KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Basketball Association (MABA) hopes that the procedure to secure the services of naturalised players can be completed before the Thailand SEA Games scheduled at the end of next year.
MABA vice-president Datuk Lee Yuen Fong said if they succeeded in lining up naturalised players at the biennial games, the national squad will have the opportunity to contribute more medals than in previous editions.
"We have been working closely with the government because this is not only a MABA effort. We need a lot of help from the government.
"I can assure you if we get the naturalised players, we will definitely go to the semi-finals (in more events). Otherwise we will have a disadvantage," he said after the draw for the Malaysian International Invitational Basketball Championship here today.
The tournament, organised by MABA, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, will see the participation of several clubs from Malaysia and China, as well as the Macau team.
On preparations for the 2025 Thailand Sea Games, Lee said everything has been progressing smoothly and as planned.
He said MABA will also recruit some new players and coaches to further strengthen the national team.
"MABA right now is putting in efforts to get new players and additional coaches to help the team going to the SEA Games next year. Hopefully they can get us better results than the previous SEA Games," he said.
In the last two editions - 2021 Vietnam SEA Games and 2023 Cambodia SEA Games - which was postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the national basketball camp only won a bronze medal through the women's 5-a-side event.
-- BERNAMA
