Esmond to drive into the lane for Chevrolet

ESMOND TAN is a name that has been absent on the national squad for the past months.

Work commitments has kept him away from suiting up for the national team but not the game he loves as he will don a Chevrolet jersey in the Brunei Basketball Association (BBA) basketball tournament come May 14 at the BBA court in Batu Bersurat.

The tournament, organised to select cagers for July's Borneo City Cup in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, was initially slated for April 24 but had to be put off to allow the completion of the all-Filipino 4th Manjaro Cup.

The 26-year-old cager has seen little court time but is admittedly looking forward to once again be competing at the national level.

"I really don't know about my chances (for the Borneo City Cup selection) but I am sure that every team in this tournament will stand a chance of winning.

"I believe that all the teams will be balanced and it will be a fair challenge," said Tan during a recent interview with The Brunei Times.

Considering the amount of work that national basketball coach Kevin Reece has put in to select his "15-strong" players, Tan believes that those who have attended training regularly should get a shot at playing in KK, adding that the May tournament is a venue for those competing to shine and show their potential.

"Players for the Borneo Cup... I am sure the coach has his 15-strong players already since they have been training together," said Tan

"This tournament will give opportunities to the players that were not selected. They can prove their worth, to show that they have what it takes to be part of the national team," he added.

"It's a win-win situation for all the players since there is a tournament to play in," continued the Tutong native.

Tan also believes that, with the national team members scattered into their own respective teams, the tournament will help showcase the ability of Brunei's cagers while keeping them in competition shape.

"The players will be ready for the tournament since they won't be playing together. It can at least get them (to step up their own game)," said Tan.

"I mean if they play together as a team then the coach won't really see the quality of his own players and make full use," he said.

"Now (because) they are separated, the coach will have the chance to see every single player shine," he added.

Two categories, the Men's Open and Women's Open, will be contested during the tournament.

The competition is only open to local cagers with a valid Brunei identity card.

Entry fee is set at $300 for the Men's Open and $200 for the Women's Open.

Registration forms can be obtained from the BBA court.

More information can be obtained by contacting the BBA head organiser, Soon Ching Long at 8770316 or Ang at 8897449.-Yee Chun Leong

The Brunei Times