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)
