San Ġiljan Aquatic Sports Club is a waterpolo club hailing from the city of St. Julian's in Malta. The club was founded in 1949 by Ġużi Tanti, and was formerly known as Balluta, after the area of St. Julian's were the club is situated.[1]

San Giljan ASC badge (2021-)

San Ġiljan ASC
Founded1949; 75 years ago (1949)
LeagueMaltese Waterpolo Premier League
Based inSt. Julian's
ArenaSan Ġiljan, St. Julian's
Colors     
PresidentPeter Bonavia
ManagerZeljko Kovacic
Championships12
Websitehttp://sangiljanasc.com/

In 1995, San Ġiljan became the first Maltese club to win a treble, where they went unbeaten all throughout that season.[2]

In 2015, San Ġiljan won their 9th league (and 4th double).[2][3][4]

In 2020, San Ġiljan won their 11th league (and 6th double) finishing the season 2020 unbeaten. During this season club players Ben Plumpton and Stephanie Tanti Desjardins were nominated players of the year in male and ladies categories respectively.[5][6]

In 2021, the team was runner up in the Summer League and won the knock out for the 13th time. Player Ben Plumpton was awarded the player of the year for the second year running

Season 2022 - San Giljan ASC were crowned champions for the 12th time by beating Sliema convincingly in the play-offs. The senior males also won the 14th Knock out final by beating Neptunes ASC and winning the same trophy for a record 7th time in the last 8 years. This summer was a fantastic season for the club when even the ladies team managed to win the knock out trophy against Sirens and were runners up in the championship, losing by just one goal in the last minute of the playoff final against Sirens ASC. Goaler Jake Tanti was nominated and awarded the player of the year.[7]

Season 2023 - Record year for the club winning all the local silverware. The club started off with winning the Enemed Cup by beating rivals Sliema 11–8. The club won also the Winter League, Presidents Cup and the BOV Knock out competition in all occasions beating Sliema WPSC in the finals. In summer the club played the playoffs against Neptunes winning both games out of three to be declared the summer champions.

Season 2024 - The club continued were it left the previous years by starting off with winning 4 trophies. The enemed cup, the BOV winter cup, the sport malta cup, and presidents cup making in 11 trophies in a row for the balluta team.

Squad

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As of 30 January 2024:[8]

  •   Matthew Zammit (captain)
  •   Andreas Galea
  •   Ben Plumpton
  •   Aaron Younger
  •   Gabriel Bonavia
  •   Darren Zammit
  •   Jake Tanti
  •   Jake Bonavia
  •   Daniel Tully
  •   Nicholas Bugelli
  •   Nico Schiavone
  •   Gianluca Borg
  •   Russel Caruana
  •   Jeremy Abela
  •   Nathan Bonavia
  •   Shailon Cutajar

Head Coach: *  Zeljko Kovacic Team Manager: *  Silvio Borg Physio Therapist: *  Mark Spiteri

References

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  1. ^ "History – San Giljan ASC".
  2. ^ a b "Updated: San Giljan celebrate ninth waterpolo league victory, fourth double - the Malta Independent".
  3. ^ "DOUBLE CHAMPIONS 2015 – San Giljan ASC".
  4. ^ "ONE Group".
  5. ^ "Waterpolo: San Giljan crowned champions for 11th time - the Malta Independent".
  6. ^ "San Giljan beat Neptunes in KO final to score sixth double - the Malta Independent".
  7. ^ "San Giljan make 2022 a year to remember".
  8. ^ "Squad – San Giljan ASC".