By Tara Murray
Sunbury Jets’ Jacob Formosa became part of Maltese basketball history recently.
Formosa played a key role in the Maltese basketball team which claimed the FIBA European Championship for Small Countries for the first time.
Formosa, who has a dual passport, described the championships as one of his best basketball experiences so far.
“All of the other teams in the competition didn’t expect us to do as well as we did,” he said.
“We had high expectations. It’s the first time we’ve ever got gold in that tournament. The girls have won it a few times before.
“Basically, it’s the European Championships for small countries. It’s the biggest event we can go to at the moment.
“Being the first one, it’s a cherry on the top.”
Formosa averaged 10.5 points and 2.8 rebounds at the championships.
In the final he had six points and three rebounds, but it was defensively where he made his mark, with four steals.
The 21 year-old, who also played in the championships for Malta two years ago, said this year’s championships was a learning curve for him, playing a different role to what he is used to.
“Last time we were one of the worst teams,” he said.
“[This year] We had a lot of players that could fill the scoring role, so I had to take on a different role to what I usually play.
“I had to play on the other team’s best player. The coach sort of gave me that assignment, to make sure that he didn’t get any easy shots and to get some steals.
“Most of my points came off steals, which I was happy about.
“I’d never really played that defensive role before.”
Formosa joined the Maltese national program after playing a season in Malta.
In-between he was part of the first Maltese team to contest the under-20 European Championships. Formosa averaged 21 points at that event.
Following the championships, Formosa returned to Sunbury and the Big V competition.
The Jets finished what has been a disappointing season at the weekend.
Formosa, who captained the Jets this year, said it had been an up and down season.
“We went into the year thinking it would be alright,” he said.
“This year was tough, I can’t really say anything else than that.
“We had players coming in and out …
We won a few games then would lose a few
in a row.”
Personally, Formosa finished the season averaging the most points per game for the Jets.
Formosa said learning to play as the number one player, was also another learning curve.
“It was something else I hadn’t done before.
“The whole Sunbury experience, even though rough, has been a good learning curve.”
Formosa is now looking to play in Europe.
