KUCHING – SM Kai Dee of Bintulu is the new champion of the recent Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus 5-On-5 inter-school basketball tournament while CHMS No. 1 retained the title in the girls’ category.
The boys from SM Kai Dee proved they were the better team from the start of the two-day competition, and rightly so as all except one plays for the Sarawak state team.
They dominated the game against SMK DPAH Gapor in the final, and converted almost every chance at the net to points in their favour.
At full time, the scoreboard was 33-12.
“We did OK,” said Kai Dee coach Tomy Lau modestly after the match, adding that the school may see action again in the tournament next year.
“But it will be a different team as the present one will be completing their studies this year.”
SM Lodge, last year’s champion, had to settle for second runner-up.
In the girls’ category, the fast paced play and long passes paid off for last year’s defending champion CHMS No. 1. They drew first blood in the final against SM Lodge who could not match speed and quality of play set by the girls from the Chinese medium school.
Lodge went down 41-6 to settle for first runner-up.
Khoo Yik Chi, 17, of CHMS No. 1 was named the top scorer for netting a total of 37 points in the tournament.
“They had been playing and training since they were in primary school,” said teacher-in-charge Lee Khim Shai of the winning team, who only a week ago won a Kuching Basketball Association organised tournament.
“They train twice a week but this increases to six days a week if they are in a competition. So, they know each other’s strengths and style of play, but besides this, teamwork is important,” said Lee.
SMK Sungai Tapang took the second runner-up.
Also competing in the tournament was a school from Pontianak, Indonesia. Although SMA Santo Paulus did not progress beyond the preliminary rounds, one of its players who shot 40 points in the tournament was named top scorer in the boys’ category.
“The (basketball) tournament was tough but we made a lot of friends here,” said Genoveva, 15, from the girls’ team.
“The students are happy with their experience here. We will return again to compete next year,” said Ongky Lesmana, who has coached the SMA Santo Paulus teams for the last five years.
Last year, SMA Kristen Immanuel from Pontianak competed in the tournament.
A total of 13 schools took part this year. The prizes were presented by Swinburne Sarawak Deputy Vice-Chancellor and CEO Professor Anthony Cahalan.