All is set for today’s opening night of the Promotion Cup, the seventh contested by the Women national side, to be played at Ta’ Qali during this week.

All participating teams arrived yesterday and this morning will be training time for all teams prior to the opening game between Scotland and Andorra.

This is the second time that Malta is hosting this FIBA competition following that in 1996.

Seven countries, divided in two groups, are vying for the top spot in this championship.

Malta was sorted in Group B together with Wales, Scotland and Andorra.

The Maltese team, under the guidance of coach Santino Coppola for the fourth year running, will be in action against Wales this evening at 7.45pm.

Coppa considers the Maltese girls to be in a transition period, but a year of experience is now behind them and expects his players to do well in the competition.

The Malta team will be defending, and hopefully improves upon, the bronze medal won two years ago in Andorra.

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 the aim of the MBA is for the national sides to emerge from this tier, and establish themselves in the Second Division.

The Malta squad announced by coach Coppa is the following:

Josephine Grima , Dorianne Galea, Greta Zarb, Antoinette Borg, Caroline Fenech, Kirsten Micallef, Rachel Camilleri, Doreen Parnis, Beverly Zammit, Lucienne Bezzina, Fiona Schembri and Amanda Sciortino.

Josephine Grima and Antoinette Borg are currently playing in Italy with Sicilian side Priolo.

Before the Malta game the Opening Ceremony will take place at 7.30pm. Entrance for the games is free.

Today’s programme:

3pm: Scotland - Andorra

5.15pm:Luxembourg - Moldova

7.30pm: Opening Ceremony

7.45pm: Malta – Wales