Fadhil Yunus
The popularity of the local basketball scene has seen a rise, which is owed to the increased participation of newly-assembled teams and players and the continuity of decade-long tournaments as well as a throng of supporters flocking to the venues on a regular basis.
Besides football, basketball is a team sport which is actively and widely played on both the recreational and competitive level amid the occupancy of indoor and outdoor sports complexes and facilities.
For instance, the Menglait Sports Complex will often be filled by basketball enthusiasts during the late afternoons in a clear signal of huge interest among the community.
While football is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the country, it is worth noting that the Brunei has also seen international representation especially tournaments sanctioned by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
Recently, the national basketball team returned to the regional circuit following their participation in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2023 Qualifiers at the Singapore Sports Hub in Singapore.
The tournament served as a qualifier to the main draw alongside already-qualified entrants.
The winners of the main competition will earn a berth in one of the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments for Paris 2024.
Although Brunei slumped to consecutive defeats against Iran, Hong Kong and Malaysia, it marked a momentous occasion for the country who were making their maiden appearance in the competition.
The country showed a measure of individual talent despite the experience and quality of their opposition.
This was a positive step towards the right direction of gaining valuable experience and exposure that was previously limited to domestic tournaments.
The Brunei Basketball Association (BBA) – the national governing body responsible for affairs relating to basketball – has been encourageing and advocating the participation of youth as part of efforts in enhancing the development of the sport.
Their initiative in helping the sport reach greater heights has been further demonstrated with their participation in the upcoming Borneo Intercity Basketball Tournament in Labuan this weekend.
The association announced that they will be fielding teams in the men, women and veteran categories.
BBA Deputy President Lim Boon Teck said, “We feel excited to be back at the Borneo Intercity Basketball Tournament after three years. Our team have been preparing for the past months and we are confident of our chances.”
Meanwhile, popular domestic competitions such as the You-C1000 Basketball Cup have not only attracted supporters but also a series of good performances from numerous teams and dozens of players combined.
The Sultan Cup, which it was initially called during the early days of the sport in the country, can be dated back to the 1960s. It is held in conjunction with the birthday of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
During the opening ceremony of the tournament in June 2021, Lim said, “In the 60s and 70s, shops would close early so that people could get off work early in time to grab a seat at the court whenever this tournament was being held.”
“The tournament has been a permanent fixture in Brunei annual calendar and had been held uninterrupted for decades,” he added.
Another popular tournament in the country is the Low San Basketball Tournament which was made possible after the association forged a partnership with Proprietor of Low San Hardware Store Ong Tiong Oh in establishing the Low San Basketball Tournament.
The tournament also supported the association’s vision of promoting youth development and getting the best young players to be absorbed into the national team.
Additionally, besides competitions, the association is keen to enhance the knowledge of individuals specifically in sports performance following the future launch of the Sport Performance Specialist (SPS) Level 1 Workshop organised by BBA in collaboration with FIBA.
The workshop provides an understanding on strength and conditioning training which is essential to improve the overall athletic ability of basketball players and lessen the risk of injury.
The sessions will be led by Hani Assi as the programme instructor. He is currently a lecturer at the University of East London and the lead Strength & Conditioning Coach for the National Saudi Basketball programme.
