The national women team have claimed a perfect four wins out of four to stand as overall champions after beating Taiwan’s Nan Shan High School at the Maba International Basketball Invitation in Kuala Lumpur.
But their opponents from Taiwan aren’t just any ordinary high school kids. According to Maba deputy secretary Sim Leong Kun, the Taiwan side has some surprises installed with three players from the professional scene.
With Malaysia fielding a mix of seniors and second batch players, the women national team had an even challenge in the first quarter leading by one point (21-20) at the Maba Stadium.
Their counterpart then stepped up a gear to lead by four points (21-25) just two and a half minutes into the game. But the Malaysians played a calm and collective game to overturn their deficit to an eight-point lead with two minutes remaining (39-31). The midway point ended at 39-33.
In the third quarter, the national team broke away after stretching the lead to what seems like an unassailable 17-point difference to end (60-43).
The Taiwanese side had threatened to hit back when they reduced the deficit to a 10 point margin after two minutes into the final quarter. But the Malaysians proved to be the superior side when they held on to the lead to win the game 73-63.
The topscorer for Malaysia was Chong Yin Yin scoring a total of 20 points. While Taiwan’s topscorer Pan Tzu-yin reeled in 17 points.
In the other match, the Scotland national team beat Taiwan’s Fo Guang University 80-67.
“I think the most important lesson in this tournament for the girls is confidence. Some of them have shown character throughout the games.
“The main objective is to expose them to the environment playing in front of the home crowd to cope with the stress and be mentally prepared for the coming SEA Games.
“And next for them are tougher opponents which will be challenging and a valuable experience for them,” said national coach Sze Yuin Yoong.
Yuin Yoong added that they will be heading to Taiwan next for a meet with three teams from the Chinese Taipei league which is expected to start on 18 July.
In addition they will also meet the likes of opponents from South Korea, Japan and France in another tournament from 25-30 July in Kaohsiung. – BY ALVIN OH
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