National women basketball coach Sze Yuin Yoong believes that her team could have played better despite beating the Scotland national team 67-64 at the Maba International Basketball Invitation in Kuala Lumpur.
“Today the team performance was below my expectations. The girls could have done better to be honest but a few of my key players were down with some injuries.
“They’ve played a very cautious game. But during the game, I told the players not to let their worries affect the game and I’m glad they maintained their focus and put their problems aside to win the tie.
“They’ve done well and I will be giving my second batches of players a chance to expose themselves while resting the seniors for tomorrow’s game,” said coach Sze.
Both sides showed an impressive battle from the start to the end of the first period at the Maba Stadium. With two minutes into the the first quarter, Scotland led by an eight-point margin (0-8).
But Malaysia turned the table around to an eight point cushion (21-13) with one minute remaining. The first period ended (21-18) with Scotland reducing the deficit to three.
The contest remained even for both sides keeping it a tight game to equal to 37-all in the second quarter. The third quarter continued on at a stalemate as well at 53-all.
The Malaysians finally had their break in the final four minutes with a five-point lead (64-59).
Scotland, however, kept their cool and managed to reduce the deficit to two with three free throws with one and a half minutes remaining.
It was in the last 24 seconds that Ting Chiau Teng extended the margin to four points (67-63). The match ended 67-64 at full time.
The top scorer for Malaysia was Yap Fook Yee and Pang Hui Pin who both scored 14 points each.
The national team will meet Taiwan’s Nan Shan High School as the final match for the event tomorrow. – BY ALVIN OH
