Brunei national cagers benefit from long rest

Yee Chun Leong

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, July 25, 2009

WITH the Sultan Cup basketball tournament postponed indefinitely due to Influenza A (H1N1), members of the national team are enjoying the long rest.

The team have been looking forward to the tournament organised by the Brunei Basketball Association, hoping to redeem themselves from last year's 97-86 loss in the final to Ilonggo Slashers held at the Brunei Basketball Association (BBA) court in Batu Bersurat.

Head coach Tony Tan said the national team haven't had much preparation due to lack of venue.

"We haven't been training because we haven't got a proper venue," said Tan. The BBA court where they usually practice is always fully-booked.

"Right now, the players are training on their own," he said.

The postponement of the annual tournament held in conjunction with His Majesty's Birthday celebrations also benefitted main player Esmond Tan, who is recovering from injury.

"The postponement is allowing time for my players to rest especially my main player Esmond Tan who is still nursing an ankle injury he sustained before we left for the Borneo Cup last month in Miri. But I'm glad that he's recovering well," said the coach.

Tony expects the Filipino teams to put up a strong challenge for his national team.

But he is optimistic that his team will be able to finish in the top four.

"I believe that my team is good enough to make it to at least the semi finals this year again," Tony said.

Point guard, Yap Chun Ping, shared the opinion of his coach regarding the advantage of the postponement.

"This is good because it is really giving me time to nurse my injuries especially my back and shoulder," said Yap.

"I hope that they won't delay the tournament for too long though as it can be seen that the numbers of infected for H1N1 have decreased in the country," added Yap.

The national team, representing Hyundai Setia Motors, had a successful campaign at the 2009 Belait Sultan's Cup earlier this month.

Banking on Jong Guo Zhang's buzzer-beating three-pointer, the national team defeated SKS Stingers 79-78 at the Kg Baru basketball court in Seria.

Courtesy of The Brunei Times