FIBA Basketball
MLT - Grima shines but Malta fall again
MELBOURNE (Commonwealth Games) - Josephine Grima confirmed her status as one of the Commonwealth Games' leading performers in the women's basketball tournament with another inspiring display for Malta, but it still wasn't enough to save her side
MELBOURNE (Commonwealth Games) - Josephine Grima confirmed her status as one of the Commonwealth Games' leading performers in the women's basketball tournament with another inspiring display for Malta, but it still wasn't enough to save her side.
The 21-year-old center poured in 22 points and hauled down 18 rebounds - both game-highs - in another remarkable display. However, she still ended up on the losing side as Malta slumped to a 63-59 defeat to Malaysia in the battle for seventh place.
With the medal games to be staged on Thursday, some of the minnows took center stage one day before and Grima excelled. Malta's last-placed finish in the Games belies the level of performance that Grima has put in throughout the tournament, where she has averaged just under 20 points per game.
Putting up superb figures for a struggling team is impressive enough but Grima believes there is even more to come. Asked about her performance during the Games, Grima said: "I was happy but I could do better."
Grima believes the tournament has been a major benefit for both her and the rest of the Malta team.
"(We have gained) experience, we're all very young. It's a fantastic opportunity which may only come along once in a lifetime."
In the second women's match played on Wednesday, Mozambique secured fifth place in the tournament with a 77-40 win over India. Mozambique's Rute Muianga was the game's leading scorer with 21 points while her team-mate Deolinda Gimo added 14 points and 13 rebounds as the African nation gained revenge for their 58-54 defeat to India in the group stages.
India's best player was again Geethu Jose who scored 20 points - the only one of her team to get in double figures - while she also grabbed 10 rebounds.
From Mike Perez, PA Sport, Melbourne Exclusively for FIBA
The 21-year-old center poured in 22 points and hauled down 18 rebounds - both game-highs - in another remarkable display. However, she still ended up on the losing side as Malta slumped to a 63-59 defeat to Malaysia in the battle for seventh place.
With the medal games to be staged on Thursday, some of the minnows took center stage one day before and Grima excelled. Malta's last-placed finish in the Games belies the level of performance that Grima has put in throughout the tournament, where she has averaged just under 20 points per game.
Putting up superb figures for a struggling team is impressive enough but Grima believes there is even more to come. Asked about her performance during the Games, Grima said: "I was happy but I could do better."
Grima believes the tournament has been a major benefit for both her and the rest of the Malta team.
"(We have gained) experience, we're all very young. It's a fantastic opportunity which may only come along once in a lifetime."
In the second women's match played on Wednesday, Mozambique secured fifth place in the tournament with a 77-40 win over India. Mozambique's Rute Muianga was the game's leading scorer with 21 points while her team-mate Deolinda Gimo added 14 points and 13 rebounds as the African nation gained revenge for their 58-54 defeat to India in the group stages.
India's best player was again Geethu Jose who scored 20 points - the only one of her team to get in double figures - while she also grabbed 10 rebounds.
From Mike Perez, PA Sport, Melbourne Exclusively for FIBA