Malta wins the bronze medal in Andorra

The game was a close one and it was thanks to a strong performance in the third session that the Maltese girls managed to reach this success. For Sandro Farrugia, who just ended a FIBA Europe coaching course, it is yet another success in the junior level following the bronze medal won in Malta in 2009 with the under 18 national team.

The game had a slow start with the score tied up at 4-4 in the 4^th minute. Two consecutive baskets by Monaco saw them taking the lead which they kept till the end of the 1^st quarter 10-9. Monaco increased their lead in the second quarter 16-11 however Gaby Mifsud tied the score again 19-19 in the last seconds before Monaco scored again to go for halftime a basket ahead 21-19.

Malta took the lead in the third minute of the third quarter 25-22 and despite that Monaco went ahead again, the ended the quarter with a 9-3 run to open a 5 point lead 34-29. Malta opened the last quarter with another 5 consecutive points to go up 40-29. It was Monaco’s turn to react strongly with a 10-0 run which saw them reducing the gap to just one point.

A time-out settled the thing for the Maltese girls who managed to control the game again and obtain a wonderful victory and a bronze medal. Gaby Mifsud was Malta’s top performer with 19 points and Martina Darmanin had 12 rebounds.