2012 Holiday Season

Wishing Everyone a Safe and a Happy Holiday Season. More photos in our facebook fanpage here.

Read more...

Wisdom Jade rule 3-on-3 Challenge

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Monday, December 3, 2012

WISDOM JADE edged Easyway 17-16 to win the Open category in the fourth and final leg of the KFC Fitness Zone 3-on-3 Basketball Challenge at the Airport Mall in Berakas yesterday.

Jerold Pascua topscored with 12 points for Wisdom Jade while Soon Kian Leong finished with 10 for Easyway.

The four-man Filipino team got off to a hot start, taking a 5-0 lead before Easyway came back behind their hot shooting from the arc.

Wisdom Jade, made up of Elvin Requintin, Ernesto Espique, Jerold Pascua and Edward Mendez, continued to utilise their height and size in the low post to hold on and earn the victory.

It was sweet redemption for Wisdom Jade as they had lost to the same team 17-14 in the quarter-finals.

"We started out shooting really well at the start but we suffered from fatigue after having played much of the competition with only three players that allowed our opponents to come back," said Requintin in an interview with The Brunei Times after the win.

"We had to focus hard on defence and kept going into the low post to score to take the win. We are really satisfied and happy to win the competition," added Requintin, who finished second in the Slam Dunk competition.

On the other hand, Soon is looking at the positives of the outing despite losing the final.

"Overall it is all right and we were here for the experience. It is good for us to improve and we are looking forward to doing better in the next competition," said Soon. Read More…

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

Basketball clinics to nurture grassroots talent

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, December 1, 2012

THE day has finally arrived for Brunei basketball.

The Street Roc Mini-Ball Clinics will be launched tomorrow at the Airport Mall in Berakas.

Organised by Lava Media, the programme is catered for the 7-12-year-old age group. It is a 32-week programme and is structured on the school term so that there will be no conflict.

It has always been a priority for national basketball coach, Kevin Reece (pic), to start from the grassroots and he is expecting a good outcome for the launching set for 2pm.

"I'm expecting a large turnout of at least 30 kids. I think that it is a good number to start with for 7-12 year old because it has never been done before," said Reece in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.

"There will be some demonstration and drills to start things off. The programme will work mostly on the basics such as dribbling, passing and shooting," he added.

"There will be 16 weeks of intense drills and fun. After that we will be looking to starting a league for the group with matches and clinics held alternately with the remainder of the programme,"continued the American.

Reece is looking at the bigger picture and is looking to run the mini-ball for three years to see results.

"The main aim is to push grassroots basketball where the group has never been tapped. We want to be ready for the future competitions such as the SEA (Southeast Asian) Games," said Reece. Read More…

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

2012 FBA Builders Basketball Cup

More photos in our Facebook fanpage here.

Read more...

1st I-Nat Amateur Basketball Tournament

More photos in our Facebook fan page here. Check it out later.

Read more...

Welflex emerge champions

Jason Thomas
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, November 25, 2012

WELFLEX were crowned champions of the 1st I-Nat Amateur Basketball Tournament last night after easing to a 101-89 win against TSL Bulldogs in a match they dominated from start to finish with their fluid transition game and organised defence.

After beating the same opponents 103-75 in the group stage, it was probably too much to ask for an upset last night.

Racing to a 13-2 lead in the first few minutes of the championship decider at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat, Welflex used their size and speed to ensure a healthy advantage and ride out the win.

Welflex import Don Mordeno stole the show with a game-high 25 points and provided key contributions down the stretch. Glen Boongaling added 22 and Ed Mendoza 20.

Bulldogs' imports Geve Leones and Marjomar Aying netted 20 and 19 respectively, with Danilo Felicilda chipping in with 17.

A dominant force every time he steps on to the court, Leones netted 30 points the last time the two teams met and Welflex coach Michael Juan admitted that caging the Bulldogs' top player was their priority.

"We had a good start and the team played well on defence," explained Welflex coach Michael Juan.

"Our plan was to let Geve score but limit the others, and I think it worked.

"We let them score from the outside in the first quarter but we shut them down as the game progressed," said Juan, thanking manager Alfred Goh for his help throughout the tournament. Read More…

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

National c'ship next year?

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Continued on Page A35

Sunday, November 11, 2012

BRUNEI basketball fans can expect to see new developments on Brunei basketball in the near future.

FIBA (International Basketball Association) and FIBA Asia are expecting the Brunei Basketball Association (BBA) to organise the national championship starting next year.

FIBA Sports Director of Sport and Eligibility Lubomir Kotleba came to town and raised a number of issues during a general meeting with the BBA committee on Friday.

FIBA and FIBA Asia are hoping that the governing body of basketball in Brunei will be able to take a step forward and raise the standard of the sport in the country.

"The meeting with the BBA was very fruitful and the fact that the BBA participated at the meeting with their 11 top officials speaks for itself," Kotleba told The Brunei Times yesterday.

"FIBA and FIBA Asia now expects regular and reliable contacts with the BBA President and Secretary General," he added.

"The BBA will run, as of next season, the national championship (not ad-hoc tournaments) played regularly over the entire basketball season," continued the Slovakian.

Having a national championship is a step towards preparing for something bigger FIBA international competitions.

Brunei has been absent in international competitions for years.

Their last FIBA competition was the TOA Thailand Open Phuket Championship 2012 in September but that was only on a club level.

FIBA and FIBA Asia hope that the BBA will register its team for the next FIBA Asia Sub-Zone championship. Read More…

 

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

BBA under FIBA scrutiny

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, November 10, 2012

THE Brunei Basketball Association (BBA) will have to clean up their act after years of poor organisation.

FIBA (International Basketball Association) Sports Director of Sport and Eligibility Lubomir Kotleba (pic) was in Brunei and he brought up a number of issues during a general meeting with the BBA committee yesterday.

Kotleba raised questions on why FIBA tournaments were not organised in the Sultanate, adding that the national team have not participanted in any international FIBA tournaments in years.

Their last FIBA competition was the TOA Thailand Open Phuket Championship 2012 in September but that was only on a club level.

Even the issue on funding for the BBA for development was discussed.

It was made known that the BBA only receives funding through the government on an annual basis and not from other sources.

Kotleba felt that the BBA was not doing enough to secure more local sponsorships.

He then revealed that there are seven out of 212 countries without any FIBA referees and Brunei is one of them.

The sports director added that the Sultanate is also the only one without a FIBA certified referee in the whole of Asia. Read More…

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

KFC's Chicky Oppa Gangnam Style: KFC-Fitness Zone 3on3 Streetball Challenge

KFC's mascot Chicky version of gangnam style during the KFC-Fitness Zone 3on3 Streetball Challenge.

Read more...

Meet The Stars: KFC/Fitness Zone 3on3 Tournament

Meet the PBA Stars! Erwin Velez, Christian Calagio and Mark Telan.

Read more...

Schedule: 2012 PESTA SUKAN KEBANGSAAN (National Sports Festival)

The 2012 PESTA SUKAN KEBANGSAAN KE X BASKETBALL SCHEDULE can be found here.

Read more...

21st ASEAN Veteran Basketball Invitational Tournament

The 40-above game between The Brunei Basketball Associacion (BBA) and The Filipino Chinese Veteran Basketball Association (FCVBA) at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas. FCVBA defeated BBA, 86-55. (click photo to enlarge.)

Read more...

Updates - 3on3 Street Basketball Challenge is back!

Check out the photo above Brunei's own famous actor and model Wu Chun and NBA superstart Kobe Bryant.

Read more...

Cold Storage red hot in GHK trophy

Yee Chun Leong
TUTONG

Thursday, August 16, 2012

CS COLD Storage completed a sweep of Group B of the Goh Hock Kee (GHK) Trophy Men's Basketball Tournament with a 71-63 comeback win over LSL Chainblock last night at the Tutong Chung Hwa Middle School Basketball court in Tutong.

In what was their fourth straight win, three players hit double figures for the favourites of the competition with Lim Liang Wei pouring in a game-high of 29 points. Leong Ming Seng also had good output with 18 points while Khoo Chin Kai chipped in 12 in the victory.

Chainblock showcased a balanced offence with five players notching double figures.

Leonard Ong was the topscorer of the team with 14 points. Ting Nin added 12 points while the duo of Teck Chong and Herculanus Ong each chipped in 11 points. Hii Wei had 10 points to his name in the loss.

Cold Storage started slowly while their opponents went right to work to attack the basket. They opened up a 15-5 lead going into the second quarter.

Leong, who had 14 second quarter points, had the hot hands shooting the ball for Cold Storage.

Chainblock lost their lead soon enough and trailed 31-30 at halftime.

It was a low scoring affair after the break as neither team could put the ball through the hoop.

The scoreboard read 36-32 in favour of Cold Storage midway through the stanza before Chainblock picked up the defence to go on a 10-0 run.

But Cold Storage would close out the 10-minute frame strongly to get back in front 47-46 going into the fourth period. Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

NVP prove too much for GS Cafe

Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

GS CAFE suffered a blow to their chances of qualifying to the next stage of the Goh Hock Kee (GHK) Trophy Men's Basketball Tournament as they fell to NVP 78-48 at the Tutong Chung Hwa Middle School Basketball court in Tutong yesterday.

It was GS Cafe third straight defeat in the tournament after losing to TEPB OPP in their second game and Chevrolet Spark in the opener.

NVP started the game off brilliantly applying full court pressure and managed to gain 19 points in the first quarter.

They were cutting to the basket and scoring easy points from inside the paint because of their physical advantage.

GS Cafe had no solution to NVPs Kelvin Tong, as he helped clean the boards and assisted his teammates to score easily from under the basket.

NVP were the better side and they were going after every loose ball and were hauling down rebounds both on the offensive and defensive ends of the court.

With NVP leading 55-21 in the third quarter with six minutes to play, GS Café went on to score 11 points run to help cut the deficit to 28 points. But NVP quickly struck back taking it up a notch to end the third quarter 60-32.  Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

CS Cold Storage keep 100% record

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

CS Cold Storage made it three out of three after defeating Flex-link Enterprise 65-59 in Group B of the Goh Hock Kee (GHK) Trophy Men's Basketball Tournament last night at the Tutong Chung Hwa Middle School Basketball court in Tutong.

With only eight players available for the game, Khoo Chin Kai produced the goods at the offensive end for Cold Storage with a game-high of 24 points including five treys. Lim Liang Wei also finished in double figures with 17 points to his name in the triumph.

On the other hand, Tan Ye Wei led the way for Flex-Link with 14 points while the duo of Lee Huat Beng and Justin Yong added 10 points each in a losing effort.

Khoo got to work early and finished with 10 points in the opening frame. He was nailing his shots from the outside that helped Cold Storage take an 18-16 lead into the second quarter.

Flex-Link were getting the ball into the paint work with their size advantage. They were also covering Lim well to prevent him from being as effective on offence. It was a low-scoring affair in the second period as Cold Storage remained infront 24-22 at halftime. Neither team could break away. Flex-Link were facing problems with several players being hit with foul trouble. Lim got to work on offence for eight points in the quarter but their advantage was 42-41 heading into the final stanza.

Cold Storage picked up on defence in the last 10-minute frame and they were forcing turnovers to score on the break. Flex-Link were still within reach midway through the last period but it was not enough for them to close the gap as they fell to their first loss in the competition. Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

TEPB OPP pick up second straight win

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Monday, August 13, 2012

TEPB OPP picked up their second straight win in Group A of the Goh Hock Kee (GHK) Trophy Men's Basketball Tournament with a 66-56 victory over GS Café last night at the Tutong Chung Hwa Middle School Basketball court in Tutong.

Three players hit double figures for TEPB with Edwin Lee leading the way with a team-high of 17 points. The duo of Leslie Chia and Jong Guo Zhang added 12 and 10 points respectively in the victory.

On the other hand, Keegan Khoo had the game-high of 24 points to pace GS Café while Champ added 16 points to a losing cause.

The match was slow paced in the opening period and it was TEPB who were using their size advantage to score. They were getting the ball down low to Lee, who had eight points in the opening period, to open up a 17-11 lead going into the second quarter.

TEPB were rotating their bench and it allowed their opponents to come back. GS Café were running the break and were also getting their shots to fall to close the deficit to 27-26 at halftime.

TEPB would go back to their key players and were getting the ball into the paint. They were getting high percentage shots. Khoo kept GS Café in the game with 13 points in the period but his team trailed 52-45 entering the final quarter. Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

The Finals: 2012 Sultan's Cup

more photos in our facebook fan page here.

Read more...

Easyway etch name in Cup's history

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, August 5, 2012

IT WAS history in the making for the national basketball team last night. Playing under the banner of Easyway, they became the first national side to win back-to-back titles in the Sultan's Cup after defeating the Wisdom Jade Daycare Wildcats 104-92 in the final at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat.

Esmond Tan, who missed the last two games due to a back strain, finished with a team-high of 25 points and seven rebounds. Captain Ben Sim also had good output with 19 points and nine rebounds while Po Yung Hui added 16 points and five assists.

Big man Muhd Zainul Ashyraf Hj Hussin was shy of a triple-double with 10 points, 10 boards and seven blocks. Point guards Choo Yung Jian and Lim Aik Hock got everyone involved with eight assists each to their name in the triumph.

On the other side, five players hit double figures for the Wildcats with the high flying Geve Leones finishing with a game-high of 31 points. Danilo Felicilda added 17 and Gilbert Caranza contributed 15 points. Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

Underdogs Wildcats eye upset win

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, August 4, 2012

ONE win stands in the way of the defending champions.

Easyway, who are made up of the national cagers, will face the Wisdom Jade Daycare Wildcats in the final of the Sultan Cup today at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat.

They have progressed through the tournament with ease, winning seven consecutive matches by double-digit margins, in fact, by an average of almost 35 points per game.

They are the favourites in the matchup once again, having beaten the Wildcats 85-63 in the second round on Tuesday.

The key to Easyway's success has been their stingy defence.

In their first encounter, they limited sharpshooter Danny Felicilda and high-flying Filipino Geve Leones to 12 and 11 points respectively.

However, Easyway coach Kevin Reece, who is also the national basketball coach, believes that it will be a whole different ball game. Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

It's Easyway vs Wildcats for the crown

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, August 3, 2012

EASYWAY are through to the final of the Sultan's Cup competition after a 113-89 drubbing over the SGTB Dragons in the semi-finals last night at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat.

The team comprising players on the national squad will contest for the crown against Wisdom Jade Daycare Wildcats, who defeated MK Primo Jaya 101-75 in the other semi-final match.

Ben Sim got things done at the offensive end for Easyway with a game-high of 31 points with just two full quarters of playing time.

Centre Muhd Zainul Ashyraf Hj Hussin also had huge contributions with a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Point guard Choo Yung Jian added a double-double to his name with 15 points and 10 assists while Po Yung Hui filled up the stats sheet with 13 points, 12 boards, six dimes and six steals.

Soon Kian Leong was the other cager in double figures with 12 points including seven steals.

Vincent Superio led the way for the Dragons with 29 points while Noel Grail added 20, courtesy of six treys.

Aries Castro was the only other cager to notch double figures with 15 points in the loss. Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

Veteran cagers from the region set to light up Brunei courts

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, August 3, 2012

ALL green lights are go for the 21st ASEAN Veteran Basketball Invitational Tournament.

The Brunei Basketball Association (BBA) yesterday announced that they will be hosting the regional competition for the first time from August 23-26.

Six countries Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and hosts Brunei will compete for top honours in the competition, to be played at both the Indoor Stadium and the Multipurpose Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.

A total of three categories 40-year-old and above, 50-year-old and above and 60-year-old and above will be contested at the annual tournament.

The Sultanate only took part in the former two and finished fourth and fifth respectively in the competition last year.

Being the hosts, they will be participating in all three categories this year and vice-chairman of the Brunei Basketball Association (BBA), Khoo Eng Cheong, feels that the national cagers are ready to go. Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

Semis see explosive duels

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

IS THERE any real challenge for Easyway?

The Sultan's Cup has reached the semi-finals and the defending champions, who are made up of the national cagers, have made it to the top-four with relative ease.

They are on a rampage and are the only team without a loss to their name in the annual competition.

They have won six straight and more impressively with an average margin of 36.5 points.

The Wisdom Jade Daycare Wildcats, who were unbeaten then, were the closest to Easyway after losing 85-63 in Group A of the second round at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat on Monday night.

Clearly the favourites of the tournament, Easyway have been relying on their defence to get the work done. Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

Easyway tame Wildcats

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

BEFORE last night's match there were two, but now there is only one.

Easyway who have the national cagers on their roster are now the only unbeaten team in the Sultan's Cup after blowing away Wisdom Jade Daycare Wildcats 85-63 in Group A of the tournament's second round at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat last night.

In what was their sixth consecutive victory before heading into the semi-finals, three players hit double figures for the "national side", who were without Esmond Tan due to a back strain.

Captain Ben Sim had a productive game with a game-high of 28 points including six rebounds. Big man Muhd Zainul Ashyraf Hj Hussin had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds while Soon Kian Leong added his own with 10 points and 10 boards to his name in the triumph.

The strong defence by Easyway limited the offence of the big-three for the Wildcats. Danny Felicilda had the team-high of 13 points while Geve Leones and Ronnel Sugnan added 12 and 10 points respectively in a losing effort. Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

Sultan Cup enters 2nd round

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, July 28, 2012

THE Sultan's Cup started out with 15 teams but only the elite survived.

Just six teams separated into two groups remain for the second round of the annual tournament, scheduled to tip off today at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat.

Group A is made up of the defending champions, the national team playing under the banner of Easyway, together with SYSB and Wisdom Jade Daycare Wildcats.

Welflex Engineering, SGTB Dragons and MK Primo Jaya are in Group B.

Five of the six are Filipino teams, once again showing their superiority in the sport in the Sultanate.

Two matches will be contested today and the first pits Welflex against the Dragons. The second game will see Easyway go up against SYSB.

All eyes will be on the second game as Easyway, who have won four straight with an average of 39.5 points, are favourites to make it all the way this year.

They are a much stronger lineup especially with the addition of Esmond Tan and Lim Aik Hock as opposed to last year.

However, Tan hasn't been up to his full potential, having missed several matches during the group stages due to work commitments. Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

Easyway win with impressive display of defence

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, July 29, 2012

EASYWAY sent out a message to their contenders with a showcase of watertight defence.

The national basketball team demolished SYSB 88-49 in Group A of the second round of the Sultan's Cup last night at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat.

Five players hit double figures for Easyway with Yap Chun Ping leading the way with 17 points including five three-pointers. Point guard Choo Yung Jian flirted with a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists while captain Ben Sim added 14 points. Muhd Zainul Ashyraf Hj Hussin had a double-double with 13 points and 12 boards while Kevin Tay chipped in 10 points and six rebounds in the victory.

Elmer Alburo scored in double figures for SYSB with 11 points to a losing cause. More importantly, Easyway kept SYSB main players Elvin Requintin and Apollo Bibat to only four and three points respectively.

Easyway came out playing man-to-man lockdown defence. They were not giving their opponents any open looks and were playing good help defence. Muhd Zainul Ashyraf was blocking shots and it was only a minute left in the opening period that Alburo connected on a jumpshot that saw SYSB trailing 13-2 going into the second quarter.

The match was a physical one with the referees letting go of some calls. It was still within reach for SYSB as their opponents were not making easy baskets. The lead was cut down to six points but Easyway had five straight points, all coming from the freethrow line, to end the period for a 34-23 advantage at halftime.

National basketball coach, Kevin Reece, had every reason to be all smiles after the lopsided win. "We played good defence and we didn't allow them to score. I'm very pleased with our defence and we hope to continue to get better. We don't care who on our team scores but everyone stepped up especially our bench," said Reece in an interview with The Brunei Times after the triumph. Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

Easyway win with impressive display of defence

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, July 29, 2012

EASYWAY sent out a message to their contenders with a showcase of watertight defence.

The national basketball team demolished SYSB 88-49 in Group A of the second round of the Sultan's Cup last night at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat.

Five players hit double figures for Easyway with Yap Chun Ping leading the way with 17 points including five three-pointers. Point guard Choo Yung Jian flirted with a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists while captain Ben Sim added 14 points. Muhd Zainul Ashyraf Hj Hussin had a double-double with 13 points and 12 boards while Kevin Tay chipped in 10 points and six rebounds in the victory.

Elmer Alburo scored in double figures for SYSB with 11 points to a losing cause. More importantly, Easyway kept SYSB main players Elvin Requintin and Apollo Bibat to only four and three points respectively.

Easyway came out playing man-to-man lockdown defence. They were not giving their opponents any open looks and were playing good help defence. Muhd Zainul Ashyraf was blocking shots and it was only a minute left in the opening period that Alburo connected on a jumpshot that saw SYSB trailing 13-2 going into the second quarter. Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...

Easyway win with impressive display of defence

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, July 29, 2012

EASYWAY sent out a message to their contenders with a showcase of watertight defence.

The national basketball team demolished SYSB 88-49 in Group A of the second round of the Sultan's Cup last night at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat.

Five players hit double figures for Easyway with Yap Chun Ping leading the way with 17 points including five three-pointers. Point guard Choo Yung Jian flirted with a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists while captain Ben Sim added 14 points. Muhd Zainul Ashyraf Hj Hussin had a double-double with 13 points and 12 boards while Kevin Tay chipped in 10 points and six rebounds in the victory.

Elmer Alburo scored in double figures for SYSB with 11 points to a losing cause. More importantly, Easyway kept SYSB main players Elvin Requintin and Apollo Bibat to only four and three points respectively. Read More...

Source: The Brunei Times

Read more...