Malta Bowling Association

Nicolai Mallia brings home first medal at the European Youth Championships in Turkey 15 year old Nicolai Mallia had a brilliant start at the European Youth Championships in Samsun, Turkey as he shot a 1331 over 6 games to make the top 4 cut out of 91 bowlers.  He then had to face Frank Stephenson from the UK, another left handed bowler. Nicolai took a slight lead by the 5th frame, but then an unlucky split left the door open to Frank who shot 5 in a row to beat Mallia 235-204. A brilliant 3rd place and bronze medal for our Nicolai, while Frank went on to win the gold medal in the final.  All our youths bowled well on this first day, with Kayden Lagana’ in 20th place with a 204.5 average, Travis Barbara in 24th place (202.8) and Tomas Caruso in 34th place (195.5). Nicolai Mallia ġib l-ewwel midalja fil-Kampjonati Ewropej taż-Żgħażagħ fit-Turkija Nicolai Mallia ta 15-il sena kellu bidu brillanti fil-Kampjonati Ewropej taż-Żgħażagħ tal-ten pin bowling hekk kif lagħab serje ta 1331 fuq 6 logħbiet biex għadda ma l-aqwa 4 minn 91 bowler. Imbagħad kellu jiffaċċja lil Frank Stephenson mir-Renju Unit, bowler ieħor xellugi bħalu. Nicolai ħa vantaġġ żgħir mill-5 frame, iżda mbagħad split sfortunat ħalla il-bieb miftuħ għal Frank li b’ 5 strikes wara xulxin għeleb lil Mallia 235-204. Midalja tal-bronż ferm meritata għal Mallia , filwaqt li Frank kompla biex rebaħ il-midalja tad-deheb fil-final. Iż-żgħażagħ kollha tagħna lagħbu tajjeb f’din l-ewwel ġurnata, b’ Kayden Lagana jispiċċa fl-20 post b’ medja ta’ 204.5, Travis Barbara fl-24 post (202.8) u Tomas Caruso fl-34 post (195.5).

Nicholas Muscat triumphs in the MBA Masters at the Superbowl The Masters this year was a keenly contested high scoring event. The top 4 from the qualifying round were all youths, led by Nicolai Mallia with an amazing 248 average, followed by Travis Barbara, Kayden Lagana’ and Nicholas Muscat, and these all advanced to the final day directly. The next 12 bowlers went into the second qualifying day to determine which 6 would make the cut to join the top 4 on the final day. Alja Bergauer, Sue Abela, Kenneth Arpa, Tomas Caruso, Melissa Swift and Philip Gruppetta made it through. The final day saw these 10 bowlers bowl 5 games. Nicholas Muscat shot a simply stunning 1285 (257 average) to dominate proceedings, ahead of Nicolai Mallia who shot a 1184 (236). Fellow youth Tomas Caruso had a very good performance to jump up to 3rd place with a 1137 followed by Philip Gruppetta with a 1121. The last 2 places were a fight till the last frame between Alja, Kenneth, Kayden and Melissa. Kenneth ended on a 1079, with Alja clinching the last spot just 2 pins ahead of Kayden, with Melissa just another 6 pins behind. The finals saw the 6 divided into 2 groups of 3, bowling 1 game, with low person out. In Group 1, Game 1 saw Alja with a 161 losing out by just 1 pin to Philip Gruppetta, while Nicholas was never in doubt with his 206. Game 2 saw Nicholas again shooting a 208 as Gruppetta struggled to only manage a 152. Group 2 as also tight. Arpa’ 184 was not enough to beat Mallia’s 186 and Caruso’s 200, and so the 2 youngsters fought it out in the next game, with Caruso edging out Mallia 224-201. The final was a high scoring one. Tomas pushed Nicholas hard, but his 216 was not enough as Muscat had another strong 247 to finish worthy winner in this year’s Masters. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15y12Fxpyo/ 

The 24 game qualifiers for the MBC were held recently at the Superbowl, with the top 2 males and females securing participation at the MBC in Turkey between the 27th April and the 4th of May.  Youths Nicholas Muscat and Kayden Lagana’ were in a class of their own, dominating proceedings with an average of over 230 each, to finish well clear (over 500 pins) of 3rd place Mauro Anastasi. The ladies section saw ex European Champion Sue Abela triumph ahead of  Cynthia Frendo Duca , with Melissa Swift in 3rd place. Team Malta will be accompanied by National Coach Mark Spiteri www.mbcbowling.com/mbc2025

Team Malta breaks national seniors team records to place 5th in the European Seniors Championship in Germany The Maltese team, made up of Mark Spiteri, Danial Swift, Dennis Mercieca and Kenneth Arpa saved the best for last as they had a superb performance in the team event at the ESC.  After the first day of 3 games, the team was lying in 3rd place out of 25 teams, as they established a new national seniors team record on 3 games with a 2493 (207.8 average) to stay ahead of England and Finland.   Day 2 saw both Finland and England shoot strong scores to just overtake Malta, with England capturing 4th place only 27 pins ahead of Malta (4886 vs 4859). Mark Spiteri and Kenneth Arpa were best for team Malta during the team event with a 216 and 211 average respectively, as Danial and Dennis had averages of 195 and 187 respectively. The 4859 is also a new National record for a Seniors 4 man team over 6 games.  Sweden was crowned European Seniors (50+) champions as in the finals they beat Team Italy 851-813. A great thanks goes to the sponsors VisitMalta.com for their financial support towards the team’s travel expenses, and to Superbowl at TheEden for their support with the training of the team before. ———————————————————————————————————————– Team Malta jikser ir-rekords nazzjonali tat-timijiet tal-50 plus biex jispicca l-5 post fil-Kampjonat Ewropew tas-Seniors fil-Ġermanja It-tim Malti, magħmul minn Mark Spiteri, Danial Swift, Dennis Mercieca u Kenneth Arpa salva l-aħjar għall-aħħar hekk kif kellhom prestazzjoni mill-aqwa fl-avveniment tat-tim fl-ESC. Wara l-ewwel ġurnata ta’ 3 logħbiet, it-tim kien mimdud fit-3 post minn 25 tim, hekk kif stabbilixxew rekord ġdid tat-tim nazzjonali tas-seniors fuq 3 logħbiet b’medja ta’ 2493 (207.8) biex jibqgħu qabel l-Ingilterra u l-Finlandja. It-tieni jum ra kemm lill-Finlandja kif ukoll lill-Ingilterra bi skors qawwija biex jaqbżu lil Malta bi ftit , bl-Ingilterra tilħaq ir-4 post 27 pin biss qabel Malta (4886 vs 4859). Mark Spiteri u Kenneth Arpa kienu l-aħjar għat-tim Malta waqt lkompetzzjoni  tat-tim b’medja ta’ 216 u 211 rispettivament, hekk kif Danial u Dennis kellhom medji ta’ 195 u 187 rispettivament. L-4859 huwa wkoll rekord Nazzjonali ġdid għal tim ta’ raġel tas-Seniors 4 fuq 6 logħbiet. L-Iżvezja ġew inkurunati champions tas-Seniors Ewropej (50+) hekk kif fil-finali għelbu lil Team Italy 851-813. Grazzi kbira tmur għall-isponsors VisitMalta.com għall-appoġġ finanzjarju tagħhom lejn l-ispejjeż tal-ivvjaġġar tat-tim, u għal The Eden Superbowl għall-appoġġ tagħhom bit-taħriġ tat-tim qabel kif ukoll l-assocjazzjoni Malta Bowling Association.

MBA Boys Team finalised for the European Youth Championships in Turkey. The 4 boys who will represent Malta at the upcoming EYC have qualified after a series of 6tournaments over the past 3 month in which all the 9 eligible boys bowled 30 games each.With Kayden Lagana’ and Nicolai Mallia being well ahead already after 3 sessions, and withTravis Barbara sitting in a relatively secure 3 rd position after these same 3 rounds, thechallenge revolved mainly between the next 2 youths. Tomas Caruso, and JulianBaldacchino. While Baldacchino had the experience of having already represented Malta in2024 at the EYC and took a strong lead after 2 sessions , Caruso was fighting for his firstopportunity and who was able to turn things around with a powerful last 4 sessions toovertake Baldacchino and take the 4 th spot. His performance over the last few sessions wasindeed almost enough to even overtake Barbara, who survived in 3 rd place by just 24 pins(5550 vs 5526).The overall scores saw Lagana’ end 1st with a super 214.7 average, followed by Mallia on a203 average, Barbara with 185 and Caruso with 184.2 Baldacchino ended in fifth with a172.3 average followed by the younger brother of Nicolai, Mikhail Mallia on a 170.88.Samuel Caruso, Yacob Farrugia and Kayden Zammit ended up in 6th , 7th and 8th placerespectively. MBA Boys Team finalizzat għall-Kampjonati Ewropej taż-Żgħażagħ fit-Turkija. L-4 subien li se jirrappreżentaw lil Malta fl-EYC li jmiss ikkwalifikaw wara sensiela ta 6tournaments matul l-aħħar 3 xhur li fihom id-9 subien eliġibbli lagħbu 30 logħba kull wieħed. B Kayden Lagana u Nicolai Mallia jkunu ferm il quddiem diġà wara 3 sessjonijiet, u bi TravisBarbara fit-3 pożizzjoni relattivament sigura wara dawn l-istess 3 rawnds, l-isfida kienetiddur l-aktar bejn iż-2 żgħażagħ li jmiss. Tomas Caruso, u Julian Baldacchino. Filwaqt liBaldacchino kellu l-esperjenza li diġà rrappreżenta lil Malta fl-2024 fl-EYC u ħa vantaġġqawwi wara 2 sessjonijiet , Caruso kien qed jiġġieled għall-ewwel opportunità tiegħu u kienkapaċi jdawwar l-affarijiet bl-aħħar 4 sessjonijiet b’saħħithom biex jaqbeż lil Baldacchino ujieħu r-4 post. Il-prestazzjoni tiegħu matul l-aħħar ftit sessjonijiet kienet tabilħaqq kważibiżżejjed biex saħansitra jaqbeż lil Barbara, li baqa fit-3 post b 24 pin biss (totali ta’ 5550 vs5526). Il-punteġġi ġenerali raw lil Lagana itemm fl-ewwel post medja kbira ta’ 214.7, segwit minn Mallia fuq medja 203, Barbara 185 u Caruso 184.2 Baldacchino spiċċa fil-ħames post b’ medja ta’ 172.3 segwit minn ħu ż-żgħir Nicolai, Mikhail Mallia fuq 170.88. SamuelCaruso, Yacob Farrugia u Kayden Zammit spiċċaw fis-6, is-7 u t-8 post rispettivament.

The Team representing Malta at the upcoming European Senior Championships in Leipzig, Germany are Danial Swift, Kenneth Arpa, Dennis Mercieca and Mark Spiteri. The team have been preparing for this championship at the newly built bowling centre “The Eden”. The team is supported by Sport Malta, Visit Malta and MBA.  Follow the championships here: https://esc2025.ebfchampionships.sport/

Celebrating Sport in Malta is an annual Conference which brings together different stakeholders from within the sport sector. Minister for Sport Clifton Grima inaugurated the ‘Celebrating Sport in Malta’ conference on Friday, marking the 10th anniversary of SportMalta’s establishment. Grima described SportMalta’s journey as having led to a leap in quality in the country’s sports’ sector, after 10 years of dedicated work. He reflected on the work accomplished over the past decade, mentioning investment in infrastructure projects, as well as the support provided to associations, organisations, and sports clubs, including direct financial assistance to athletes and sportspeople. Malta Bowling Association was represented by Mr. President Edward Mifsud and Secretary General Ms. Liliana Spiteri.

MBA Trials for European Youth Championships The team that will represent Malta in the European Youth Championships in April 2025 is being selected through a set of 6 tournaments held between November and January at The SuperBowl at The Eden in which the under 18 bowlers are all competing for a place that will also require them to reach a minimum standard to be eligible for the selection. Day 4 of the EYC trials saw Lagana’s extend his lead over 2nd place Nicolai Mallia as he bowled a 1061 total ahead of Mallia’s 1032. The big move was completed by Tomas Caruso who bowled a good 982 series to move up into 4th  place, still behind Travis Barbara but ahead of Julian Baldacchino. Nicolai’s younger brother , Mikhail had a very good day with his 919 (183.8 average) to come very close overall to Baldacchino. Best game of the day was a 255 by Lagana’. In the girls section, with Karlise Bartolo still leading, it was Jade Barbara who moved into 2nd place as she overtook Celianne Micallef.  The last 2 sessions will take place in January after the holiday break. https://bowlingmalta.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Video-EYC-quali.mp4