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Malta men's national basketball team

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

Malta
FIBA ranking100 Decrease 1 (26 November 2024)[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)

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.

History

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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

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At Eurobasket

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EuroBasket Qualification
Year Pos. Pld W L Pld W L
Sweden 2003 Did not qualify 6 0 6
Serbia and Montenegro 2005 Division B 6 0 6

At the Championship for Small Countries

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Championship for Small Countries
Year Pos. Pld W L
Malta 1988 6th 5 2 3
Wales 1990 7th 5 2 3
Cyprus 1992 6th 5 1 4
Republic of Ireland 1994 6th 5 1 4
San Marino 1996 7th 5 1 4
Gibraltar 1998 5th 4 0 4
Andorra 2000 5th 5 2 3
Malta 2002 7th 5 1 4
Andorra 2004 9th 4 0 4
Albania 2006 8th 5 1 4
Scotland 2008 7th 5 1 4
Malta 2010 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 5 3 2
San Marino 2012 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 5 3 2
Gibraltar 2014 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 4 3 1
Moldova 2016 6th 5 2 3
San Marino 2018 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 2 2
Republic of Ireland 2021 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 4 2 2
Malta 2022 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 4 3 1
Andorra 2024
Total 84 30 54

At the Games of the Small States

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Games of the Small States of Europe
Year Pos. Pld W L
San Marino 1985 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 3 1 2
Monaco 1987 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 3 2 1
Cyprus 1989 5th 3 1 2
Andorra 1991 5th 4 3 1
Malta 1993 6th 5 1 4
Luxembourg 1995 5th 3 1 2
Iceland 1997 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 4 3 1
San Marino 2001 6th 4 2 2
Malta 2003 7th 3 0 3
Andorra 2005 Did not enter
Monaco 2007
Cyprus 2009 5th 5 1 4
Luxembourg 2013 Did not enter
Iceland 2015
San Marino 2017
Montenegro 2019 4th 4 1 3
Malta 2023 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 2 3
Total 46 18 28

Team

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Current roster

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

Malta national basketball team roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr.
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
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 28 May 2019

Head coach position

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Kit

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Manufacturer

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2018: Macron

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2018: TEAMSPORT

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  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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