The Malta Basketball Association yesterday announced their collaboration with Detur Operations and Trade, a company which does not operate in Malta, but which has showed its intentions to help the MBA during the coming season. Its help will incorporate the two national teams and the local season.
The company, represented by Mr Sinan Onem, the Managing Director of Detur Operations and Trade, will sponsor the national teams, with the first event being the European Division C Championship, due to be played at Tal-Qroqq Pavilion, between 5 and 10 July. Further sponsorships include the MBA Shield, the Super Cup and a new honour, the Super Champions Cup, to be played at the end of the season, between the winners of four honours.
MBA general secretary Frank Camilleri as well Mr Onem, the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Clyde Puli, and the MBA president, Mag. Antonio Mizzi, addressed those present. Players from both national teams attended the conference.
Parliamentary Secretary Puli thanked Mr Onem for placing confidence in Maltese sport. Puli said that this trust gives peace of mind that sport is doing well. He also thanked the MBA for once again organising an international competition in Malta which means that sports tourism will continue to increase. He augured luck to all the national teams who will be taking part in the FIBA competitions in the next weeks.
The Ladies national team coaches also spoke during the press conference, just a few hours before they leave for Armenia where the FIBA Europe Division C will be played next week.
Santino Coppa said that he is confident that once again the Maltese women will do their best to obtain a wonderful result as they did in the last years. The team will once again include top established players like Rebecca Brincat Thoresen, Ashleigh Vella and Josephine Grima with the introduction of a couple of youngsters. Malta will be playing the first game tomorrow against Wales. The Maltese contingent, led by MBA vice president Joe Depasquale Schranz, will leave Malta this morning.