Men’s competitions to resume next week

The men’s basketball competitions are expected to resume next week after club delegates and top officials of the Malta Basketball Association (MBA) reached an agreement over a number of contentious issues during an Extraordinary General Meeting, held at the Ta’ Qali pavilion yesterday.

Last month, the MBA decided to suspend the men’s competitions indefinitely after Depiro, Loyola and Siġġiewi challenged a decision by the Appeals Board to significantly reduce the bans of two Luxol players, Marco Mercieca and Robert Azzopardi.

Having been originally hit with a five-match ban, Mercieca had his suspension reduced to one and Azzopardi to three on appeal. This decision didn’t go down well with the other clubs and Athleta eventually joined the protesting trio in calling for an Extraordinary General Meeting. They also proposed a series of amendments to the statute.

Reports indicate that the ruling by the Appeals Board was accepted by the club delegates following a discussion during yesterday’s EGM. It also seems that most of the amendments proposed were agreed to by those present. The participating officials then agreed that the competitions should continue next week.

Meanwhile, during yesterday’s meeting, it was announced that deputy president Louis Azzopardi, secretary Frank Camilleri, vice-president Joe Depasquale Schranz and treasurer Steve Muscat had tendered their resignation.

The MBA will reconvene next week to appoint new officials to the President’s Council.