KUCHING: The table has been set for the Kuching Open women’s final at the MBKS Pending Stadium.
The final scheduled for next Wednesday will see Pest take on Wung Chen.
Pest, with a lineup that boasts a host of SUKMA-level players, had a relatively easy route to the final thus far.
They started their campaign with a low-key 44-32 victory over fellow finalist Wung Chen and then eased past Sparks 65-57 and will end their round robin stage with a match against CHMS No.1.
It is not a stretch to think they should finish as group winners with an unbeaten record as CHMS No.1 have not displayed the form that suggest they could beat them.
After opening with the loss to Pest, Wung Chen had rebounded with a thumping 60-19 victory over a raw CHMS No. 1 side and qualified for the final after beating Sparks on Friday.
With identical 1-1 records entering Thursday night’s match, both teams knew that whoever won the match would advance to the final.
It was Wung Chen that rose to the occasion, racing to a 21-6 lead by the end of the first quarter.
With several divisional-level players in their line-up, Wung Chen were in cruise control mode by the second quarter, scoring 13 points to Sparks’ 12 to end the first half 34-18 ahead.
On resumption, Wung Chen continued pressing Sparks to limit them to 11 points while outscoring them by three.
With a commanding 48-29 lead going into the last quarter, Wung Chen stepped on the accelerator, scoring 21 points to win 69-37.
Despite the lop-sided scoreline, Wung Chen’s coach Ng Kim Eng was not entirely satisfied with the way the team played.
“We really did not play that well. Both in the front and at the back. I really feel we did not play as well as we could have,” she said.
The final could be a case of familiarity breeds contempt even though Wung Chen would be out for redemption after their tourney-opening loss to Pest.
“We have played against Pest often, so we are familiar with them just as they know how we play,” coach Ng noted.
She hopes her players will play up to their potential.
“I’m hopeful the finals will let the players express themselves,”she said, adding that they were confident they could make the tournament finals.