A further honour for the MBA

Apart from the enormous success of the national women's basketball team in the Games of the Small States of Europe where Malta, for the first time in history managed to win a gold medal, the Malta Basketball Association (MBA) was also proud and very satisfied that referee Bernard Vassallo was nominated to control the final of the men's competition in the same GSSE 2003.

In fact, Vassallo was the only Maltese referee among the group of 13 who controlled the matches during the Games.

He was involved in four games, all in the men's competition, two in the preliminary group phase, one semi-final and the top game of the tournament, the final between Cyprus and Iceland. This was won by the former with a very small margin, 79-77, following an intensive encounter which was very balanced.

Vassallo refereed the final together with Italian Roberto Nardecchia. This is the third final that Vassallo has controlled in the European sphere in the last two years.

The women's national basketball team will be guests of honour during a social night at the Hotel Mercure Costa San Antonio next Saturday. Tickets for the activity may be obtained from the Malta Basketball Association (21-430950). The players will be available for pictures and to sign autographs.