Youth development has always ranked high on the agenda list of the Malta Basketball Association. Various initiatives have been taken and qualified coaches appointed to nurture home-grown talent.
Over these past few years, the process has been intensive and the first results started to show when some of the youngsters managed to attract foreign interest and they are now continuing their training abroad.
Among these are Christine Grima, currently in her second year with Pomezia Roma.
Next week, Grima teams up with the U-18 women's national team to play in the European Championship (Division C) at Ta' Qali.
Salvo Coppa's girls start with a match against Andorra on Tuesday and then play Gibraltar (Thursday), Monaco (Friday) and Luxembourg (Saturday).
Although the expectations are relatively modest, MBA president Antonio Mizzi said the championship will be a good test of maturity for the U-18 team.
"We are investing heavily in our youth sector," he said. "Since 2002, the MBA launched a youth programme aimed at nurturing talented players for our future national teams.
"The U-18 girls team forms part of this process. Although many in the squad have already figured in international events at junior level, we believe that this tournament is a better occasion to gauge their development.
"At the moment our 'A' national teams are competing in European Division C. However, we are confident that through our youth policy initiatives we can win promotion by 2010."
Mag. Mizzi said that the MBA was delighted to learn that Rebecca Brincat, a Maltese-Australian who plays in Germany, was granted a Maltese passport. That makes her eligible to play for Malta.
Meanwhile, Leonard Falzon has been appointed by FIBA as a referees instructor for the U-18 Championship.
Peugeot League
The draws for the 2007/08 Peugeot League were made this week.
The women's championship gets underway on the weekend of October 13-14 with Luxol facing Loyola, Pembroke playing Kerygma and Depiro taking on SN Suns.
Champions Hibs Go Mobile are not in action on the opening day.
Malta U-18 squad:
E. Moore (Luxol), S. Tabone (Sliema), C. Grima (Pomezia Roma), L. Calleja (Sliema), L. Sciberras (Sliema), J. Doughty (Loyola), J. Busuttil (Depiro), R. Naudi (Luxol), S. Demartino (Luxol), D. McKeon (Sliema), K. Tonna (Hibs), A. Muscat (Depiro).