JOHOR Tigers who easily denied Perak Red Eagles their hat-trick of
Malaysian Basketball League (MBL) titles on Friday, will not have it easy
when they meet the MBL All-Stars at the Stadium Negara today (8.0pm).
"The Eagles are a good side, they can match their opponents point-for-
point but in the later stages of the game their defence denies them," said
Selangor Dragons coach Don Shipway.
Shipway should know for this is his third season with the MBL.
Shipway is of the opinion that although the Malaysians know how to
score, they don't know the basics of the game like when to make a pass,
when to hold on and when to defend.
"I was told that the local coaches have drilled these basics from time
and again, but when the players take to court, they forget everything."
In the MBL final on Friday, Perak Red Eagles were never out of sight of
the Tigers, they matched them in every aspect. In the dying minutes of the
game, the Tigers defended well but the Eagles left a gaping hole at the
back.
"A team can score 100 points in a match, but if they can't defend, they
will never make it big."
The other weak point, according to Shipway, is the height of the
players.
"If Malaysia want to make it big in the international scene, they must
have a few giants in their side."
The most improved players in the MBL are 19-year-olds K. Satyaseelan and
Fadlisyam Ismail. Last year, Satyaseelan was not even among the first
five.
"The foreign players and coaches are only here to lend a helping hand
and make the League more interesting. The local players must not rely on
them heavily and I am happy to note that this is not happening in the
MBL."
Oh Poh Aik of the Johor Tigers was a shining example in the final. He
scored five three-pointers and was the driving force behind Tigers'
success.
Tonight, Johor will undoubtedly be under tremendous pressure because
they will be facing a selection of the best from the other three teams in
the MBL, a true test for any team. The winners will get RM10,000 and the
runners-up RM5,000.
Most Promising MBL Players: Ng Joo Lay (Johor Tigers), K. Satyaseelan
(Perak Red Eagles) and Fadlisyam Ismail (Selangor Dragons).
TODAY: MBL All-Stars v Johor Tigers, Stadium Negara (8.0).
MBL All-Stars: Pero Cameron (Pk), Ron Nunnely (Sel), Yong Yoon Phin
(Pk), K. Satyaseelan (Pk), Toh Chin Thiam (Pk), Wong Tai Ong (Sel),
Fadlisyam Ismail (Sel), Loo Tee Wah (Sel), Ong Seng Huat (Sar), Chai Tze
Kiong (Sar). Team manager: Wong Siong Keng. Coaches: Tab Baldwin, Goh
Cheng Huat.
Johor Tigers: Ricky Cannon, George Butler, Teh Choon Yean, Oh Poh Aik,
Helbert Legada, Ng Joo Lay, Ng Chung Giat, Teo Wei Shen, Ng Soon Siong,
Chew Teck Chai. Coach: Brian Lester.
(END)
Malaysian Basketball League (MBL) titles on Friday, will not have it easy
when they meet the MBL All-Stars at the Stadium Negara today (8.0pm).
"The Eagles are a good side, they can match their opponents point-for-
point but in the later stages of the game their defence denies them," said
Selangor Dragons coach Don Shipway.
Shipway should know for this is his third season with the MBL.
Shipway is of the opinion that although the Malaysians know how to
score, they don't know the basics of the game like when to make a pass,
when to hold on and when to defend.
"I was told that the local coaches have drilled these basics from time
and again, but when the players take to court, they forget everything."
In the MBL final on Friday, Perak Red Eagles were never out of sight of
the Tigers, they matched them in every aspect. In the dying minutes of the
game, the Tigers defended well but the Eagles left a gaping hole at the
back.
"A team can score 100 points in a match, but if they can't defend, they
will never make it big."
The other weak point, according to Shipway, is the height of the
players.
"If Malaysia want to make it big in the international scene, they must
have a few giants in their side."
The most improved players in the MBL are 19-year-olds K. Satyaseelan and
Fadlisyam Ismail. Last year, Satyaseelan was not even among the first
five.
"The foreign players and coaches are only here to lend a helping hand
and make the League more interesting. The local players must not rely on
them heavily and I am happy to note that this is not happening in the
MBL."
Oh Poh Aik of the Johor Tigers was a shining example in the final. He
scored five three-pointers and was the driving force behind Tigers'
success.
Tonight, Johor will undoubtedly be under tremendous pressure because
they will be facing a selection of the best from the other three teams in
the MBL, a true test for any team. The winners will get RM10,000 and the
runners-up RM5,000.
Most Promising MBL Players: Ng Joo Lay (Johor Tigers), K. Satyaseelan
(Perak Red Eagles) and Fadlisyam Ismail (Selangor Dragons).
TODAY: MBL All-Stars v Johor Tigers, Stadium Negara (8.0).
MBL All-Stars: Pero Cameron (Pk), Ron Nunnely (Sel), Yong Yoon Phin
(Pk), K. Satyaseelan (Pk), Toh Chin Thiam (Pk), Wong Tai Ong (Sel),
Fadlisyam Ismail (Sel), Loo Tee Wah (Sel), Ong Seng Huat (Sar), Chai Tze
Kiong (Sar). Team manager: Wong Siong Keng. Coaches: Tab Baldwin, Goh
Cheng Huat.
Johor Tigers: Ricky Cannon, George Butler, Teh Choon Yean, Oh Poh Aik,
Helbert Legada, Ng Joo Lay, Ng Chung Giat, Teo Wei Shen, Ng Soon Siong,
Chew Teck Chai. Coach: Brian Lester.
(END)
