The national netball team finished seventh in the 13th Asian Netball Championships (ANC) 2024 after defeating Maldives 53-41 in a playoff at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bangalore, India last weekend.
The national team, also called the Royal Bees, missed out on the fifth and sixth placing playoff match after a closely-fought 49-47 loss to the Philippines.
However, Brunei ensured a fourth victory in the continental meet after fending off stiff competition from the Maldivian opponents.
Maldives, who were beaten 50-40 by the Royal Bees in the 2022 edition, started quite well in the first couple of quarters but Brunei turned the tie in their favour when play resumed after half time.
The South Asian outfit took a 14-9 lead in the first quarter, giving Brunei some work to do to get back into the tie.
At the start of the second quarter, Maldives’ lead grew by six points but Brunei recovered and got back to outscore their opponents 14-10 in the second quarter.
Brunei’s revival kept them firmly in the tie as they closed the gap trailing just a point with Maldives only ahead with a slender 24-23 lead.
In a pivotal moment of the game, the Royal Bees stepped up a gear and found momentum in the third quarter as swift play saw them nudge ahead with the lead.
Coupled with creating pressure to force infringement and a great interception by the wing attack, national head coach Thilaka Jinadasa’s charges pulled even further.
With Brunei showing sharpness in their accuracy in attack, their defensive line proved equally effective as Hei Yien provided excellent cover with a stunning catch to deny Maldives the chance to end their dry goal run.
With the match long wrapped up, the goal defence intercepted a short pass in the dying seconds to prevent yet another shooting opportunity for Maldives.
The Maldives game also marked the 50th international cap for national goal-shooter Nur Hafizah Sidek.
Singapore won the title after defeating Sri Lanka 67-64 in a highly-entertaining final, breaking a ten-year wait for the trophy. – FADHIL YUNUS
