The official website of the International Basketball Federation, fiba.com, yesterday showered praise on Malta’s Josephine Grima (photo).

The website said Grima had confirmed her status as one of the Commonwealth Games’ leading performers in the women’s basketball tournament with another inspiring display for Malta, though it still wasn’t enough to save her side.

The 21-year-old centre poured in 22 points and hauled down 18 rebounds – both game-highs – in another remarkable display. However, she still ended up on the losing side as Malta slumped to a 63-59 defeat to Malaysia in the battle for seventh place.

With the medal games to be staged today, some of the minnows took centre stage one day before and Grima excelled. Malta’s last-placed finish in the Games belies the level of performance that Grima has put in throughout the tournament, where she has averaged just under 20 points per game.

Putting up superb figures for a struggling team is impressive enough but Grima believes there is even more to come. Asked about her performance during the Games, Grima said: “I was happy but I could do better.”

Grima believes the tournament has been a major benefit for both her and the rest of the Malta team.

“We have gained experience, we’re all very young. It’s a fantastic opportunity which may only come along once in a lifetime,” she was reported as saying on the FIBA official website fiba.com yesterday.