The Malta U-16 girls team beat Gibraltar and Wales in their opening games from the FIBA Europe Division C Championship.

The national Under-16 teams enjoyed a winning start to the FIBA Europe Division C Championship, currently being played at the Pavilion in Ta’ Qali.

The girls’ team are leading the table with two wins after producing fine displays in their opening matches.

In the opener, the Maltese girls eased to a 66-22 win over Gibraltar. The home team took a while to get going but a very strong defensive performance in the second quarter (21-4) saw them 35-10 in front at half-time.

Sandro Farrugia’s girls maintained their momentum for the remainder of the game, winning the last two sessions 15-6 and 16-6.

Nicole Agius was Malta’s leading scorer with 15 points, three more than Sophie Abela who was also the best rebounder of the game with eight rebounds.

In their next match, Malta had the better of Wales 60-38.

The first quarter was a balanced affair with the hosts taking the initiative thanks to Agius’s three pointers. The second session was again crucial, especially on the defensive end of the court ,as Malta prevailed 17-6 to lead 36-20 at half-time.

Wales tried to stage a comeback in the third period but three consecutive baskets in the dying stages restored Malta’s lead.

The fourth session was dominated by Farrugia’s players who sealed a deserved win.

Agius was again the game’s top scorer with 18 points while Noelene Vella chipped in with 12.

Vella was also the best Maltese rebounder with 11 rebounds.

Malta meet Andorra tomorrow and Scotland on Saturday.

In the boys’ tournament, the Maltese team launched their commitments with a narrow 63-61 victory over Andorra.

A strong display in the third quarter propelled Malta to victory in front of a sizeable crowd at the Pavilion but the final minutes were nerve-wracking for the host team.

Andorra opened a 10-point lead late in the second quarter but Malta’s head coach Gabriele Alesse inspired his players to an improved performance after the half-time break of this rollercoaster opener.

The Maltese defence cranked up the pressure and, after scoring the first basket of the period, the Andorran team struggled to cope.

Centre Kurt Cassar was instrumental in firing Malta into a nine-point lead heading into the fourth and final quarter.

And when Paul Attard drained a three-pointer with six minutes remaining to extend Malta’s lead to 19 points, the game looked over as a contest.

However, Andorra came back late in the session and Gorka Repiso Bernabeu’s three-pointer with 30 seconds left brought them within striking distance of their opponents.

Malta survived though as Alexis Bartolome Frases couldn’t add to his team-high 13 points on the final shot.

Cassar top-scored with 21 points and added 16 rebounds while Francesco Mifsud Bonnici contributed with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists to Malta’s victory.