Johari confident state non-Chinese basketball team will deliver at nationals

KUCHING: Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg is confident the young and balanced Sarawak team can achieve a good result at this year’s Maba-Petronas Cup National Non-Chinese Basketball Championship in Muar, Johor from July 12-18.

The Housing Minister    said the team were well-prepared and had a good mix of Indian, Malay and Dayak players.

“The good combination of height and age as well as       the blend of ethnic players add strength to the team and I’m confident they can do well,” he said when presenting the state flag to the team at SBA Indoor Training Stadium, Jalan Seng Goon Garden here Tuesday night.

While giving words of encouragement to the players, Johari also advised them to display a high level of discipline, morale and team spirit during the competition.

“You must think big and say you all can do it. Do not concede easily. If we cannot finish as the champions, number two will also do,” he said.

Sarawak did not send any team to last year’s championship. They placed 10th out of 12 teams in 2007.

Johari said winning was about how well the players were prepared and united to face the challenge and how well they played to their strategies.

“I’m sure your standard is not far behind that of players from the other states and I hope you can show you are a team we can be proud of,” he added.

Team coach Chan Shun Gak, who is also the team manager, also expressed confidence of a good showing this year.

“I have been coaching the boys for the past two weeks and they have worked very hard. Their discipline and morale are high and they have good team spirit,” he said.

“I see a different team this year. They are young and strong and hopefully we can have some of the players to play in our Sukma squad,” he added.

The players are Mohamad Hilal Jalal who is 169cm in height, Abang Mohd Elna Affiizi Abang Let (182), Mohammad Afiq Julaihi (164), Devaraj Shanmugam (183), Robert Bellarmine Dobby (172, captain), Mohd Jainiarudin Zainiar (183), Mohd Afifi Tahar (188), Nur Syam Sa’aep (173), Zaiduddin Adam (174), Mohamad Handam Sirat (174), Moha Kamizan Rajan (172) and Mahmud Suhaili (188).

Also at the ceremony, Lea Sports Centre handed over the sponsorship of jerseys to the team. The company was represented by sales executive Queenie Chang, and advertising and promotion administrative assistant Ivy Choo.

Among those present were Sarawak Basketball Association (SBA) chairman Ho Chin Shin, secretary-general Ho Min Sui, executive secretary Tan Kok Hin and Kuching Division Basketball Association chairman Peter Ho.