Reece: '15 strong' growing in strength

THE national basketball team are well underway in achieving their target for the year.

The motto for the national cagers was "15-strong" where only the best 15 players would be selected and developed to represent the Sultanate and national basketball coach Kevin Reece feels that they are getting there slowly but surely.

The American had revealed that the "15-strong" squad will be selected just before or after the Borneo City Cup in August but they seem to be ahead of time.

"We are coming along really well and we aren't too far away now. Basically we are looking for consistency not only in games but also in practice. Players should be working harder in practices and they are a bunch who have high basketball IQ and love the game," said Reece, during a recent interview with The Brunei Times.

"The players to make it into the team will have to trust their teammates and I believe that we're advancing. Everyone was given ample chances and only those that put in the time will be worthy of being selected," he added.

Reece also credited the national cagers for their sacrifices in turning up for training and that they have at least one scrimmage per week with local Filipino teams.

"These guys want to play and they are dealing with commitments to their job to come to practice. I'm really happy with that," said the American.

"Playing against the Filipinos is really good for the guys and they are learning along the way from their counterparts," he added.

The national cagers are hoping to compete at the upcoming Vietnam Copper Classic basketball tournament scheduled for March in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam but they have yet to get approval to play in the competition.

Players that the Los Angeles native has selected are Ben Sim, Benjamin Lim, Yap Chun Ping, Zainul Ashyraf, Faizuladzmi Tajuddin, Foo Gwen Tong, Lim Liang Wei, Ahmad Termizi Nordeen, Choo Yung Jian, Po Yung Hui, Cavan Kong and Jon Lee.

"It is important for international play to know that we can compete. It is fruitless to play in local tournaments as it was seen when we played in China (3rd China-Asean Men's Basketball Invitational tournament last December) that even Vietnam were more prepared than us," said Reece.

Benjamin is the latest addition to the squad and Reece has welcomed the former Barracudas cager with open arms.

"He provides great hustle defence and is definitely a boost on offence. He has bought into the system and becoming part of it," said the LA Lakers fan.

Another player which the national coach highlighted was Zainul, who has shown good progress.

"We will need him to become one of the more dominant players in the region which I believe is attainable by him (considering his height at 6ft 6in)," explained Reece.

Despite Zainul's height, the national team continue to run small and are dependent on transition basketball on offence.

"The players need to stay in shape and most importantly.. fundamentally strong. That is what the '15-strong' programme is about," said the 50-year-old.

The team is set to take on Miri some time next week at the Multipurpose Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.The Brunei Times