20/11/1997
JOHOR Tigers are strongly tipped to wrest the title from defending
champions Perak Red Eagles in the Malaysian Basketball League grand final
at Stadium Negara tomorrow.
The final is expected to be an explosive affair as the champions will
not only pocket the RM100,000 top prize but also have a crack at another
RM10,000 payout if they beat an MBL All-Star selection on Sunday.
Tomorrow's runners-up will get RM50,000 while RM5,000 will be awarded to
the losing side on Sunday.
As a curtain-raiser to the Tigers-Red Eagles clash, Selangor Dragons and
Sarawak Hornbills will meet in the third place playoff.
Announcing this at a Press conference yesterday, Malaysia Basketball
Association secretary-general Yeoh Choo Hock said the weekend's action
will also act as the base for selecting national players for centralised
training next year.
He warned that players who refuse national call-ups will be barred from
playing in the MBL.
Yeoh added that Maba would be selecting a team manager, a foreign and a
local coach to manage the MBL All-Stars.
"The All-Stars will have two foreign players - one from the runners-up
and the other from the other two teams."
The quota for local players is three from the runners-up; three from the
third-placed team; and two from the fourth-placed team.
Fans can purchase their tickets at RM20, RM10 and RM5 at the Maba office
or Stadium Negara on match days.
The excitement off court is expected to be just as rewarding as a Proton
Wira awaits five lucky fans who will be called to test their skills -
scoring from centre court.
TOMORROW - Third place playoff: Selangor Dragons v Sarawak Hornbills
(7.0); Grand final: Johor Tigers v Perak Red Eagles (9.0m) - both at
Stadium Negara.
SUNDAY: MBL Champions v MBL All-Stars (8.0, Stadium Negara).
(END)
