Knights conquer Cold Storage

THE NATIONAL team recorded their best game at the 5th TOA Thailand Open Phuket Championship 2012 yesterday despite losing 89-57 to Indonesian outfit CLS Knights.

Though it was their fourth loss in as many games at the Saphan Hin Sports Complex, it was the first time they limited their opponents to less than 100 points the losing margin of 32 points a marked improvement from their previous three matches.

Playing as CS Cold Storage in their first FIBA-sanctioned tournament, the national ballers lost their first two games by similar 53 point margins the first 110-57 to Thailand's PEA on Sunday and the second 112-59 to Australian side Postnet Gators on Monday.

Going up against a Los Angeles-based side led by former Charlotte Bobcats point-guard Kevin Burleson, the national team who started with their Under-23 players lost their third game 122-53 to Team Unity on Wednesday, a margin of 69 points.

Yesterday's match against Knights, who are ranked fifth in the Indonesian National Basketball League, was a different ball-game though as both were the only sides in the six-team tournament not to feature any imports.

"Being the only two teams with respective all-locals lineup, we felt that we could match up to them evenly on offence and defence," said national coach Kevin Reece yesterday.

"We played better as the tournament came along, but once again, they had the advantage being a pro team in their own league as opposed to us only competing in tournaments every two months.

"Once again, the young players were promising and Ben Sim, now fully recovered from food poisoning, led the charge as the captain.

"Its all about the development and although we lost, the experience gained for the young players is a boon for years to come," added the American.

Sim led all scorers with 23 points, the skipper also dishing out four assists and earning three steals.

Soon Kian Leong had 12 points and five rebounds while Lim Liang Wei contributed 10 points and six rebounds. Muhd Zainul Ashyraf Hj Hussin pulled down a massive 14 rebounds and had eight points to his name.

The Knights' Bong Jeffry impressive form from three-point land, where he knocked down six of 10 treys, helped him lead his team in points with 20. Dimaz Muharri added 12 points while Tony Agus had 11.

Brunei were down by nine points (13-4) in the first five minutes and trailed 23-13 heading into the second quarter. They entered the second half down 40-25 and trailed 56-39 after the third quarter.

In yesterday's daily report to the Press, the team's assistant coach Wira Pori explained that the Knights ran the Princeton offense with ball movement and players constantly moving around to keep the Bruneian defence on the edge.

Wira also noted that the Indonesians did well to capitalise on errant passing and convert on the break.

The Knights had the upper-hand in every department last night; points from turnovers (33-10), points in the paint (50-34) and second-chance points (12-4).

They also had the advantage in fast-break points (40-12), but the biggest chasm came in points off the bench (49-12), a sure sign the national squad was lacking in depth.

They close their tournament today against Thai side Rising Star.

The Brunei Times