BOV NEWS
Dynamic Format for BOV Water Polo Competitions for ASA Centenary
The Aquatic Sports Association of Malta in collaboration with Bank of Valletta announced a new dynamic format for the BOV Water Polo competitions to mark the 100th Anniversary of the ASA.
BOV NEWS
Dynamic Format for BOV Water Polo Competitions for ASA Centenary
The Aquatic Sports Association of Malta in collaboration with Bank of Valletta announced a new dynamic format for the BOV Water Polo competitions to mark the 100th Anniversary of the ASA.
This was announced by Karl Izzo, President of the ASA and Ernest Agius, Chief Operations Officer at Bank of Valletta in the presence of ASA Vice President Water Polo Andrew Paris and General Secretary General George Farrugia during a press conference in the presence of club representatives.
‘The revamp of the competitions is aimed to enhance competitiveness, increase fan engagement, and elevate the standard of the game across all participating clubs,’ said the ASA President. ‘The new format will also see the top performing clubs of the previous season benefitting from direct participation in the BOV Premier League with the top placed clubs in the BOV First Division League having the opportunity to play for promotion to the BOV Premier League.’
The top 4 placed clubs from last season, champions Sliema, San Giljan, Neptunes and Sirens will automatically participate in the BOV Premier League while the bottom 2 clubs of the BOV Premier League, Valletta and Birzebbuga, will play a round robin with the top two placed clubs in the BOV First Division League last year, Champions Marsaxlokk and Exiles, with the top placed 2 clubs in this round robin participating in the BOV Premier League. Ta` Xbiex, Otters, Marsascala and Barracudas will play directly in the BOV First Division League.
The teams in each division will compete in a double round-robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs scheduled between the 26th and the 30th August 2025.
The traditional Santa Marija week in August will be an intensive week for local water polo where the knockout competitions for both divisions will be played with the finals being held on the 14th August.
The BOV Championship will be played under the new competition rules with a smaller 25 metre pitch and a shorter possession and second attack time. This will likely lead to faster transitions between attack and defense, making counterattacks more frequent favoring aggressive offensive strategies and discouraging prolonged build-up.
The BOV Women's league will be played concurrently throughout the Summer where the three competing teams, Sirens, Sliema and San Giljan will compete for the BOV ASA Centenary Cup.
‘The ASA is celebrating their 100th anniversary just one year after BOV celebrated its 50th – and the two organisations hold a longstanding and influential place in Maltese culture,’ said the BOV COO. ‘"Bank of Valletta is proud to have been a main sponsor of the ASA since 2008, a partnership that has seen the successful development of the game as evident in the level of play both at domestic level and on the international playing field, where just this week we have just seen Malta qualify for the European Championships for the sixth consecutive time.’
This was announced by Karl Izzo, President of the ASA and Ernest Agius, Chief Operations Officer at Bank of Valletta in the presence of ASA Vice President Water Polo Andrew Paris and General Secretary General George Farrugia during a press conference in the presence of club representatives.
‘The revamp of the competitions is aimed to enhance competitiveness, increase fan engagement, and elevate the standard of the game across all participating clubs,’ said the ASA President. ‘The new format will also see the top performing clubs of the previous season benefitting from direct participation in the BOV Premier League with the top placed clubs in the BOV First Division League having the opportunity to play for promotion to the BOV Premier League.’
The top 4 placed clubs from last season, champions Sliema, San Giljan, Neptunes and Sirens will automatically participate in the BOV Premier League while the bottom 2 clubs of the BOV Premier League, Valletta and Birzebbuga, will play a round robin with the top two placed clubs in the BOV First Division League last year, Champions Marsaxlokk and Exiles, with the top placed 2 clubs in this round robin participating in the BOV Premier League. Ta` Xbiex, Otters, Marsascala and Barracudas will play directly in the BOV First Division League.
The teams in each division will compete in a double round-robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs scheduled between the 26th and the 30th August 2025.
The traditional Santa Marija week in August will be an intensive week for local water polo where the knockout competitions for both divisions will be played with the finals being held on the 14th August.
The BOV Championship will be played under the new competition rules with a smaller 25 metre pitch and a shorter possession and second attack time. This will likely lead to faster transitions between attack and defense, making counterattacks more frequent favoring aggressive offensive strategies and discouraging prolonged build-up.
The BOV Women's league will be played concurrently throughout the Summer where the three competing teams, Sirens, Sliema and San Giljan will compete for the BOV ASA Centenary Cup.
‘The ASA is celebrating their 100th anniversary just one year after BOV celebrated its 50th – and the two organisations hold a longstanding and influential place in Maltese culture,’ said the BOV COO. ‘"Bank of Valletta is proud to have been a main sponsor of the ASA since 2008, a partnership that has seen the successful development of the game as evident in the level of play both at domestic level and on the international playing field, where just this week we have just seen Malta qualify for the European Championships for the sixth consecutive time.’