Malta men's national basketball team

The Malta men's national basketball team (Maltese: Tim nazzjonali tal-basketball ta' Malta) represents Malta in international basketball. They are controlled by the Malta Basketball Association. Malta has been a FIBA member since 1967, and competes at tournaments such as the European Championship for Small Countries and the Games of the Small States of Europe.

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Malta women's national basketball team.

Malta
FIBA ranking95 Increase 7 (15 September 2023)[1]
Joined FIBA1967
FIBA zoneFIBA Europe
National federationMalta Basketball Association
CoachAlan Walls
EuroBasket
AppearancesNone
Championship for Small Countries
Appearances16
MedalsGold Gold: (2018)
Silver Silver: (2014, 2022)
Bronze Bronze: (2010, 2012), 2021)
Games of the Small States of Europe
Appearances12
MedalsSilver Silver: (1997, 2023)
Bronze Bronze: (1985, 1987)
First international
 Malta 81–88 Cyprus 
(Serravalle, San Marino; 23 May 1985)
Biggest win
 Malta 102–57 Gibraltar 
(Serravalle, San Marino; 30 June 2018)
Biggest defeat
 Malta 43–138 Hungary 
(Ta' Qali, Malta; 13 June 2001)

History

Malta made their official debut at the 1985 Games of the Small States of Europe, where they achieved the bronze medal.[2] The team was equally successful at the next edition. Then they did not win another medal again until the 1997 tournament. They surprisingly won the silver medal after defeating Luxembourg in the semifinals, and losing to Cyprus in the final.

In 2001 and 2003, Malta joined the qualifying stages of the EuroBasket for the 2003 and 2005 editions respectively. However, they failed to qualify for both tournaments, as the team finished with six losses in six games played each time.

Malta also participated in all the editions of the European Championship for Small Countries, but did not win any medal until 2010, when they beat Moldova for bronze. In 2012, they won the bronze again and in 2014, Malta lost to Andorra in the final 66–63 to take home silver.

On 1 July 2018, Malta won their first official title after beating Norway, by the score of 75–59 in the final of the 2018 European Championship for Small Countries.[3] Samuel Deguara claimed the MVP title. After this success, Malta decided to take part in the Games of the Small States of Europe in 2019.

Competitive record

At Eurobasket
EuroBasket Qualification
Year Pos. Pld W L Pld W L
Sweden 2003Did not qualify 606
Serbia and Montenegro 2005Division B 606

At the Championship for Small Countries

Championship for Small Countries
Year Pos. Pld W L
Malta 19886th523
Wales 19907th523
Cyprus 19926th514
Republic of Ireland 19946th514
San Marino 19967th514
Gibraltar 19985th404
Andorra 20005th523
Malta 20027th514
Andorra 20049th404
Albania 20068th514
Scotland 20087th514
Malta 20103rd place, bronze medalist(s)532
San Marino 20123rd place, bronze medalist(s)532
Gibraltar 20142nd place, silver medalist(s)431
Moldova 20166th523
San Marino 20181st place, gold medalist(s)422
Republic of Ireland 20213rd place, bronze medalist(s)422
Malta 20222nd place, silver medalist(s)431
Total843054

At the Games of the Small States

Games of the Small States of Europe
Year Pos. Pld W L
San Marino 19853rd place, bronze medalist(s)312
Monaco 19873rd place, bronze medalist(s)321
Cyprus 19895th312
Andorra 19915th431
Malta 19936th514
Luxembourg 19955th312
Iceland 19972nd place, silver medalist(s)431
San Marino 20016th422
Malta 20037th303
Andorra 2005Did not enter
Monaco 2007
Cyprus 20095th514
Luxembourg 2013Did not enter
Iceland 2015
San Marino 2017
Montenegro 20194th413
Malta 20232nd place, silver medalist(s)523
Total461828

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2019 Games of the Small States of Europe:[4]

Malta national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
PG 4 Roderick Vella 34 – (1985-01-27)27 January 1985 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Hibs Sen Malta
SG 5 David Bugeja 27 – (1992-04-01)1 April 1992 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Floriana MCP Malta
C 6 Nelson Kahler 25 – (1994-05-22)22 May 1994 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Rockhampton Rockets Australia
F 7 Cuschieri Patus 31 – (1987-05-31)31 May 1987 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Hibs Sen Malta
PG 8 Peter Shoults 33 – (1985-09-11)11 September 1985 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) Gzira Athleta Malta
SF 9 Nathan Xuereb 17 – (2001-12-21)21 December 2001 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Gzira Athleta Malta
F 10 Tevin Falzon 26 – (1992-11-19)19 November 1992 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Bristol Academy Flyers United Kingdom
PG 11 Alec Pace 21 – (1998-05-15)15 May 1998 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) Starlites GIG Malta
F 12 Aaron Falzon 23 – (1996-05-19)19 May 1996 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Northwestern Wildcats United States
F 13 Matthew Gouder 21 – (1998-01-24)24 January 1998 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Gzira Athleta Malta
C 14 Kurt Cassar 20 – (1999-04-13)13 April 1999 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) Pallacanestro Piacentina Italy
C 15 Samuel Deguara 27 – (1991-06-21)21 June 1991 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) Eastern Hong Kong
Head coach
  • Italy Andrea Paccarie
Assistant coach(es)
  • Malta Ruben Baldacchino
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 28 May 2019

Head coach position
  • Italy Bruno diPietrantonio: 2010
  • Italy Paolo Di Fonzo: 2012-2014
  • Italy Andrea Paccarie: 2016-present

Kit

Manufacturer

2018: Macron

2018: TEAMSPORT

See also

References
  1. "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  2. "National teams eyeing medals' positions". Times of Malta. 13 May 2003. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  3. "Malta claim maiden title". FIBA. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  4. "Montenegro 2019 - Match Deatails". montenegro2019.furkisport.hr. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
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