Women's basketball team take silver at SEABA Championship

The Malaysian women's basketball team with their silver medal at the SEABA Championships

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian women’s basketball team could only settle for a silver at the SEABA Championship.

Malaysia, the defending champions, picked up five wins and one loss in the tournament, which ended in Malacca on Monday.

The Philippines emerged champions after winning all their six matches, including the 77-73 triumph over SEA Games champions Malaysia. Singapore took the bronze with a 4-2 record.

Malaysia’s wins were over Vietnam (113-55), Indonesia (74-31), Singapore 76-47, Laos (122-32) and Thailand (57-42).

“This is a good preparation for next year’s Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, but we definitely need to work harder,” said Malaysia coach Yoong Sze Yuin.

Forward Afril Bernadino of the Philippines, who averaged 11.3 points and eight rebounds per game, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Malaysian shooting guard Yap Fook Yee, who averaged 12.8 points per game, was named in the Team of the Tournament. The others who made the team were Filipino pair Bernadino and Allana Lim, Singapore’s Lim Jia Min and Indonesian centre Gabriel Sophia.