KUCHING: Sarawak failed to capture their fourth title in the boy’s competition of the 21st Maba-Milo Lum Mun Chak Cup National Under-16 basketball championship at SJK Chung Hua, Kota Bharu, Kelantan recently.
They lost 51-84 to a more balanced Selangor side who fielded taller players in the final. The score at half-time was 50-23.
In the preliminary round, Sarawak was also beaten 62-87 but they went on to win the next five games to mount a late charge into the final.
However, this was a better result as compared to last year in Negeri Sembilan where they finished in fourth place.
The Sarawak boys were champions in 2001, 2005 and 2010 and runners-up in 2000 and 2004.
Coach Ang Tek Kong expressed his satisfaction with the performance of his boys, saying that they lost to Selangor because they were playing under
pressure and made too many mistakes.
He also encouraged the four state junior cagers to attend selection trial cum training session for the national junior squad because it was a very good opportunity
for them to improve their standard.
They are Law Ong Hong, Siew Kun Zie, Lau Bik Jin and Tang Sing Ta.
Three girls from Sarawak, Tie Siew Wei, Khoo Yik Chi and Wong Yi Bing, were also chosen to attend the selection trial.
The state’s girl’s team, coached by Lim Hoon Eng, finished fourth after losing 54-67 to Selangor in the play-off.