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Malta
FIBA ranking	100 1 (26 November 2024)
Joined FIBA	1967
FIBA zone	FIBA Europe
National federation	Malta Basketball Association
Coach	Alan Walls
EuroBasket
Appearances	None
Championship for Small Countries
Appearances	16
Medals	Gold: (2018); Silver: (2014, 2022); Bronze: (2010, 2012), 2021)
Games of the Small States of Europe
Appearances	12
Medals	Silver: (1997, 2023); Bronze: (1985, 1987)
Home	Away
First international
	Malta 81–88 Cyprus ; (Serravalle, San Marino; 23 May 1985)
Biggest win
	Malta 102–57 Gibraltar ; (Serravalle, San Marino; 30 June 2018)
Biggest defeat
	Malta 43–138 Hungary ; (Ta' Qali, Malta; 13 June 2001)

The Malta men's national basketball team (Maltese: Tim nazzjonali tal-basketball ta' Malta) represents Malta in international basketball. They are controlled by the Malta Basketball Association. Malta has been a FIBA member since 1967, and competes at tournaments such as the European Championship for Small Countries and the Games of the Small States of Europe.

History

Malta made their official debut at the 1985 Games of the Small States of Europe, where they achieved the bronze medal.^[2] The team was equally successful at the next edition. Then they did not win another medal again until the 1997 tournament. They surprisingly won the silver medal after defeating Luxembourg in the semifinals, and losing to Cyprus in the final.

In 2001 and 2003, Malta joined the qualifying stages of the EuroBasket for the 2003 and 2005 editions respectively. However, they failed to qualify for both tournaments, as the team finished with six losses in six games played each time.

Malta also participated in all the editions of the European Championship for Small Countries, but did not win any medal until 2010, when they beat Moldova for bronze. In 2012, they won the bronze again and in 2014, Malta lost to Andorra in the final 66–63 to take home silver.

On 1 July 2018, Malta won their first official title after beating Norway, by the score of 75–59 in the final of the 2018 European Championship for Small Countries.^[3] Samuel Deguara claimed the MVP title. After this success, Malta decided to take part in the Games of the Small States of Europe in 2019.

Competitive record

At Eurobasket

EuroBasket					Qualification
Year	Pos.	Pld	W	L	Pld	W	L
2003	Did not qualify				6	0	6
2005	Division B				6	0	6

At the Championship for Small Countries

Championship for Small Countries
Year	Pos.	Pld	W	L
1988	6th	5	2	3
1990	7th	5	2	3
1992	6th	5	1	4
1994	6th	5	1	4
1996	7th	5	1	4
1998	5th	4	0	4
2000	5th	5	2	3
2002	7th	5	1	4
2004	9th	4	0	4
2006	8th	5	1	4
2008	7th	5	1	4
2010		5	3	2
2012		5	3	2
2014		4	3	1
2016	6th	5	2	3
2018		4	2	2
2021		4	2	2
2022		4	3	1
2024
Total		84	30	54

At the Games of the Small States

Games of the Small States of Europe
Year	Pos.	Pld	W	L
1985		3	1	2
1987		3	2	1
1989	5th	3	1	2
1991	5th	4	3	1
1993	6th	5	1	4
1995	5th	3	1	2
1997		4	3	1
2001	6th	4	2	2
2003	7th	3	0	3
2005	Did not enter
2007	Did not enter
2009	5th	5	1	4
2013	Did not enter
2015
2017
2019	4th	4	1	3
2023		5	2	3
Total		46	18	28

Team

Current roster

Roster for the 2019 Games of the Small States of Europe:^[4]

Malta national basketball team roster

Players

Coaches

Pos.	No.	Name	Age – Date of birth	Height	Club
PG	4	Roderick Vella	34 – (1985-01-27)27 January 1985	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)	Hibs Sen
SG	5	David Bugeja	27 – (1992-04-01)1 April 1992	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)	Floriana MCP
C	6	Nelson Kahler	25 – (1994-05-22)22 May 1994	2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)	Rockhampton Rockets
F	7	Cuschieri Patus	31 – (1987-05-31)31 May 1987	2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)	Hibs Sen
PG	8	Peter Shoults	33 – (1985-09-11)11 September 1985	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)	Gzira Athleta
SF	9	Nathan Xuereb	17 – (2001-12-21)21 December 2001	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)	Gzira Athleta
F	10	Tevin Falzon	26 – (1992-11-19)19 November 1992	2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)	Bristol Academy Flyers
PG	11	Alec Pace	21 – (1998-05-15)15 May 1998	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)	Starlites GIG
F	12	Aaron Falzon	23 – (1996-05-19)19 May 1996	2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)	Northwestern Wildcats
F	13	Matthew Gouder	21 – (1998-01-24)24 January 1998	1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)	Gzira Athleta
C	14	Kurt Cassar	20 – (1999-04-13)13 April 1999	2.09 m (6 ft 10 in)	Pallacanestro Piacentina
C	15	Samuel Deguara	27 – (1991-06-21)21 June 1991	2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)	Eastern

Head coach

Andrea Paccarie

Assistant coach(es)

Ruben Baldacchino

Legend

(C) Team captain
Club – describes last
club before the competition
Age – describes age
on 28 May 2019

Head coach position

Bruno diPietrantonio: 2010
Paolo Di Fonzo: 2012-2014
Andrea Paccarie: 2016-present

Kit

Manufacturer

2018: Macron

2018: TEAMSPORT

References

^ "FIBA Ranking Presented by Nike". FIBA. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
^ "National teams eyeing medals' positions". Times of Malta. 13 May 2003. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
^ "Malta claim maiden title". FIBA. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
^ "Montenegro 2019 - Match Deatails". montenegro2019.furkisport.hr. Retrieved 5 October 2020.