Malta men's national basketball team

Last updated

Malta
Malta Basketball logo.png
FIBA ranking 100 Steady2.svg (25 February 2025) [1]
Joined FIBA 1967
FIBA zone FIBA Europe
National federationMalta Basketball Association
Coach Alan Walls
EuroBasket
AppearancesNone
Championship for Small Countries
Appearances16
MedalsGold medal with cup.svgGold: (2018)
Silver medal with cup.svgSilver: (2014, 2022)
Bronze medal with cup.svgBronze: (2010, 2012), 2021)
Games of the Small States of Europe
Appearances12
MedalsSilver medal with cup.svgSilver: (1997, 2023)
Bronze medal with cup.svgBronze: (1985, 1987)
First international
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 81–88 Cyprus  Flag of Cyprus (1960-2006).svg
(Serravalle, San Marino; 23 May 1985)
Biggest win
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 102–57 Gibraltar  Flag of Gibraltar.svg
(Serravalle, San Marino; 30 June 2018)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 43–138 Hungary  Flag of Hungary.svg
(Ta' Qali, Malta; 13 June 2001)

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.

Contents

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
YearPos.PldWLPldWL
Flag of Sweden.svg 2003 Did not qualify606
Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg 2005 Division B 606

At the Championship for Small Countries

Championship for Small Countries
YearPos.PldWL
Flag of Malta.svg 1988 6th523
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 1990 7th523
Flag of Cyprus.svg 1992 6th514
Flag of Ireland.svg 1994 6th514
Flag of San Marino.svg 1996 7th514
Flag of Gibraltar.svg 1998 5th404
Flag of Andorra.svg 2000 5th523
Flag of Malta.svg 2002 7th514
Flag of Andorra.svg 2004 9th404
Flag of Albania.svg 2006 8th514
Flag of Scotland.svg 2008 7th514
Flag of Malta.svg 2010 Bronze medal icon.svg532
Flag of San Marino.svg 2012 Bronze medal icon.svg532
Flag of Gibraltar.svg 2014 Silver medal icon.svg431
Flag of Moldova.svg 2016 6th523
Flag of San Marino.svg 2018 Gold medal icon.svg422
Flag of Ireland.svg 2021 Bronze medal icon.svg422
Flag of Malta.svg 2022 Silver medal icon.svg431
Flag of Andorra.svg 2024
Total843054

At the Games of the Small States

Games of the Small States of Europe
YearPos.PldWL
Flag of San Marino.svg 1985 Bronze medal icon.svg312
Flag of Monaco.svg 1987 Bronze medal icon.svg321
Flag of Cyprus.svg 1989 5th312
Flag of Andorra.svg 1991 5th431
Flag of Malta.svg 1993 6th514
Flag of Luxembourg.svg 1995 5th312
Flag of Iceland.svg 1997 Silver medal icon.svg431
Flag of San Marino.svg 2001 6th422
Flag of Malta.svg 2003 7th303
Flag of Andorra.svg 2005 Did not enter
Flag of Monaco.svg 2007
Flag of Cyprus.svg 2009 5th514
Flag of Luxembourg.svg 2013 Did not enter
Flag of Iceland.svg 2015
Flag of San Marino.svg 2017
Flag of Montenegro.svg 2019 4th413
Flag of Malta.svg 2023 Silver medal icon.svg523
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 19851.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Hibs Sen Flag of Malta.svg
SG 5 David Bugeja 27 – (1992-04-01)1 April 19921.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Floriana MCP Flag of Malta.svg
C 6 Nelson Kahler 25 – (1994-05-22)22 May 19942.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Rockhampton Rockets Flag of Australia (converted).svg
F 7 Cuschieri Patus 31 – (1987-05-31)31 May 19872.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Hibs Sen Flag of Malta.svg
PG 8 Peter Shoults 33 – (1985-09-11)11 September 19851.68 m (5 ft 6 in) Gzira Athleta Flag of Malta.svg
SF 9 Nathan Xuereb 17 – (2001-12-21)21 December 20011.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Gzira Athleta Flag of Malta.svg
F 10 Tevin Falzon 26 – (1992-11-19)19 November 19922.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Bristol Academy Flyers Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
PG 11 Alec Pace 21 – (1998-05-15)15 May 19981.72 m (5 ft 8 in) Starlites GIG Flag of Malta.svg
F 12 Aaron Falzon 23 – (1996-05-19)19 May 19962.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Northwestern Wildcats Flag of the United States.svg
F 13 Matthew Gouder 21 – (1998-01-24)24 January 19981.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Gzira Athleta Flag of Malta.svg
C 14 Kurt Cassar 20 – (1999-04-13)13 April 19992.09 m (6 ft 10 in) Pallacanestro Piacentina Flag of Italy.svg
C 15 Samuel Deguara 27 – (1991-06-21)21 June 19912.25 m (7 ft 5 in) Eastern Flag of Hong Kong.svg
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 28 May 2019

Head coach position

Kit

Manufacturer

2018: Macron

2018: TEAMSPORT

See also

References

  1. "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  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.