Malta men's national basketball team
{{About|the men's team|the women's team|Malta women's national basketball team}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox national basketball team
| country = Malta
| logo = Malta Basketball logo.png
| logo_width = 220px
| nickname =
| coach = Alan Walls
| fiba_ranking = {{FIBA World Rankings|MLT}}
| joined_fiba = 1967
| fiba_zone = FIBA Europe
| national_fed = Malta Basketball Association
| oly_appearances =
| oly_medals =
| wc_appearances =
| wc_medals =
| zone_championship = EuroBasket
| zone_appearances = None
| zone_medals =
| zone_championship2 = Championship for Small Countries
| zone_appearances2 = 16
| zone_medals2 = {{GoldMedal}} Gold: (2018)
{{SilverMedal}} Silver: (2014, 2022)
{{BronzeMedal}} Bronze: (2010, 2012), 2021)
| zone_championship3 = Games of the Small States of Europe
| zone_appearances3 = 12
| zone_medals3 = {{SilverMedal}} Silver: (1997, 2023)
{{BronzeMedal}} Bronze: (1985, 1987)
| h_pattern_b = _whitesides
| h_body = ffffff
| h_shorts = ffffff
| h_pattern_s = _whitesides
| a_pattern_b = _redsides
| a_body = FF0000
| a_shorts = FF0000
| a_pattern_s = _redsides
| first_game = {{bk|MLT}} 81–88 {{bk-rt|CYP|1960}}
(Serravalle, San Marino; 23 May 1985)
| largest_win = {{bk|MLT}} 102–57 {{bk-rt|GIB}}
(Serravalle, San Marino; 30 June 2018)
| largest_loss = {{bk|MLT}} 43–138 {{bk-rt|HUN}}
(Ta' Qali, Malta; 13 June 2001)
}}
The Malta men's national basketball team ({{langx|mt|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.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20030513/sport/national-teams-eyeing-medals-positions.150300|publisher=Times of Malta|date=13 May 2003|access-date=1 July 2018|title=National teams eyeing medals' positions}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.fiba.basketball/europe/smallcountries/2018/news/malta-claim-maiden-title|publisher=FIBA|date=1 July 2018|access-date=1 July 2018|title=Malta claim maiden title}} 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=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;font-size:90%;"
!colspan=5|EuroBasket !rowspan=4| !colspan=3|Qualification | |||
| Year
!Pos. !width=30|{{Tooltip|Pld|Games played}} !width=30|{{Tooltip|W|Won}} !width=30|{{Tooltip|L|Lost}} !width=30|{{Tooltip|Pld|Games played}} !width=30|{{Tooltip|W|Won}} !width=30|{{Tooltip|L|Lost}} | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| {{flagicon|SWE}} 2003 | colspan=4|Did not qualify
|6 | 0 | 6 |
| {{flagicon|SCG}} 2005 | colspan=4|Division B
|6 | 0 | 6 |
{|
|valign=top width=0%|
=At the Championship for Small Countries=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;font-size:90%;"
!colspan=5|Championship for Small Countries | ||||
| Year
!Pos. !width=30|{{Tooltip|Pld|Games played}} !width=30|{{Tooltip|W|Won}} !width=30|{{Tooltip|L|Lost}} | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="border: 3px solid red"|{{flagicon|MLT}} 1988 | 6th | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| {{flagicon|WAL}} 1990 | 7th | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| {{flagicon|CYP}} 1992 | 6th | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| {{flagicon|IRL}} 1994 | 6th | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| {{flagicon|SMR}} 1996 | 7th | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| {{flagicon|GIB}} 1998 | 5th | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| {{flagicon|AND}} 2000 | 5th | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| style="border: 3px solid red"|{{flagicon|MLT}} 2002 | 7th | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| {{flagicon|AND}} 2004 | 9th | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| {{flagicon|ALB}} 2006 | 8th | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| {{flagicon|SCO}} 2008 | 7th | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| style="border: 3px solid red"|{{flagicon|MLT}} 2010 | bgcolor=#cc9966|{{bronze03}} | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| {{flagicon|SMR}} 2012 | bgcolor=#cc9966|{{bronze03}} | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| {{flagicon|GIB}} 2014 | bgcolor=silver|{{silver02}} | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| {{flagicon|MDA}} 2016 | 6th | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| {{flagicon|SMR}} 2018 | bgcolor=gold|{{gold01}} | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| {{flagicon|IRL}} 2021 | bgcolor=#cc9966|{{bronze03}} | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| style="border: 3px solid red"|{{flagicon|MLT}} 2022 | bgcolor=silver|{{silver02}} | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| {{flagicon|AND}} 2024 | ||||
| colspan=2|Total | 84 | 30 | 54 |
|valign=top width=0%|
=At the Games of the Small States=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;font-size:90%;"
!colspan=5|Games of the Small States of Europe | ||||
| Year
!Pos. !width=30|{{Tooltip|Pld|Games played}} !width=30|{{Tooltip|W|Won}} !width=30|{{Tooltip|L|Lost}} | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{flagicon|SMR}} 1985 | bgcolor=#cc9966|{{bronze03}} | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| {{flagicon|MON}} 1987 | bgcolor=#cc9966|{{bronze03}} | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| {{flagicon|CYP}} 1989 | 5th | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| {{flagicon|AND}} 1991 | 5th | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| style="border: 3px solid red"|{{flagicon|MLT}} 1993 | 6th | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| {{flagicon|LUX}} 1995 | 5th | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| {{flagicon|ISL}} 1997 | bgcolor=silver|{{silver02}} | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| {{flagicon|SMR}} 2001 | 6th | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| style="border: 3px solid red"|{{flagicon|MLT}} 2003 | 7th | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| {{flagicon|AND}} 2005 | colspan=4 rowspan=2|Did not enter | |||
| {{flagicon|MON}} 2007 | ||||
| {{flagicon|CYP}} 2009 | 5th | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| {{flagicon|LUX}} 2013 | colspan=4 rowspan=3|Did not enter | |||
| {{flagicon|ISL}} 2015 | ||||
| {{flagicon|SMR}} 2017 | ||||
| {{flagicon|MNE}} 2019 | 4th | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| style="border: 3px solid red"|{{flagicon|MLT}} 2023 | bgcolor=silver|{{silver02}} | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| colspan=2|Total | 46 | 18 | 28 |
|}
Team
=Current roster=
Roster for the 2019 Games of the Small States of Europe:{{cite news |title=Montenegro 2019 - Match Deatails|url=https://montenegro2019.furkisport.hr/index.php?page=game&id=6821&ln=en |access-date=5 October 2020 |work=montenegro2019.furkisport.hr}}
{{FIBA roster header|team=Malta national basketball team
| color1 = #F00000| bg1 =white | color2 = white| bg2 = #F00000}}
{{FIBA player|df=y| num = 4 | nat =MLT | name = Roderick Vella | pos =PG | m =1.80 | year = 1985 | month =1 | date =27 | compyear = 2019 | compmonth = 5 | compdate = 28 | clublink = Hibs Sen}}
{{FIBA player|df=y| num = 5 | nat =MLT | name = David Bugeja | pos =SG | m =1.80 | year = 1992 | month =4 | date =1 | compyear = 2019 | compmonth = 5 | compdate = 28 | clublink = Floriana MCP}}
{{FIBA player|df=y| num = 6 | nat =AUS | name = Nelson Kahler | pos =C | m =2.06 | year = 1994 | month =5 | date =22 | compyear = 2019 | compmonth = 5 | compdate = 28 | clublink = Rockhampton Rockets}}
{{FIBA player|df=y| num = 7 | nat =MLT | name = Cuschieri Patus | pos =F | m =2.03 | year = 1987 | month =5 | date =31 | compyear = 2019 | compmonth = 5 | compdate = 28 | clublink = Hibs Sen}}
{{FIBA player|df=y| num = 8 | nat =MLT | name = Peter Shoults | pos =PG | m =1.68 | year = 1985 | month =9 | date =11 | compyear = 2019 | compmonth = 5 | compdate = 28 | clublink = Gzira Athleta}}
{{FIBA player|df=y| num = 9 | nat =MLT | name = Nathan Xuereb | pos =SF | m =1.80 | year = 2001 | month =12 | date =21 | compyear = 2019 | compmonth = 5 | compdate = 28 | clublink = Gzira Athleta}}
{{FIBA player|df=y| num = 10 | nat =UK | name = Tevin Falzon | pos =F | m =2.03 | year = 1992 | month =11 | date =19 | compyear = 2019 | compmonth = 5 | compdate = 28 | clublink = Bristol Academy Flyers}}
{{FIBA player|df=y| num = 11 | nat =MLT | name = Alec Pace | pos = PG| m =1.72 | year = 1998 | month =5 | date =15 | compyear = 2019 | compmonth = 5 | compdate = 28 | clublink = Starlites GIG}}
{{FIBA player|df=y| num = 12 | nat =USA | name = Aaron Falzon | pos =F | m =2.03 | year = 1996 | month =5 | date =19 | compyear = 2019 | compmonth = 5 | compdate = 28 | clublink = Northwestern Wildcats}}
{{FIBA player|df=y| num = 13 | nat =MLT | name = Matthew Gouder | pos =F | m =1.94 | year = 1998 | month =1 | date =24 | compyear = 2019 | compmonth = 5 | compdate = 28 | clublink = Gzira Athleta}}
{{FIBA player|df=y| num = 14 | nat =ITA | name = Kurt Cassar | pos =C | m =2.09 | year = 1999 | month =4 | date =13 | compyear = 2019 | compmonth = 5 | compdate = 28 | clublink = Pallacanestro Piacentina}}
{{FIBA player|df=y| num = 15 | nat =HKG | name = Samuel Deguara | pos =C | m =2.25 | year = 1991 | month =6 | date =21 | compyear = 2019 | compmonth = 5 | compdate = 28 | clublink = Eastern}}
{{FIBA roster footer
| head_coach =
- {{flagicon|ITA}} Andrea Paccarie
| asst_coach=
- {{flagicon|MLT}} Ruben Baldacchino
|otherlegend=
- (C) Team captain
- Club – describes last
club before the competition - Age – describes age
on 28 May 2019
}}
Head coach position
- {{flagicon|ITA}} Bruno diPietrantonio: 2010
- {{flagicon|ITA}} Paolo Di Fonzo: 2012-2014
- {{flagicon|ITA}} Andrea Paccarie: 2016-present
Kit
=Manufacturer=
2018: Macron
=Sponsor=
2018: TEAMSPORT
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://mba.org.mt/ Official website]
- [http://www.fiba.basketball/federation/Malta Malta FIBA profile]
- [https://www.eurobasket.com/Malta/basketball-National-Team.aspx Malta National Team – Men] at Eurobasket.com
{{FIBA Europe teams}}
{{National sports teams of Malta}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malta National Basketball Team}}
Category:Men's national basketball teams