A press conference was held at the National Basketball Complex in ta’ Qali on the eve of the start of the best-of-five 2019 MAPFRE MSV Life Women League Finals Series between regular season leaders and reigning champions Hibernians and first time-ever league finalists Starlites GIG.
The first game in this 2019 Finals Series will be played on Thursday 11th April at 8pm.
Hibernians will be looking to retain the championship trophy in Paola after finishing the regular season in top spot. However according to coach Tony Camilleri this does not make them the favourites and stated that the preparation for his side, ahead of the finals, is in full swing and is very confident that his girls, similar as in the latest showings in important matches, will rise to the occasion and bring home the league trophy.
Starlites’ skipper Samantha Farrugia said that although this is Starlites’ first ever finals appearance, the squad, under the direction of David Baudot, is preparing itself to the full. Although maybe lacking in finals’ experience, Farrugia is confident that the team will be very motivated to do well in the series.
On the other hand, counterpart skipper Elena Cassar stated that the Hibs’ side is a mix of very experienced players and young promising players. Cassar is aware that the opposition will offer stiff opposition but is feeling positive that all the players in the Hibs’ side will be helping each other out during the finals’ challenge.
Spaniard Patricia Arguello, now in her third season with Starlites, stated that this is a crucial stage of the season and notwithstanding they won earlier honours, the team is now ready to challenge fully for the club’s first ever championship win.
Also addressing the press conference, Michael Galea, Chief Business Development Officer of MAPFRE MSV Life explained that this was the fourth year that the leading life insurer in Malta was sponsoring the MBA Women’s National League.
“We are delighted to support the Malta Basketball Association in the organisation of this important national competition,” said Mr. Galea. He congratulated the Malta Basketball Association for its efforts to promote the game of basketball in Malta and for its success in upgrading the facilities that allow for a much-improved experience for both the players as well as those who follow the sport.
Mr. Galea highlighted that MAPFRE MSV Life seeks to play an active role within the communities in which it operates with sport being one of the areas that it actively supports as part of its Community programme.
Mr. Galea also congratulated the two teams who will be the protagonists of the 2019 MAPFRE MSV Life Women’s League Playoff finals, namely, Hibernians and Starlites GIG and augured a very competitive series of matches.
The MBA president Paul Sultana thanked MAPFRE MSV Life for its continuous support towards the local women game and also augured for a highly competitive and interesting 2019 Women Finals.
Mr Sultana was also asked about the national women’s team participation in the forthcoming 2019 Games of the Small States in Montenegro next month. He said that the team preparations will start in full swing after the end of the finals series under the lead of coach Angela Adamoli. The Malta team will be playing to defend the gold medal won in San Marino two years ago and will also be strengthened with the inclusion of Patricia Arguello and Hibs’ Amelia Simmons, as they have been playing locally for three years.
Finals Series Schedule
Game 1: Thursday 11th April at 8pm
Game 2: Sunday 14th April at 2.30pm
Game 3: Wednesday 24th April at 7.30pm
Game 4: Sunday 28th April at 2.30pm
Game 5: Sunday 5th May at 2.30pm
