PEJA (Kosovo) - Malta defeated Armenia and Albania eliminated hosts Kosovo to complete the Final lineup at the FIBA Women’s European Championship for Small Countries 2026.
In the opening Semi-Final, Malta cruised past Armenia 107-52 behind another outstanding display from Amber Constance Melgoza, who finished with 36 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists.
The unbeaten side established control early in the game and continued to extend their advantage throughout the contest.
Danika Galea added 19 points and 8 rebounds, while Malta showcased their offensive depth with four players scoring in double figures and 31 assists as a team.
Malta will now head into their second straight Final looking to go one step further after falling short in the 2024 title game.
Meanwhile, Albania held off hosts Kosovo 66-62 in a tense Semi-Final encounter, despite repeated comeback efforts from the home side during the fourth quarter.
Ornela Lalaj played a crucial role with 18 points and 20 rebounds, while Enisa Semanjaku added a team-high 21 points as Albania shot more efficiently from both two-point and three-point range.
Kosovo continued to pressure their opponents until the closing seconds - behind Astera Tuhina’s 24 points and Malvina Haziri’s 21 points - but the hosts were unable to complete the comeback after a late three-point attempt missed in the final possession.
Malta and Albania will now meet in Sunday's Final, while Kosovo and Armenia move into the Third-Place Game for the final spot on the podium.
Final: Malta vs Albania
Third-Place Game: Kosovo vs Armenia
FIBA