The Promotion Cup, the seventh contested by the Women national side, will be played at Ta’ Qali, next week. The MBA president, Antonio Mizzi, opened the proceedings. He stated that this will be the last edition of the Promotion Cup, as from next season the competition will be known as the European Third Division. This will involve the promotion issue, and Mizzi said that the aim of the MBA is for the national sides to emerge from this tier, and establish themselves in the Second Division. He also stated that the Junior sides also take part in the Promotion Cups, and Mario Coppa, the 27 year old son of Santino Coppa, will be at the helm of the Junior teams. Mario Coppa is a qualified coach who is eligible to coach at national team level.

The Women National team coach, Santino Coppa, said that this is his fourth year in charge. The previous three seasons have brought success, with a gold medal and two bronze medals. He likened the women national team with his own Priolo side, who made it to the play off final, last season, only to be beaten by Schio 3-2 in the final. He still considers the Maltese girls to be in a transition period, but a year of experience is now behind them. The Priolo side also started nearly from scratch, but they progressed to be losing finalists. He would like to see more Maltese players in action abroad, and he paid tribute to Josephine Grima, the first Maltese professional player.

Coppa noted the marked improvement in Grima’s play, and he mentioned her impact at the Commonwealth Games, in Melbourne, where FIBA also lauded her commitment against world class players.

Josephine Grima described her itinerary at Priolo, and the improvement in her play since she joined the Sicilian side. She feels that the National team games are a means to show people how much she has progressed, and a justification of her choice to become a professional player.

Programme

Tuesday, 18th July:

3pm Group B Scotland- Andorra; 5.15pm Group A Luxembourg-Moldova; 7.30pm Opening Ceremony; 7.45pm Group B Malta-Wales

Wednesday, 19th July: 3.15pm Group A Moldova -Gibraltar; 5.30pm Group B Wales-Scotland; 7.45pm Group B Andorra-Malta

Thursday, 20th July: 3.15pm Group A Gibraltar-Luxembourg; 5.30pm Group B Andorra-Wales; 7.45pm Group B Malta-Scotland.

Friday, 21st July: Rest day

Saturday, 22nd July: 3.15pm 5/7 place A3-B4; 5.30pm Semi Final A1-B2; 7.45pm Semi Final A2-B1

Sunday, 23rd July: 1.15pm 5/7 place; 5.30pm 3/4 place; 7.45pm 1/2 place.