Basketball Association president Magistrate Antonio Mizzi is confident that the Maltese girls will again rise to the occasion as they had done in Malta two years ago, when they won the gold medal.

He said the team had passed through a phase where there have been some forced changes and Prof. Santino Coppa, the Italian coach, and his assistant Carlo Farrugia, had to make some necessary adjustments.

Mag. Mizzi, however, said he was confident the new faces would integrate well in the side, even though the team will not be having the strong support it enjoyed during the Malta Games, especially during that memorable final.

Prof. Coppa was very cool about the side’s chances. “The team has already been here for the Promotion Cup and finished third against stronger opponents than those to be found in the Small Nations Games. We just hope to see the girls playing to the best of their abilities,” he said.