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.