Recap

Malta faced a tough challenge in their third fixture of the FIBA European Small Countries Championship in Andorra, ultimately succumbing to a resilient Andorran side with a score of 82-78.

In a tightly contested first quarter, Malta showcased resilience and sharp shooting to take a narrow 23-16 lead over Andorra at the end of the period. The game started energetically with both teams exchanging missed opportunities and turnovers. David Bugeja and Samuel Deguara played pivotal roles for Malta, contributing crucial points and defensive plays. Nathan Xuereb‘s three-pointer extended Malta’s lead, while Kurt Cassar and Joshua Tomasi added key baskets to maintain momentum. Andorra, led by Bruno Bartolome and Sergi Serrato Balletbo, fought back with timely scores, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup as the game progresses.

Malta showed discipline in defence, forcing turnovers and capitalising on offensive rebounds to build their lead. However, Andorra’s resilience and accurate shooting kept them within striking distance. As the first quarter concluded, Malta held a slight advantage, setting the stage for a competitive remainder of the game.

Andorra maintained their advantage in a defensively intense second quarter, ending with a score of 40-34 against Malta. The quarter started with both teams struggling to find their rhythm, marked by turnovers and missed opportunities. Bartolome and Cinto Gabriel were instrumental for Andorra, capitalising on Malta’s errors to extend their lead. Malta’s Bugeja and Deguara made significant contributions with key baskets, but Andorra’s defensive pressure proved challenging. As the teams head into halftime, Malta faces a deficit but remains within striking distance, setting the stage for an intriguing second half in this closely contested match.

Malta’s strategic defensive play and efficient scoring in the third quarter extended their lead over Andorra. Deguara’s presence under the basket proved pivotal, contributing crucial rebounds and free throws. Aaron Guzman showcased his scoring ability with precise shooting from beyond the arc, further widening the gap. Despite efforts from Andorra’s Bartolome and Ignasi Armengol to rally with three-point attempts and aggressive rebounds, Malta’s disciplined defence and strategic timeouts thwarted any comeback. The period concluded with Malta firmly in control, exploiting turnovers and capitalising on scoring opportunities to maintain their lead, finishing 59-44 over Andorra.

In a fiercely contested fourth quarter, Andorra managed to hold off a resilient Malta side. The game was neck-and-neck until the final moments, with both teams exchanging crucial baskets and defensive stops. Michael Sjoberg attempted a game-tying 3-point shot at the buzzer for Malta, but it missed, sealing their fate. Serrato Balletbo played a pivotal role for Andorra with key free throws and assists down the stretch, maintaining their lead amidst Malta’s late-game surge. Despite valiant efforts from Bugeja and Tomasi, whose clutch shooting kept them in contention, Leonardo Lopez Calzada’s timely layup and free throws secured Andorra’s victory. Andorra’s defensive resilience and efficient scoring ultimately proved decisive, handing Malta a hard-fought defeat in this thrilling encounter.