PERAK Red Eagles coach, Tab Baldwin knows it will be uphill all the way
against the Johor Tigers in the Malaysian Basketball League (MBL) Finals
today, but he is confident of a win.
"Nobody gave the Eagles a ghost of a chance when the League started
because we lost three influential players," said Baldwin.
Wong Tai Ong left for the Selangor Dragons while Chai Swee Lee and Yap
Yue Nam ventured into business and lost interest in the sport.
"This just goes to show that basketball is a team sport and there is no
place for individual stars," said the coach who has won two MBL titles
with the Eagles.
The Eagles beat Dragons on both ocassions and today, the Tigers stand in
their way to the RM100,000 purse.
On the other side of the court, Johor coach Bryan Lester is not willing
to throw in the towel yet: "If the players maintain their form, I know
that the Tigers can steal the MBL title from the Eagles."
But the coach is especially vary of Perak's K. Satyaseelan ability to
score points.
"He is one of the most improved players in the League, I am sure he will
be an asset to Malaysia in future," said Bryan.
The foreign coaches in the MBL only get one week before the League to
assemble a team and break in the imports: "I know I speak for all the
foreign coaches when I say that the the development of basketball in
Malaysia is the work of the local coaches, we just top the icing" said
Baldwin.
Malaysia Basketball Association (Maba) secretary-general Yeoh Choo Hock
is not in the least bothered about who wins the MBL final. He is more than
happy to note that the League has started to bear results.
"When we started MBL, the purpose was to make sure that Malaysia have a
steady pool to represent the nation and we have achieved that," said Yeoh.
Meanwhile, Maba will organise a walk-in clinic for Under-18 cagers
tomorrow at 10am. The foreign coaches in the MBL will be on court to
assist the cagers.
(END)
against the Johor Tigers in the Malaysian Basketball League (MBL) Finals
today, but he is confident of a win.
"Nobody gave the Eagles a ghost of a chance when the League started
because we lost three influential players," said Baldwin.
Wong Tai Ong left for the Selangor Dragons while Chai Swee Lee and Yap
Yue Nam ventured into business and lost interest in the sport.
"This just goes to show that basketball is a team sport and there is no
place for individual stars," said the coach who has won two MBL titles
with the Eagles.
The Eagles beat Dragons on both ocassions and today, the Tigers stand in
their way to the RM100,000 purse.
On the other side of the court, Johor coach Bryan Lester is not willing
to throw in the towel yet: "If the players maintain their form, I know
that the Tigers can steal the MBL title from the Eagles."
But the coach is especially vary of Perak's K. Satyaseelan ability to
score points.
"He is one of the most improved players in the League, I am sure he will
be an asset to Malaysia in future," said Bryan.
The foreign coaches in the MBL only get one week before the League to
assemble a team and break in the imports: "I know I speak for all the
foreign coaches when I say that the the development of basketball in
Malaysia is the work of the local coaches, we just top the icing" said
Baldwin.
Malaysia Basketball Association (Maba) secretary-general Yeoh Choo Hock
is not in the least bothered about who wins the MBL final. He is more than
happy to note that the League has started to bear results.
"When we started MBL, the purpose was to make sure that Malaysia have a
steady pool to represent the nation and we have achieved that," said Yeoh.
Meanwhile, Maba will organise a walk-in clinic for Under-18 cagers
tomorrow at 10am. The foreign coaches in the MBL will be on court to
assist the cagers.
(END)
