Busy schedule for national teams

The Malta national basketball teams face a hectic schedule in the coming weeks as they will be taking part in eight international tournaments between the last week of May and July.

Addressing a news conference at Ta` Qali, Ray Mercieca, MBA vice-president, said the women`s team will be first in action between today and Sunday. They will be competing in the Maltacom International Tournament against Cyprus and a Sicily selection at Ta` Qali. Malta starts its commitments this evening against Cyprus at 6.45 p.m.

Between May 31 and June 2, the men`s team will be taking part in the Kinnie International Series. Malta`s opponents are expected to be Libya and an Italian Serie B2 side although the entry field will only be confirmed next week.

The two senior national teams will then be involved in the Promotion Cups. Joe Galea`s team are in Group A along with San Marino, Albania and Scotland in the men`s tournament, to be staged in Malta between June 11 and 15.

The women`s competition will be held in Andorra between June 18 and 22. The Maltese girls have been drawn in Group A together with Albania, Iceland and Armenia.

The junior teams will also feature in the European Promotion Cup for Cadettes between July 2 and 6. The boys` tournament will be held at Ta` Qali and the Maltese will come up against Iceland, Luxembourg, Andorra, Gibraltar and Scotland.

Cyprus will be the hosts of the girls` event with Malta taking on Luxembourg, Gibraltar, Andorra, Scotland and Cyprus.

The last commitments for the association this season will be between July 23 and 29 when the two tournaments of the FISEC Games for boys and girls will be organised at Ta` Qali and St Aloysius respectively.

Meanwhile, the MBA yesterday launched its own website which carries useful information about the basketball game in Malta. The URL of the site is www.mba.org.mt.

Frank Camilleri, MBA secretary, said new teams interested to participate in the MBA competitions next season must register by not later than June 30.

Camilleri also said that the Executive Council has approved changes to the registration policy regarding the senior players. Registration, including that of under-20 players, must be completed by not later than July 31.