GHK Trophy Men's Basketball Tournament to tip off tomorrow

STRIKE while the iron is hot.

Local basketball fans may still be celebrating the fresh achievements of the national basketball team but the action just keeps on coming.

The national squad had recently captured both the 13th Borneo City Men's Basketball Invitational Tournament and the Aewon Cup 2011 Basketball Championship Tournament.

To keep the ball rolling, the Tutong Amateur Basketball Association will be organising the annual Goh Hock Kee (GHK) Trophy Men's Basketball Tournament starting tomorrow.

The competition is held in conjunction with His Majesty's 65th Birthday celebrations and will be contested at the Tutong Chung Hwa Middle School Basketball court in Tutong.

The national basketball team, playing under the banner of Soon Lee-Easyway 'A', won the competition last year after a lopsided final demolition of Hata Rekajaya Sdn Bhd 113-53 at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat.

Unfortunately, they will not return to defend their title this year as the organisers have decided not to allow any of the national cagers to compete in the competition.

To even out the playing field, Filipino players are also barred from competing in the tournament as well.

"We wanted the competition to be more competitive. If we allowed them to play then I think that it wouldn't be unfair," said Giap On, who is part of the organising committee, yesterday.

"There are some teams aged between 14-16 years old and this will give them a chance to play and develop themselves. We don't want it to be a lopsided affair like last year's final," he explained.

A total of 12 teams separated into three groups will be fighting for top honours in the competition.

Group A comprises of Agogo/TTGC, Overweight, Sia N Tan and Total while Group B are made up of Beruncits, BTJ, Elsie Sports and Tang Boon Huat.

Chevrolet, Cyberise, Supersun Ent-Queenelim and We Are Electric are the teams that make up Group C.

Elsie Sports are an invitational team made up of Filipinos and according to the organisers they are an average team resulting in them given a chance to compete.

Beruncits and BTJ will tip off the tournament at 6.45pm tomorrow in Group B action while Overweight and Agogo/TTGC will go head to head in Group A at 8.15pm.

The top two teams from each group will advance into the next round.

The second round will have two groups and the top two teams from each group will play in a crossover match in the semi-finals.

The final is slated for September 10.

The Brunei Times