Six teams are competing in the Belait District Basketball Association’s annual Aewon Basketball Challenge Cup 2024, which kicked off on August 9 at the New Village basketball court in Seria.
The tournament’s opening ceremony on August 14 was officiated by Acting Belait District Officer Haji Amirol Hafidzin bin Haji Muhammad, as the guest of honour, and was welcomed by the association chairman Koo Kong Loi.
The participating teams are T Best, Megalift, Digimark, Spice Treasure, Natural Born Thrillers and Air Ballers.
In his opening speech, the Aewon Brunei managing director’s personal assistant, Ethan Lim, highlighted that these tournaments help to hone the skills of talented basketball players in the Belait District while fostering sportsmanship and camaraderie.
Haji Amirol Hafidzin also expressed his enthusiasm for the sport, noting his long-standing passion for basketball, which he has maintained alongside his official duties. He hopes the annual tournament will inspire more players to develop their skills through friendly competition.
The event continued with the first match of the night, where Spice Treasure faced off against Natural Born Thrillers. Despite falling behind in the first two quarters, Spice Treasure rallied in the final quarter to secure an 87-77 victory. In an earlier match, T Best dominated Air Ballers, securing a 125-74 win.
The six teams will continue to compete in a round-robin format, with the top four advancing to the semi-finals. The grand finals are scheduled for August 25 at the same venue.
The annual cup aims to promote basketball and nurture talent in the Belait District, held in conjunction with 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’s 78th birthday celebration. – Daniel Lim
