Malta in GSSE gold medal game after Montenegro win

Tevin Falzon

Joshua Tomasi got Malta going with the first bucket of the game. Tevin Falzon (203-SF-1992, college: Sacred Heart) hit a three-pointer and got second-chance points to put Malta in the lead after a quick run by Montenegro saw them go up to six points. The rest of the first quarter was tit for tat as Falzon was the focal point of Malta's offence with an astounding opening-quarter 19 points and a solid presence under the hoop to grab the boards. Montenegro brought the game to parity with a three-ball immediately as the second quarter opened but Tomasi regained Malta's league with a pair of freethrows. Montenegro grew in stature as they took the lead again. Coach Alan Walls brought on Samuel Deguara (230-C-1991) who put up nine points immediately as the size mismatch kicked in and Malta was within two at the break. Malta were back in the lead halfway through the third quarter as Nelson Kahler (206-C/F-1994, college: CSU-Pueblo) found his first two buckets of the game, Tevin Falzon scoring point number 23 from the top of the key before finding another three-ball with 3.26 to go in the quarter. Montenegro found themselves ahead before the buzzer with a three-pointer to set up a do-or-die fourth quarter. Eric Washington (183-PG-1993, college: Miami, OH) fired in a perfect corner three as the final 10 minutes began but Montenegro hit back with threes of their own to push the margin to six points with 6.46 remaining. Tevin Falzon brought it down to two points with his 31st point of the game and put Malta in the lead with yet another straight after. Montenegro responded with a long-ranger of their own but Washington fired back as Malta led by one in the final two minutes of the quarter. Aaron Falzon (203-F-1996, college: Quinnipiac) fouled out for the second time this week as Montenegro tied from the freethrow line with 1.07 to go but Washington replied with two points of his own to keep the crowd on its feet. Tension grew at the pavilion very late on as arguments erupted giving Malta no less than five free shots after technical foul calls. Washington made two from the line before further arguments began again. Officials then had no choice but to stop the game with 10.6 seconds remaining with the Malta crowd in celebration mode and the team in the final.
Courtesy of: sportsdesk.com.mt


Tags : TEVIN FALZON, SUTOR BK 1955 MONTEGRANARO, GAMES OF THE SMALL STATES OF EUROPEN BASKETBALL