Malta men's national basketball team

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

Malta
FIBA ranking100 (25 February 2025)[1]
Joined FIBA1967
FIBA zoneFIBA Europe
National federationMalta Basketball Association
CoachAlan Walls
EuroBasket
AppearancesNone
Championship for Small Countries
Appearances16
Medals Gold: (2018)
Silver: (2014, 2022)
Bronze: (2010, 2012), 2021)
Games of the Small States of Europe
Appearances12
Medals Silver: (1997, 2023)
Bronze: (1985, 1987)
First international
  81–88 Cyprus 
(Serravalle, San Marino; 23 May 1985)
Biggest win
  102–57 Gibraltar 
(Serravalle, San Marino; 30 June 2018)
Biggest defeat
  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

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
2003 Did not qualify 6 0 6
2005 Division B 6 0 6

At the Championship for Small Countries

Championship for Small Countries
Year Pos. Pld W L
1988 6th 5 2 3
1990 7th 5 2 3
1992 6th 5 1 4
1994 6th 5 1 4
1996 7th 5 1 4
1998 5th 4 0 4
2000 5th 5 2 3
2002 7th 5 1 4
2004 9th 4 0 4
2006 8th 5 1 4
2008 7th 5 1 4
2010 5 3 2
2012 5 3 2
2014 4 3 1
2016 6th 5 2 3
2018 4 2 2
2021 4 2 2
2022 4 3 1
2024
Total 84 30 54

At the Games of the Small States

Games of the Small States of Europe
Year Pos. Pld W L
1985 3 1 2
1987 3 2 1
1989 5th 3 1 2
1991 5th 4 3 1
1993 6th 5 1 4
1995 5th 3 1 2
1997 4 3 1
2001 6th 4 2 2
2003 7th 3 0 3
2005 Did not enter
2007
2009 5th 5 1 4
2013 Did not enter
2015
2017
2019 4th 4 1 3
2023 5 2 3
Total 46 18 28

Team

Current roster

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
SG 5 David Bugeja 27 – (1992-04-01)1 April 1992 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Floriana MCP
C 6 Nelson Kahler 25 – (1994-05-22)22 May 1994 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) Rockhampton Rockets
F 7 Cuschieri Patus 31 – (1987-05-31)31 May 1987 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Hibs Sen
PG 8 Peter Shoults 33 – (1985-09-11)11 September 1985 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) Gzira Athleta
SF 9 Nathan Xuereb 17 – (2001-12-21)21 December 2001 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Gzira Athleta
F 10 Tevin Falzon 26 – (1992-11-19)19 November 1992 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Bristol Academy Flyers
PG 11 Alec Pace 21 – (1998-05-15)15 May 1998 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) Starlites GIG
F 12 Aaron Falzon 23 – (1996-05-19)19 May 1996 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Northwestern Wildcats
F 13 Matthew Gouder 21 – (1998-01-24)24 January 1998 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) Gzira Athleta
C 14 Kurt Cassar 20 – (1999-04-13)13 April 1999 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) Pallacanestro Piacentina
C 15 Samuel Deguara 27 – (1991-06-21)21 June 1991 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) Eastern
Head coach
  • Andrea Paccarie
Assistant coach(es)
  • Ruben Baldacchino
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 28 May 2019

Head coach position

  • Bruno diPietrantonio: 2010
  • Paolo Di Fonzo: 2012-2014
  • Andrea Paccarie: 2016-present

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.
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