USA Select Women were crowned Elite Basketball Tournament Malta Womenโs Cup champions after defeating Depiro 87-58 at the Malta Basketball Association Pavilion in Taโ Qali.
USA Select also maintained their perfect record in the menโs competition with a 90-71 victory over Valletta on the third day of the international tournament.
USA Select Men 90โ71 Valletta
USA Select extended their winning run after overcoming a determined Valletta side in an entertaining, high-scoring encounter.
Valletta used the match to showcase their squad ahead of the new season, handing appearances to new signings Andrew Aquilina and Kurt Xuereb. Piotrek Mach also featured following his return to the city club after a spell with Hibernians.
The opening exchanges were evenly contested, but a strong finish to the first quarter allowed USA Select to establish the first significant lead.
Valletta responded through Caruana, who scored 12 points, although Csurhan and Martin kept the Americans in control with 10 and 12 points respectively.
Xuereb and Mach led Vallettaโs scoring with 17 points each. USA Select continued to distribute the points throughout their squad, with Daniels contributing 12 and Wright adding 11.
Both coaches gave their full squads court time during the final quarter, but USA Select remained firmly in command and completed a 90-71 victory.
USA Select Women 87โ58 Depiro
USA Select secured the Womenโs Cup after pulling away from Depiro in the second quarter of the final.
Depiro fielded a refreshed squad featuring new additions Jennings and Galea, alongside several promising young players making their senior debuts.
The opening stages were closely fought as Nicole Agius and Jennings shot well from the perimeter to keep Depiro in contention. Jennings led the team with 22 points, while Agius contributed 14.
USA Select gradually found their rhythm through Carter, who scored 17 points, and Coleman, who added 15.
The decisive spell arrived in the second quarter, when Chaunte McDowell created a series of opportunities that her teammates converted efficiently. USA Select built an 18-point advantage by half-time, leading 49-31.
Youngster Deguara spearheaded Depiroโs response after the interval and finished with 10 points, but the Americans maintained their intensity and continued extending their lead.
Walker and the experienced Cook also reached double figures as the depth of the USA Select squad ultimately proved decisive.
McDowell was named the tournamentโs Most Valuable Player following a series of influential performances, while coach Badger and the USA Select squad celebrated lifting the trophy.
USA Select became the competitionโs second womenโs champions, succeeding inaugural 2025 winners Anglia Ruskin University of the United Kingdom.
Menโs title to be decided on final day
The sixth edition of the Elite Basketball Tournament Malta concludes with two menโs matches at the Malta Basketball Association Pavilion.
USA Select face Starlites at 5pm in a championship decider, with the winners set to be crowned the 2026 menโs champions.
Colorado Realm then meet Depiro at 7pm in the tournamentโs closing fixture.
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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