The Malta Basketball Association yesterday launched the first edition of the Awards Night which is to be held at the Hotel Le Meridien in Balluta Bay, next Saturday.
MBA president Magistrate Tonio Mizzi said the activity is to be screened live on Melita’s Malta Stars Channel, starting at 8pm.
He announced that among the awards, there will also be a recognition for the first ever basketball medal at the Games for European Small States – a bronze – won during the San Marino Games 25 years ago. “It was the only medal won by the Maltese contingent in that first edition of the Games. That is another reason why we have decided on recognising the feat of the players who played in that team in 1985,” said Magistrate Mizzi.
Colin Schembri, vice-president of the association and main organiser, together with secretary general Frank Camilleri, said there will be 15 awards apart from those for the Best Players in each category.
He explained: “There will be five awards for Steals, Rebounds, Assists, Three-pointers and Scorers. These will be given in the Men’s Divisions I and II and the Women’s Division. Moreover, there will be another seven awards, that is, the best players in the three championships for the seniors – Men, Women and Men Div. II – as well as the men and women in the Under 20s and Under 17s.”
Schembri said the awards are not based on selections by votes. “The selection is based on the statistics of each match played last season,” he added.
Schembri also said that the players that formed the 1985 team will present some of the awards during the ceremony which will be presented by Mirana Agius Silvio and Simon Farrugia.
Secretary General Frank Camilleri said this event should become an integral part of the calendar. He added: “We intend to keep it as the start of a new season. It is the first experience and we are bound to make mistakes. As from next season we also hope to include awards for coaches and referees, even if this will have to be done through a vote.”
He said that all players who took part in the competitions the past two seasons have been invited to attend the ceremony. “We want everyone in the basketball family to enjoy this manifestation,” he said.