ON THE DOUBLE : The victorious Sibu boys and girls teams with team technical chairman Kong Chiong Hui (left), girls coach Toh Wee Kiung (second left) and boys coach Hu Kuok Ai (left). — Photo by Chai Chang Yu
KUCHING: Sibu captured both the boys and girls titles at the Sarawak Schools Sports Council (MSSS) U18 Basketball Championship that ended at the Kota Sentosa Basketball Stadium here on Thursday.
The Sibu girls beat Kuching 38-22 for their third consecutive championship in the inter-division meet while the boys were 57-44 winners over Miri to clinch the title which they also won last year.
The Sibu boys who displayed better teamwork and skills to overcome a game Miri team in the final were worthy champions having disposed of their opponents in the earlier rounds.
They beat Bintulu 62-41 in the semi-finals after topping the Group A competition.
Bintulu came in third after beating Kuching 55-42 in the play-off match for third/fourth placings.
The other teams in the boys section were Sarikei and Samarahan.
Meanwhile, the game for the girls final was even in the first two quarters with both teams tied at 12-12 at half-time.
However, Kuching girls seemed to lose focus and committed numerous errors in the final two quarters and the Sibu girls were quick to capitalise on this to cruise to a 16 point victory.
Third was Miri who beat Sarikei 50-44 in the play-off match.
Samarahan finished last in the five-team contest.
MSSM Samarahan secretary Clement Chong gave away the trophies and medals on behalf of the Simunjan District Education Officer Dr Azhar Ahmad.
Eleven boys and 12 girls were also short listed for selection to the Sarawak squad which will take part in the MSSM U18 Basketball Championship in Penang from June 2-8.