A busy week lies ahead for the Malta Basketball Association (MBA) as all the national teams, from youth level to the seniors, will be involved in FIBA competitions.

Tomorrow, the men’s squad, spearheaded by MBA president Paul Sultana, will fly to Moldova ahead of their participation in the FIBA European Championships for Small Countries.

Malta will launch their Group A commitments against San Marino on Tuesday followed by games against Ireland on Wednesday and Gibraltar on Thursday.

The other group is made up of Wales, Andorra, Armenia and Moldova.

After the success achieved in the last three editions of this competition, where Malta won a bronze medal in 2010 and 2012 and silver two years ago, the squad is in a transitional period following the introduction of several young players under the direction of the Italian coach Andrea Paccarie.

Paccarie’s squad is made up of Sean Borg, Peter Shoults, David Bugeja, Kieron Caruana, Andrew Aquilina, Jean Paul Schembri, Nikola Vasovic, Matthew Gouder, Jacob Formosa, Alec Felice Pace, Stefan Cappello and Tevin Falzon.

Also this weekend, the Malta women’s squad will depart for Gibraltar for the FIBA Euro Women Championships for Small Countries. Malta had to settle for bronze in the last two editions after winning the competition in 2008 and 2010.

Malta, in Group B, will face Andorra on Wednesday and Gibraltar the following day.

Group A features Moldova, Wales and Ireland.

National women’s coach Angela Adamoli has called up the following players: Sarah Pace, Elena Cassar, Ashley Vella, Samantha Brincat, Maria Bonett, Stef Demartino, Cristina Grima, Beverly Zammit, Gaby Mifsud, Hannah Al Tumi, Josephine Grima and Christina Curmi.