Stallions make it a five-horse race

25/09/1998

THE Malaysian Basketball League (MBL) will be a five-horse race this
season with the inclusion of Penang Stallions.
Ooi Khoon Yeong, a national player back in the 70s, begun a project to
revive basketball in the northern States of the peninsula in January, and
his dream has materialised.
"Earlier, we had thought of naming the team the Golden Horse but then
decided on Penang Stallions," said Ooi.
"This team will be made up of players from the northern States. The idea
is to give Penang players an avenue to compete actively in basketball."
Ooi, who is president of the Penang Basketball Association and a housing
developer by profession, received the green light from Malaysian Amateur
Basketball Association (Maba) president Datuk Loke Yuen Yow to form a
fifth team for the League.
The regulars are Selangor Dragons, Johor Tigers, Sarawak Hornbills and
Perak Red Eagles. The MBL will begin next month.
Maba have provided two foreign players, as the norm, to the Penang team
as well.
"Since this is the first time we would be taking part in the MBL, we
don't know the actual budget but the players can be rest assured that they
will be well taken care off. Stallions aim to mount a serious challenge in
the League."
Last season, Johor Tigers easily denied Perak Red Eagles a hattrick with
an 86-81 win for the overall title at Stadium Negara.
Johor then went on to beat the MBL All-Stars team 104-98 in an
exhibition match to clinch RM10,000.
Johor Tigers and Perak Red Eagles will start as joint favourites this
season.
(END)