Cassar with most Promotion Cup appearances

Malta basketball national team captain Silvio Cassar was honoured last week by FIBA Europe for his record of appearances in Promotion Cup tournaments.

FIBA Europe General Secretary Nar Zanolin was present for the Promotion Cup in Durres, Albania, to present Cassar with a memento for his achievement during the closing ceremony attended by around 1,500 spectators.

Cassar has now chalked up 44 matches in 10 Promotion Cups. The event was first introduced 18 years ago. Cassar is now the most capped player in a tournament for developing European basketball nations.

Azerbaijan were the winners of the 2006 tournament with Albania runners-up and Andorra third.

Malta had to settle for eighth place overall after losing a play-off to Gibraltar on Saturday - 70-65.

The first Promotion Cup was held in Malta in 1988. In Durres, the tournament was being played for the 10th time.

The 2008 competition will be played in Edinburgh, Scotland and the name will be changed to European Championship Division C.

Malta will host the Promotion Cup for women this year. Matches, at Ta' Qali, will be played between July 18 and 23.