 

Bugeja had led Libertas for the past few years but with the Northern club opting against participating in the BOV Division One this coming season, numerous players became free agents and Depiro have swooped in to secure the signature of the Malta captain.

Last season, Bugeja was Mellieha’s driving force on the court as a starter in every game he played, acting as coach Ian Terribile’s extension at most times. He averaged 10.7 points a game across all competitions with shooting numbers close to 50% as he led the team to the finals of the John Tabone Shield and the league after the Super Cup. 

Following that, Bugeja was part of the Malta national team for the Fiba European Small Countries Championship in Andorra. There, Bugeja continued his strong form to start each game under coach Duncan Fenech and average 13.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. 

Depiro will be hoping such a signing propels them to further improvements this coming season after making the playoffs last season as the fourth seed under coach Ruben Baldacchino. While Bugeja and Mellieha qualified for the finals with a clean sweep over Athleta, Depiro suffered a sweep themselves at the hands of eventual champions Starlites. 

With a new coach and the signing of Bugeja, one will be looking forward to observing what change this will provide for the Mtarfa club.

Matthew Gouder makes Hibernians switch after Athleta stint

Athleta forward Matthew Gouder is set for a move to Hibernians, the Paolite club has confirmed.

Gouder, who was one of Athleta’s key players last season, now follows coach Christos Kousidis who was also announced as Hibs coach earlier this month. Sources confirmed earlier this month that the move was imminent with an official announcement made on Tuesday.

“We are excited to announce the signing of Matthew Gouder from Athleta!” a club statement read.

“Matthew, known for his exceptional skills and dedication on the court, is a fantastic addition to our team. We are thrilled to have him join us and look forward to an incredible season ahead!”

Last season, Gouder averaged 11.8 points a game across all competitions, with 5.9 boards a game in 21 fixtures, in which he started 19. He was also one of the key contributors to Athleta’s return to the playoffs after the team led by Kousidis finished the regular season in third place.

Now he moves to a Hibernians side who have revamped their administration as well as their team structures. Last season, Athleta and Hibs were neck and neck for most of the campaign, with both sides seemingly focusing on the BOV Division One League rather than the other competitions. 

While it was a fight for the third seed between the two sides, Hibs’ off-the-court struggles late in the season saw Depiro take away Hibs’s spot in the postseason.

Earlier this month, Hibernians announced they had re-signed stalwart Ivan Demcesen to another two years, and are currently in negotiations with another two players to bolster their squad even further ahead of the new season. 

Valletta secure Vasovic signing

In a bid to strengthen their squad ahead of their second season in the BOV Division One, Valletta Fighters have signed Serbian guard Nikola Vasovic, Malta basketball has learnt.

Vasovic, who was on the books of Hibernians last season, will be returning to the basketball court after a ‘disappearance’ midway through the season which is said to be due to an internal suspension by the Paolite club after an altercation during team practice.

Now he moves to the capital club with hopes of revival as the Citizens have made their intentions clear this summer with the signing of Polish big man Piotr Stelmach and now, Vasovic. 

The Serbian, who now plays as a local-foreigner brings with him a wealth of experience as the 31-year-old has played for various local sides throughout his basketball career.

Last season, Vasovic was a key player for Hibs in the John Tabone Shield, starting all four games. He averaged 8.3 points a game on a 38.1% field goal percentage. He was once more a starter for the Paolites in all eight league games he partook in. Here, he averaged 12.1 points per game. However, tensions arose and Vasovic was no longer included in then coach Mario Tabone’s game-day squad.

Now he joins a Valletta side in search of a better second season after a shaky debut last season. The Citizens failed to register any wins in the league, taking a W only in the John Tabone Shield in a game against Luxol. 

Matt Attard parts ways with Starlites

Maltese-Australian guard Matt Attard will be seeking a new adventure next season after announcing his departure from Malta champions Starlites on Wednesday.

Attard, who spent the past two seasons with the Naxxar side is said to be leaving Malta, hinting at a move to Spain but sources tell Malta Basketball, this will just be a temporary stop before he heads to Australia to continue his basketball career.

“Today after two seasons with Starlites, I am leaving Malta! Thank you to everyone in my 2 years in this great country! Thank you for making me feel welcome!” Attard said in a statement on his socials.

Malta Basketball has learnt that the Maltese-Australian guard is currently in negotiations with an Australian club ahead of next season.

Throughout his time at Starlites, Attard had proven himself a sharpshooter from three-point range, averaging 22.2 points per game across all competitions last season. Shooting 33.5% from deep and 86.7% from the freethrow line, Attard was a key player in Starlites despite starting 14 games out of the 23 he played a part in.

This leaves Starlites coach Paul Ferrante with the task of finding a valid replacement for the guard, with captain Alec Felice Pace also said to be nearing a move overseas.

Valletta Fighters sign Stelmach from Athleta

After a solid first season in the BOV Division One with Athleta, Piotr Stelmach is a Valletta Fighters player, Malta Basketball can confirm.

The Polish power forward was one of the highlight transfers of last summer as he was brought onto the scene with the Gzira-based club and has surely left a good impression on the rest of the local basketball community, with Valletta immediately showing interest over the summer.

Now coach Harry Savaya has gotten his man as the Citizens begin their rebuild for the coming season.

Last season, Stelmach was one of three late summer signings for Athleta, announced together with Dajuan Moorer and Ivan Medved. While Medved halted his season very early due to injury, Moorer and Stelmach became important pillars of the team then coached by Christos Kousidis. While the Greek coach left the club to become Hibernians’ coach, Moorer’s contract expiration saw him return home, and Stelmach remains after what sources called a lucrative offer from Valletta.

At Athleta, the former Polish Cup winner had a slow start, missing out on all of the team’s John Tabone Shield games. However, he made up for this in the league campaign, averaging 18.3 points per game. The 6’9 forward, who also played in the centre position at times, scored 48.3% of his shots from the field while putting in the work on defence for eight rebounds and almost a block each game.

Now, Stelmach boosts a squad that will play its second season in the league with hope of a better run after failing to secure any wins in what appeared to be an experimental league campaign. The Citizens had already extended the contract of former Depiro guard Andy Attard during last season but have now made another significant addition in Stelmach, with further signings said to be added.

Demcesen re-signs with Hibernians

Veteran centre Ivan Demcesen has extended his stay at Hibernians for the next two years, the club has confirmed. Demcesen has, since joining the Paolite club, become a mainstay for the team and this extension will surely be a relief for new coach Christos Kousidis, who was confirmed on Tuesday.

The 7’1 centre was at his best last season despite the team falling at the final hurdle in the BOV Division One and will be looking to replicate his form as Hibs seek to level up and fight for the postseason during this coming campaign. 

Last season, Hibs leveraged the newly introduced regulation whereby foreigners who have been living in Malta for over three years would be classified as locals on the court. This meant that Demcesen was no longer restricted to sharing his minutes with the rest of the import players. This worked wonders as the Serbian averaged 23.3 points a game in the league, going up to 24 in the KnockOut and 29 per game in the John Tabone Shield.

Naturally, at such height, grabbing boards is a normality for Demcesen, the Serbian averaging 13.6 rebounds a game across all competitions throughout the last campaign in which he started all but one game from the 24 he played. 

In a statement, Hibs president Ronnie Callejja sounded his enthusiasm towards having Demcesen back for yet another two seasons.

“We are very pleased that Ivan Demcesen has decided to extend his stay with us; his contributions to the team have been invaluable,” Callejja said.

Further changes

After securing a new coach, the club has set its sights on a decent squad depth ahead of the new season, with Malta Basketball aware that the club will be announcing a new local addition to their roster. 

This, added to ongoing negotiations with a few other players, should be an important push for Hibs to challenge for silverware after a tough run these past few years. 

Hibernians appoint Kousidis, Buhagiar as senior teams’ coaches

Coach Christos Kousidis is heading to Hibernians this season after a successful season with Athleta as the club pushes for a new future. Former Hibs women coach Winnie Buhagiar has also returned to the club to lead the female squad this coming season.

Hibernians announced their latest appointments on Tuesday as part of a restructuring of the club ahead of next season which brings to the Paolite club the former Athleta mentor who managed to secure playoff basketball for the side after several years in the shadows.

In a club statement, Hibs said former coach Mario Tabone will be taking on a new role within the club’s administration, working alongside President Ronnie Callejja and Nursery Head Coach Tony Cassar to further strenghten the club’s position in Malta.

This vacancy made way for Kousidis to work in hopes of replicating a positive campaign in which he led the Gzira-based side to a third-place regular season finish in the BOV Division One. Now he takes over a side which had an impressive start to last season but faltered at the business end, missing the playoffs after being overtaken by Depiro in the final stages.

Meanwhile, Buhagiar, who is far from a new name among the Hibs community, will be tasked with rebuilding the squad which has suffered throughout the past few seasons as the club will be hoping for a breath of fresh air in a MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League campaign which will now include six clubs.

“We are thrilled to welcome Christos Kousidis and Winnie Buhagiar to our club. Their expertise and vision align perfectly with our goals,” President Ronnie Callejja said in the club statement.

“With a proven track record and a wealth of experience in baketball and in Malta, Christos Kousidis is expected to bring fresh strategies and an innovative approach to the team.

“Winnie Buhagiar will be leading the Women’s Senior Team. Known for sterling career, winning all major trophies as a player with Siggiewi and Hibernians, Winnie is anticipated to enhance the team’s performance and competitive spirit.

“Additionally, Mario Tabone’s shift to an administrative role will undoubtedly enhance and strenghten our strategic planning and execution.”

Innovative enhancement

Kousidis brings with him a sense of energy and enthusiasm which seems to be desired among the Hibs camp. With an animated following at Ta’ Qali last season, the team had support which pushed them towards their goal.

On the other hand, Hibs’ season was largely dependent on the prowess of Ivan Demcesen and US import Mason Hix, who faced an unfortunate end to his Maltese basketball season after a doping accusation during the Knock Out, together with fellow import player Nick Brennen. Hibs managed to secure former Valletta Fighters forward Keith Charleston for the final part of the regular season but failed to reach the points threshold.

In the Women’s League, Hibs appeared to show effort under Sandro Farrugia’s mentorship. However, they were no match with powerhouses Depiro, Luxol and Starlites who all won silverware last season.

Now they will seek to follow the strategy of Farrugia’s former colleague within the Malta Women’s Under-18 National Team as Buhagiar takes over again after her stint with Hibernians in 2014.