{{Short description|Maltese basketball player (born 1991)}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Samuel Deguara | image = Samuel Deguara 2024.jpg | caption = | position = Center | league = | team = Free agent | height_ft = 7 | height_in = 6.5 | weight_lbs = 288 | number = 22 | nationality = Maltese / Italian | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|6|21|df=y}} | birth_place = Pietà, Malta | high_school = | career_start = 2007 | career_end = | years1 = 2007–2010 | team1 = Pallacanestro Treviso | years2 = 2010–2011 | team2 = →BVO Caorle | years3 = 2011–2012 | team3 = →CUS Bari Pallacanestro | years4 = 2012–2013 | team4 = Pallacanestro Reggiana | years5 = 2013–2014 | team5 = BUPA Luxol | years6 = 2014 | team6 = Viten Getafe | years7 = 2014–2015 | team7 = Fuenlabrada | years8 = 2014–2015 | team8 = →Fundacion Fuenlabrada | years9 = 2015 | team9 = Ferrol | years11 = 2016 | team11 = Niagara River Lions | years12 = 2017 | team12 = BUPA Luxol | years13 = 2017 | team13 = Farmcochem | years14 = 2017 | team14 = PEA | years15 = 2018 | team15 = Mono Vampire | years16 = 2018–2019 | team16 = Hong Kong Eastern | years17 = 2019 | team17 = CEB Puerto Montt | years18 = 2019–2020 | team18 = San Miguel Alab Pilipinas | years19 = 2020–2021 | team19 = Tokyo Excellence | years20 = 2021–2022 | team20 = Taipei Fubon Braves | years21 = 2022 | team21 = TaiwanBeer HeroBears | years22 = 2022–2024 | team22 = Tainan TSG GhostHawks | years23 = 2023 | team23 = Hong Kong Bulls | years24 = 2024–2026 | team24 = Macau Black Bears | years25 = 2026 | team25 = Yankey Ark | highlights = * Malta Basketball League champion (2017) * Malaysia Pro League champion (2017) * FIBA Europe U-18 Championship Division C MVP (2009) * TBL Best Center Award (2017) * TBSL champion (2018) * European Championship for Small Countries MVP (2018) | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's Basketball}} {{MedalCountry | {{MLT}} }} {{MedalCompetition | FIBA Europe U-18 Championship Division C}} {{MedalGold | 2009 Valletta | Team}} {{MedalCountry | {{MLT}} }} {{MedalCompetition | FIBA European Championship for Small Countries}} {{MedalGold | 2018 San Marino | Team}} {{MedalSilver | 2010 Valletta | Team}} {{MedalSilver | 2014 Gibraltar | Team}} {{MedalSilver | 2024 Andorra la Vella | Team}} {{MedalBronze | 2012 Serravale | Team}} }}
'''Samuel Deguara''' (born 21 June 1991) is a Maltese professional basketball player who last played for the Yankey Ark of the P. League+.
==Professional career== ===Beginnings in Italy=== Deguara began his professional career after signing a nine-year contract with Benetton Treviso, breaking through the club's youth ranks.<ref>{{ cite news |last=Nilsen |first=Paul |title=MALTA'S DEGUARA AIMS FOR NEXT LEVEL |url=http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_Od-B,kppJpohh7g6KObMA0.season_2009.roundID_6810.coid_Ls,A4vd,GcI9Ciie,7SA61.articleMode_on.html |work=FIBA Europe |date=11 May 2010 |access-date=20 June 2018 }}</ref> After three years, Deguara was loaned to fellow Italian sides BVO Caorle and CUS Bari Pallacanestro over the course of the next two years. The following season, he played for Pallacanestro Reggiana in the Serie A, playing a single game against Armani Milano.
===Malta=== After an injury-plagued spell in Italy, Deguara decided to return to his native Malta, signing up for BUPA Luxol for the 2013–2014 season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Colin Schembri |title=Bupa Luxol sign Samuel Deguara |url=http://www.sportinmalta.com/bupa-luxol-sign-samuel-deguara/ |work=Sport in Malta |date=31 December 2013 |access-date=14 January 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It was a successful stint for Deguara, where he averaged 29.5 points and 21.4 rebounds per game.
===Spain=== After his stint in his native country, Deguara set out to Spain to continue his basketball career. He first played for Viten Getafe, scoring 5 points and 6 rebounds in 10 minutes of action.<ref>{{ cite news |title=El techo del baloncesto español juega en el Viten Getafe |trans-title=The roof of Spanish basketball plays at Viten Getafe |url=http://fbm.es/competiciones/nacionales-feb/4830-el-techo-del-baloncesto-espanol-juega-en-el-viten-getafe |language=Spanish |work=FBM.es |location=Spain |access-date=14 January 2018 }}</ref> After Getafe, Deguara continued his stint in Spain, playing for Fuenlabrada and also for its reserve team. Deguara also played for Ferrol, where he tallied 17 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks in his debut and averaged 15.0 points and 11.0 rebounds a game.<ref>{{ cite web |title=International Hoopster Samuel Deguara Joins River Lions |url=http://www.riverlions.ca/game-recaps/title/international-hoopster-samuel-deguara-joins-river-lions/id/719 |website=www.riverlions.ca |access-date=14 January 2018 }}</ref>
===North America=== Deguara continued his basketball career in America, where he was selected 98th overall in the sixth round by the Erie Bayhawks in the 2015 NBA Development League Draft. However, Deguara did not play a single game for the BayHawks.
Deguara was then signed by newly-formed NBL Canada side Niagara River Lions.<ref>{{ cite web |title=NBL: Niagara River Lions signs 7-foot-5 big man Samuel Deguara |url=http://www.sportando.com/en/world/america/186759/nbl-niagara-river-lions-signs-7-foot-5-big-man-samuel-deguara.html#refresh_ce |website=www.sportando.com |access-date=14 January 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite news |last=Zelkovic |first=Chris |title=7-foot-5 Maltese basketball player hopes Canadian experience pays off |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/eh-game/7-foot-5-maltese-basketball-player-hopes-to-turn-canadian-experience-into-big-opportunity-163959784.html |work=Yahoo! Sports |date=7 January 2016 |access-date=14 January 2018 }}</ref> Despite his much-publicized and highly hyped signing with the Canadian club, he was largely absent from the team's debut campaign in the NBLC, playing in only 3 games for a total of 7 minutes, scoring only 2 points in all games.<ref>[https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Samuel-Deguara/Summary/27996 Samuel Deguara Player Profile, Niagara River Lions, International Stats, Game Logs, Awards - Real GM]</ref>
===Lithuania=== Deguara signed a contract with Lithuanian side BC Šilutė, playing in the Lithuanian second tier, the NKL.<ref>{{cite web |title=Silute lands Samuel Deguara |url=http://www.eurobasket.com/Malta/news/464545/Silute-lands-Samuel-Deguara |website=Eurobasket.com |access-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211155636/http://www.eurobasket.com/Malta/news/464545/Silute-lands-Samuel-Deguara |archive-date=11 February 2017 |date=30 September 2016}}</ref>
===Return to Malta=== Deguara returned to his native Malta for the second time, again playing for BUPA Luxol. He led the club to its 13th Maltese championship, where they swept fellow Maltese club Floriana MCP Car Parks in a best-of-five series.<ref>{{ cite news |last=Stewart |first=Said |title=BUPA Luxol Champions għat-13-il darba |trans-title=BUPA Luxol Champions for the 13th time |url=http://netnews.com.mt/2017/04/23/bupa-luxol-champions-ghat-13-il-darba/ |language=Maltese |work=NET News |date=23 April 2017 |access-date=14 January 2018 }}</ref>
===Southeast Asia=== Deguara headed to Asia for the first time in his career, where he signed with Malaysian NBL side Farmcochem, winning the Malaysia Pro League title in his only season with the club, scoring 24 points and 24 rebounds in the championship game against the KL Dragons.<ref>{{ cite news |author=Kng Zheng Guan |title=Farmco's Guga and Ban Sin snuff out Dragons' fire in MPL final |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/basketball/2017/10/30/farmcos-guga-and-ban-sin-snuff-out-dragons-fire-in-mpl-final/#igmvI7YJ0TV00FT6.99 |work=The Star |date=30 October 2017 |access-date=14 January 2018 }}</ref>
Shortly after his stint in Malaysia, Deguara was signed by another Southeast Asian club, PEA, of Thailand.
In January 2018, Deguara was signed by another Thai club and ASEAN Basketball League side Mono Vampire, where he replaced Reggie Johnson, who left the team for personal reasons.<ref>{{ cite web |title= Samuel Deguara (ex Farmcochem) signs at Mono Vampire |url=http://www.asia-basket.com/Thailand/news/518581/Samuel-Deguara-(ex-Farmcochem)-signs-at-Mono-Vampire |website=www.asia-basket.com |access-date=14 January 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite web |title=Mono Vampire Upsizes, Replaces Reggie Johnson with Samuel Deguara |url=http://aseanbasketballleague.com/mono-vampire-upsizes-replaces-reggie-johnson-samuel-deguara/ |website=www.aseanbasketballleague.com |access-date=14 January 2018 }}</ref>
Deguara returned to the Southeast Asian league with San Miguel Alab Pilipinas, replacing Adrian Forbes as the team's third import.<ref>{{ cite news |last=Leongson |first=Randolph B. |title=Giant boost as Alab signs 7-foot-4 Sam Deguara as new import |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/abl/alab-pilipinas-signs-7-foot-4-sam-deguara-as-new-world-import-a2437-20191205 |work=Spin.ph |date=5 December 2019 |access-date=5 December 2019 }}</ref>
===Taiwan=== On 21 March 2022, Deguara signed with the TaiwanBeer HeroBears of the T1 League.<ref>{{cite web|title=史上最高巨獸德古拉離開PLG勇士 轉戰台啤英熊|url=https://www.nownews.com/news/5751081|website=NOWnews|date=21 March 2022|access-date=21 March 2022}}</ref> On 9 August, Deguara signed with the Tainan TSG GhostHawks of the T1 League.<ref>{{cite news |title=230公分德古拉又回來了！加盟台南獵鷹捍衛禁區 |url=https://sports.ltn.com.tw/news/breakingnews/4019477 |access-date=9 August 2022 |work=Liberty Times Net |date=9 August 2022}}</ref>
===Hong Kong=== On 14 June 2023, Deguara signed with the Hong Kong Bulls of the National Basketball League.<ref>{{cite news|title=香港金牛正式加盟NBL 7．2揭幕戰主場鬥上屆冠軍 |url=https://www.sportsroad.hk/archives/417939 |access-date=14 June 2023 |work=Sportsroad |date=14 June 2023}}</ref>
===Return to Taiwan=== On 8 September 2023, Deguara re-signed with the Tainan TSG GhostHawks.<ref>{{cite news |title=台鋼獵鷹與德古拉完成續約 「拉拉山連線」新賽季全數回歸 |url=https://sports.ettoday.net/news/2578401 |access-date=8 September 2023 |work=ETtoday |date=8 September 2023}}</ref> On 27 January 2024, the Tainan TSG GhostHawks terminated the contract relationship with Deguara.<ref>{{cite news |title=「拉拉山」少一座！台鋼獵鷹宣布釋出德古拉 |url=https://sports.ettoday.net/news/2672636 |access-date=27 January 2024 |work=ETtoday |date=27 January 2024}}</ref>
===Macau=== On 13 September 2024, Deguara signed with the Macau Black Bears of the East Asia Super League for the 2024–25 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://macaonews.org/life/sports/macau-black-bears-samuel-deguara-basketball/|title=One of the world's tallest basketball players joins the Macau Black Bears|publisher=MacaoNews.org|date=13 September 2024|access-date=28 September 2024}}</ref>
===The Asian Tournament=== He played for Taiwan Mustangs and Aces during the 2024 and 2025 editions.
===Zamboanga Valientes=== He played for Zamboanga Valientes during the 34th edition of the Dubai Basketball Championship, and the Governor Hofer Invitational Basketball Championship in Zamboanga Sibugay.
==National team career== Deguara is the tallest player on the Malta national basketball team, and has been in the national set-up since he was 14.<ref>{{ cite news |last=Riches |first=Sam |title=Samuel Deguara is 7'5, Unemployed, And Looking For A Basketball Home |url=https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/xyb8kq/samuel-deguara-is-7395-unemployed-and-looking-for-a-basketball-home-au-translation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617122526/https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/xyb8kq/samuel-deguara-is-7395-unemployed-and-looking-for-a-basketball-home-au-translation |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 17, 2019 |work=Vice Sports |date=9 February 2016 |access-date=13 January 2018 }}</ref> Deguara was also part of the Malta national team that won the Division C of the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship on home soil in 2009, where he averaged 27.2 points and 23.8 rebounds per game. Deguara also played for the medal-winning teams of Malta that took part in the 2010, 2012 and 2014 European Championships for Small Countries, winning bronze, another bronze and silver medals, respectively, in these events.
In 2018, he helped Malta to win the tournament and achieved the MVP title despite only averaging 17.9 minutes of playtime per game.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-01 |title=7ft 6in Samuel Deguara scoops MVP honors |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/news/europe-smallcountries-2018-news-7ft-6in-samuel-deguara-scoops-mvp-honors |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=www.fiba.basketball |language=en}}</ref>
==Playing style== He is noted for his rebounding ability and his passing from the post position.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.legabasket.it/player/?id=DEG-SAM-91|title=Samuel Deguara|website=legabasket.it}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deguara, Samuel}} Category:Living people Category:1991 births Category:Centers (basketball) Category:Eastern Sports Club basketball players Category:Maltese expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Maltese expatriates in Thailand Category:Maltese expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Maltese men's basketball players Category:Naturalised citizens of Italy Category:Niagara River Lions players Category:Alab Pilipinas players Category:Italian expatriate basketball people in the Philippines Category:Maltese expatriate basketball people in the Philippines Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Taiwan Category:Taipei Fubon Braves players Category:TaiwanBeer HeroBears players Category:T1 League imports Category:Tainan TSG GhostHawks players Category:P. League+ imports Category:Yokohama Excellence players Category:Mono Vampire players Category:Perak Farmcochem BC players Category:Hong Kong Bulls players Category:Expatriate basketball people in Hong Kong Category:Macau Black Knights players Category:CEB Puerto Montt players Category:Yankey Ark players Category:Maltese expatriate sportspeople in Canada Category:Maltese expatriate sportspeople in Japan