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.
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.
