Malta’s women’s U-18 national team continued the country’s remarkable run of success on the international basketball stage after defeating Cyprus 56-35 to win the FIBA U-18 Women’s EuroBasket Division C title on Sunday.

The triumph adds another major achievement for the Malta Basketball Association, which has enjoyed an outstanding summer. In recent weeks, both the men’s and women’s senior national teams were crowned FIBA Championship for Small States champions, while Malta’s women’s U-16 side also secured the FIBA Division C title on home soil. The men’s U-16 team complemented that success by claiming a silver medal in their respective competition.

Although the men’s U-18 side narrowly missed out on a podium finish after losing to Albania in the bronze medal play-off earlier in the day, the latest results underline the steady progress being made by Maltese basketball at youth and senior level.

Coach Roderick Vella’s side laid the foundations for victory with a dominant first-half display.

The opening quarter was a low-scoring affair as both teams struggled offensively, but Malta gradually settled into the contest to establish a 9-3 lead.

The Maltese took complete control in the second quarter, combining aggressive defence with quick transitions and sharp movement under the basket to overwhelm Cyprus.

Their dominance was reflected on the scoreboard as they limited their opponents to just two points in the period and went into half-time with a commanding 24-5 advantage.

Cyprus responded strongly after the interval and briefly threatened a comeback as they reduced the deficit during the third quarter while Malta struggled to find their earlier rhythm.

However, a timely timeout from coach Vella helped restore composure, with Eve Axisa and Samira Deguara leading the response as Malta rebuilt a comfortable advantage. The Maltese finished the quarter 41-25 ahead, putting themselves firmly on course for victory.

With the title within reach, Malta controlled the final quarter with confidence, maintaining their defensive intensity while managing the game expertly to close out an emphatic 56-35 victory.

The gold medal represents yet another milestone for Maltese basketball and highlights the growing strength of the country’s development programmes, with success now being achieved consistently across multiple age groups and at senior international level.