This weekly column is back after the small break for the World Cup due to space limitations in the sport pages. I want to put my emphasis, today, on basketball and the forthcoming FIBA 9th European Women Promotion Cup that is to be held in Malta next week, between 18 July and 23 July.

Seven countries, drawn in two groups, are participating in this FIBA competition. Malta was drawn in Group B with Scotland, Andorra and Wales. In Fact the latter will be the locals’ first opponent at 7.45pm next Tuesday. Group A is composed of Luxembourg, Moldova and Gibraltar.

The respective groups will play a round-robin schedule and then the top two teams in each group will play the semi-finals on Saturday and the winners then will face each other in the final on Sunday 23rd July at 7.45pm.

This is the second time that Malta will be hosting this FIBA European championship after doing so in 1996 when Iceland were the eventual winners. Iceland also won the last edition in Andorra in 2004 and have been promoted to the higher echelons of European competition. Past winners included Austria (1989, 1993 and 1998), Turkey (1991) and Albania (2002).

The best ever Malta placing was achieved two years ago when Malta won the bronze medal ousting Armenia for the podium place. This result also resulted in Malta’s qualification for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

On the eve of such a European competition to be held in Malta, I took the opportunity to discuss the team’s and other administrative preparations with the president of the Malta Basketball Association, Magistrate Antonio Mizzi.

When asked as to how the Malta Basketball Association looks towards this imminent European tournament, Magistrate Mizzi was quick to point out that the treats this FIBA competition just like any other previous similar games held in Ta’ Qali. The main onus will be, as should be always, to honour the commitments in the best way possible.

The gym in Ta’ Qali is also undergoing some refurbishment with the roof becoming totally insulated from outside to serve different causes, amongst which the extremes of heat and cold as well as to minimise, hopefully stop altogether, the dripping of water during heavy storms. Such works were only possible thanks to outside help from the Good Causes Fund and from help coming both from the Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Tonio Fenech and from the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport (KMS).

As regards the prospect of the local national side in next week’s championship, Magistrate Mizzi augurs for the best result possible. If possible, he would like to see Malta triumph just like in the Small Nations Games in 2003 but this would be quite difficult, yet not impossible. Just as a player does not get any better by sitting on the bench, so too can a country not improve overall without international competition.

The MBA president is happy with the team preparation carried out so far under the guidance of Santino Coppa (who managed to lead his Italain team, Trogylos Priolo, with local pivot Josephine Grima amongst the squad, to the Serie A play-offs final, only to be beaten in the decisive fifth match by favourites Schio) assisted by his son Salvatore. In Magistrate Mizzi’s view, the national team players are very enthusiastic and keen following their Commonwealth Games experience. The latter March 2006 games gave most of the players extra motivation and urge to improve on their game.

The team is increasing in its technical potential but going down in its average age in the same time and this, in Magistrate Mizzi’s view, is very healthy.

Turning towards possible experience in foreign leagues, the MBA president highlighted that Grima’s first year experience with Priolo was a positive one. Mizzi believes earnestly that the best local talent have to start working and thinking of going abroad to play if they want to increase their technical ability and maybe even take up basketball as a profession. If this has to occur, then the national team could only enrich itself in the future.

The MBA have a number of close contacts with other foreign basketball federations to obtain help especially on the Juniors Development programme. The latter boils down to a substantial investment of money with the sole, yet simple, aim being that of improving the level of our junior players and the game in general.

Whilst mentioning the junior category, then one has to mention also that the Malta Junior Men national team will be competing in the European Promotion Cup in Andorra just in a week and a half’s time.

Magistrate Mizzi also put forward his thoughts on this Junior team coached by Italian coach Bruno Dipietroantonio (the coach also for the Men’s national team). The MBA president said that the present junior team is made up of young players for their category, however he is confident that these same youngsters will prove themselves in the coming future, hopefully also further along the road in the senior national team.

The present team preparation is going fine and Magistrate Mizzi openly stated that he has seen these youngsters prepare themselves very seriously and working very hard in the last months. Mizzi believes there is more organisation of play in this team compared to past teams.

When speaking of this junior team, Magistrate Mizzi wanted to openly thank all the parents of children who play basketball, especially those who are embarking on this Andorra experience as from 24 July. All the children who play basketball as from a young age can only do so, and then improve their game, if they have sound backing from the nourishing home environment.

Here’s to hoping that both the local national sides give their very best at all instances. The opposition may be tough but nothing is more satisfying then ending a game knowing honestly that one gave his 100%. On a personal level, I am proud to be also taking part in both the tournaments as a referee after FIBA nominated me to be one of the officials.

On the organisational level, a good luck goes to the local federation so that all goes well next week.