| Fadhil Yunus |
BRUNEI Darussalam national netball coach Thilaka Jinadasa stressed the importance on improving the success rate of centre passes despite seeing her charges romped to a 78-21 victory over the Sri Lanka School team in the second game of the friendly series at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex last night.
The national team is still way short of their target of 80 per cent success rate in centre pass having only managed 62 per cent though Jinadasa will not be heavily concerned with the shooting which have improved.
“We target the centre passes of around 80 per cent but we ended on 62 per cent,” Jinadasa revealed in an interview with the Bulletin.
Having made a limit number of passes under a certain timeframe, the head coach has planned not to exceed four passes which however did not go according to plan as the side manufactured six.
The national coach highlighted that her players need to be strict with their strategy and called for decision-making while keeping options covering straight, parallel and back options open.
“We were not strict with our strategy because we’ve planned the centre passes the maximum three to four passes but the second quarter for centre pass we did six passes”, she continued.
“It’s like we’re hesitant to go on with their strategy which means they challenged us on these centre passes compared to yesterday”.
The national team’s shooting rate has improved considerably compared to previous years.
Players in action during the friendly series
Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah in a group photo with the National Netball team and Sri Lanka School team. – PHOTOS: KHAIRIL HASSAN
“When they’re under pressure, they always hesitate and they have 60-70 per cent but I don’t mind with the shooting percentage because they’re all around 75 per cent”.
The Royal Bees met their turnovers target of 70 per cent with 72 per cent in their last outing against the Sri Lankan juniors.
“My worry is about the centre passes. We need to really work on with our own centre passes and shoot straight away without the need for turnovers,” the netball coach stressed.
The netball coach said that they could not afford the same dilemma in their centre passes if they were to meet Asian level opposition.
“To manage the score, we need to score our centre passes. That is the strategy that I want to be strict.
“We may be doing different training after rest day so I want to see a different ball game at least to improve from 62 per cent on the next game’s centre passes”.
However, Jinadasa believed they can improve on their centre pass rate before the end of the six-game series which will conclude on Monday.
The national team have a new defensive look following the absence of two players but Jinadasa will be looking at the positives of her current players.
Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah was also present during the friendly series.
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