Maltese girl Josephine Grima was described as a protagonist in her side’s narrow success over Citta Futura of Rome last Saturday. The Sicilians won the match 73-72 thanks to two converted free throws eight seconds before the end.

Grima ended the match as the highest scorer with 19 points as the Sicilians claimed the big prize after a resounding comeback in the second part of the competition.

Midway through the league, they were 15 points behind the Roman side, but according to Gianni Papa, writing in last Sunday’s Giornale del Sud, “miracles only happen for those who believe and Passalacqua always believed in their abilities.” The heading to the story was the following: “La Passalacqua compie il miracolo batte Roma e vola in serie A2” (Passalacqua performs the miracle beat Roma and flies into serie A2).

Papa went on to say that the team had clawed its way back into contention until Saturday’s match which was decisive.

At first the Romans seemed to be a superior side even taking a good 10-point lead in a strong start.

But spurred on by a crowd of more than 600, Ragusa hit back though Roma were still sitting comfortably in the lead at the interval.

The Sicilians, however, never surrendered and even in this match, they clawed their way back and in a very exciting finish, it seemed as if all was lost when in the final minute, Roma took the lead. But the Sicilian Greens quickly responded with those two converted free-throws with eight second left for the end of the match.

When the final buzzer went off, it was all smiles and celebrations by the ecstatic Ragusa and. Ragusa had been promoted to the Italian Serie A2.

The local girl is now back in Malta training with the national team.

What a boost this was for her and for Malta’s national team which competes in the Games for European Small States in Cyprus next week.