MABA: We need foreign players

15/10/1998

THE FA of Malaysia have said they no longer require the services of
foreign players. The Malaysian Amateur Basketball Association (MABA),
however, beg to differ.
Each of the five teams in the Malaysian Basketball League (MBL) have two
foreign players selected by former Selangor Dragons coach Brian Lester
from the Australian leagues to strengthen their game and this has been
going on since the inception of the MBL in 1994.
"Although it is a costly exercise, the League still needs the services
of foreign players to boost the confidence of the locals. If for nothing
else, we need the pros for their height," said MBL general manager Tan See
Wah.
Height is something that the Malaysian cagers don't have and according
to Tan, it used to be the stumbling block whenever the cagers donned
national colours.
"There used to be this fear of height when the national team played
against the Philippines and other Asian countries. But after playing
alongside tall foreigners for the past four years, they have overcome this
psychological problem," said Tan.
Players like Johor's Chris Sneed and George Butler and Perak's Derrik
Leak could be seen constantly encouraging the local players to go for the
basket on their own.
And when Butler was asked why he didn't score an easy basket but passed
the ball to another local player during the match against Sarawak
Hornbills, he declared: "I am not here to win matches, I am here to teach
the locals."
The locals have also started scoring points and instead of depending on
the foreigners to win matches for them. The statistics for the first and
second legs indicate this encouraging trend.
"In almost all the matches in the preliminaries, the combined totals of
the locals are more than the two foreign players in the team. This is a
good sign because previously, the locals used to shy from scoring and
depend on the foreigners.
"Mah Poh Chuan of the Penang Stallions is one of the most improved
locals in the League.
"His three pointers saved the blushes for Penang who beat Selangor
Dragons in overtime for their first three points in the League. That is
the kind of improvement the foreign players have brought with them."
MABA had plans to send some of the top players to Australia but due to
lack of funds, the plan was shelved.
"Next year, if the financial situation improves, we will send some of
the players overseas so that they can have a first-hand experience of
playing and training with the juniors in Australia. Only then can they
know which department they lack in."
(END)