Brunei to have new basketball league soon

SOMETHING big and fresh is in store for Brunei basketball fans next year.

The Brunei Amateur Basketball League is in the works and is tentatively scheduled to begin in March.

Similar to the Asean Basketball League (ABL), the tournament, which is the first of its kind in the Sultanate, is open to Brunei citizens with a valid identity card and is set to run until June.

The new tourney will feature 15 games per season, with the Top Four teams making the playoffs.

To spice things up and to make it more competitive, each team are allowed to field two international imports.

Teams can change their players anytime as long as it is done before the final four games of the season.

Venues for the competition will be announced later but the matches should be played over a couple of different courts.

Louis Wong, who is organising the league, hopes that the new tournament will benefit the local cagers.

"This is going to be Brunei's first semi-pro league and I hope it will help improve the standard of basketball in the country. With this tournament the local players will gain more exposure compared to participating in the all-local competitions only," said Wong, in an interview with The Brunei Times, yesterday.

"We're also trying to encourage the youth to do something more useful rather than playing games on their computers for the whole day," added the 23-year-old Wong.

He also emphasised that the league would provide players with the experience of playing in a professional team.

"It will also give players the chance to play in a professional team. Currently, we're still looking for more sponsors to help the league materialise," said Wong, who early this month organised the Chung Hwa Middle School (CHMS) Alumni Association 18th Anniversary basketball tournament.

"Basketball helps to build teamwork since it's not an individual sport and it is a good way for people to meet up and socialise, too," he added.

"But, we are taking one step at a time. For the girls, we are planning another league for the future," he continued.

Wong also revealed that he was expecting a total of six teams on a first-come, first-served basis to participate in the inaugural edition of the league, adding that entry forms would be out next month.

"We just hope that more youth will come forward and take up the challenge since it is one of a kind in Brunei," said Wong.

Contact Wong at 8981773 for more information.

The Brunei Times