BBA chairman Lim Ting Guan (2nd R) presenting a certificate to Goh Kim Thiam (2nd L) to acknowledge Goh's role as advisor of BBA during a swearing-in ceremony yesterday. BT/Rebecca Oi
The Brunei Basketball Association yesterday confirmed that Brunei will be hosting the 16th Borneo City Men's Basketball Invitational Tournament Cup this year.
"It will be held in the third quarter of the year," said BBA Chairman Lim Ting Guan in response to a question from The Brunei Times.
Brunei last hosted the four-team event in 2010, finishing third on that occasion. They won the tournament for the first time in 2011, finished second in 2012 and third last year.
Lim, who was elected as the association's chairman for the 2014-2016 term last month, said that the timeline was selected so as not to clash with other events such as the Inter Company Sports Fest on May 5 and Brunei's inaugural basketball league - which is scheduled to be held sometime this year.
The third-quarter would also give breathing room for other events such as the Sultan's Cup - a basketball tournament held annually in conjunction of His Majesty's birthday celebration - the holy month of Ramadhan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Lim chairman was speaking at a ceremony organised by the BBA that saw its newly elected members sworn in and pledge their allegiance to the association.
Scholarships were also presented to some of the members' school-going children.
BBA Secretary Voon Pei Ley said the biggest challenge the association faces is maintaining interest in the sport among school graduates and replacing players who have moved on to further their studies.
"It becomes a challenge when those that have already been trained by us, when they finish their O' Levels or A' Levels, head off to study overseas," she said.
"This is why we need to groom more players and we have to start from the bottom so, at least if some players have to go, we have some new players to succeed them," she added.
For this reason, the chairman stressed the sport needs more support and encouragement.
"We cannot look down on this sport," stressed Lim.
"This sport needs more youth to join in so they may become future national basketball players and represent the country in international tournaments," added the chairman.
