| James Kon |
REPRESENTATIVES of the Brunei national team have a better chance of winning in the 20th Borneo City Basketball Invitation Tournament held at the Batu Bersurat basketball court, said Brunei Coach Wong Yee Chai.
He made the statement during an interview with the Bulletin.
“Our team has a better balance of youth and experienced players. We have a better chance to win the tournament this year. Seven of the players participated in the SEABA Pre-Qualifier for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup,” said Wong Yee Chai.
In last year’s Borneo City Basketball Invitation Tournament, Brunei only managed to grab second place in the men’s category while the veteran team placed fourth and the women team placed third.
The tournament, which concludes on July 8, is divided into three categories – Men, Women and Veteran.
Participants will compete for the Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam Challenge Trophy for the men category, Tan Che Eu Challenge Trophy for the women category and Dato Dr Yee Moh Chai Challenge Trophy for the veteran category.
Speaking on the veteran team, he said, “Our veteran team is also looking good and ready for the competition. I am confident they can win the trophy this year.”
The annual tournament aims to promote basketball and strengthen ties among participants. Teams from Miri, Labuan and Kota Kinabalu are also participating.
Brunei and Miri will compete in all categories while Labuan will only participate in the men and veteran categories and Kota Kinabalu in the women category.
The Brunei ladies team will face Miri at 3pm while the Brunei veteran team will play against Labuan at 5pm. After the opening at 6.30pm, the Brunei men team will play against the Labuan team at 6.45pm.
National men team lineup: Lim Aik Hock, ChooYung Jian, Tan Kun Hor, Darren Yapp, Soon Kian Liang, Han Ming Kwang, Khoo Chin Kai, Lim Chee Chuan, Jake Chong Kah Hou, Onn Jen Hao, Benjamin Norman Sim and Shim Jan Ting.
National women team lineup: Siti Faizah binti Awang Azni, Venessa Pang Li Thuan, Wong Kung Hui, Chloe Chen Pei Yi, Nur Marsya binti Mohd Rashidi, Nahdatul Simaa binti Haji Sabtu, Nardah binti Haji Meraj, Dayangku Normawara Shikin binti Pengiran Ali, Gabrielle Chin Siew Li, Yu Sze Tee, Nuraqmal Nadia Norhana binti Ibrahim Noor and Jong Yee Ling.
National Veteran team lineup: Chung Kok Meng, Lim Fung, Wong Jun Fatt, Sidney Goh, Fong Boon Gi, Kenny Lim, Yam Wan Fung, Liu Kun Shyong, Ho Hee Lee, Fong Yeh Leong, Lim Boon Teck and Goh Hock Lai.