Bibat lifts Linktech over YTE

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Sunday, August 2, 2009

APOLLO BIBAT scored the game winning free throw to give Linktech a 77-76 win over YTE last night in the 2009 Brunei Pepsi Cup at the Brunei Basketball Association (BBA) court in Batu Bersurat.

"I felt very nervous while I was taking the free throws. But as the ball left my hands I felt confident that it was going in. I felt that I had a great game today as I think we had a good performance," said Bibat, who scored the last four points for Linktech.

Linktech led by as many as 15 points but Esmond Tan's three-point play in the last 20 seconds put YTE on top at 76-75.

The ensuing play had Linktech commit a turnover just for Aries Castro to commit a flagrant foul. Lim Aik Hock was sent to the free throw line but missed the charities that could have won YTE the game. Castro then made a steal off the inbound pass while Bibat got fouled by Lim at the other end.

The first quarter was close as Linktech started out with a 1-3-1 full court pressure defence but only established a three point cushion into the second period. Linktech then stepped it up a notch to go on a 12-0 run while YTE fell behind as they were held scoreless for as long as six minutes bringing the score to 31-18.

Castro who had missed his first five field goals in the first half, caught fire in the third quarter and scored 12 points to keep his team in control.

Linktech brought a comfortable 14 point lead into the fourth quarter before YTE came storming back led by Benjamin Lim, who had 11 of his 16 points in the final period.

YTE had the momentum and managed to subdue the Linktech offence as they had changed their strategy from a 2-3 defence to a 3-2 defence as their opponents were mostly cutters compared to shooters.

Geve Leones had a quiet night as he was off from his jumpshots and only managed 16 points mostly through fastbreak points.

"I felt that my players were very lucky with little time left on the clock. It was good that Apollo (Bibat) had managed to receive the ball without losing it," said Linktech head coach Lito Porlahe, adding that his team's exhaustion allowed YTE to come back in fourth quarter. "It was a running game and my players were tired but I guess we were lucky to go away with a win."

Despite the win, Porlahe doesn't feel like favourites to lift the Pepsi Cup. "We will just have to try to see as I can see that there are other strong teams in the tournament."

YTE head coach, Tony Tan, said his team's failure to convert from the free throw line led to their downfall. "We have lost plenty of games like these. Doesn't matter if it was two or three points but if my players have made their free throws then the game would have been a lot closer and made it better."

Castro led Linktech with 22 points followed by Elvin Requintin with 19 points. YTE were led by Esmond with 21 points.

In the first game, Chop Eng Seng Keo Pinoy Resources demolished Kitchen of Jasmine 75-52.

Today's matches pit Ismakom and Sally Beauty Saloon at 4pm followed by Muara Gas against Ranoadidas Rockettes at 5.30pm in the women's division. Playing in the men's division are Bukit Ladang against Urban Chic at 7pm and White Heaven against De'Lightz Coffeeshop at 8.30pm.

The Brunei Times

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Let the 2009 Brunei Pepsi Cup begin

Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, August 1, 2009
BASKETBALL fans in the country will be treated to must-watch matches when the 2009 Brunei Pepsi Cup kicks off tonight at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat.

The organisers said the tournament's name had been changed to Brunei Pepsi Cup from the previous Red Bull Cup.

(The 2009 Brunei Pepsi Cup working committee (L-R) Nicholas Chu, Ho Poh San, Khoo Eng Cheong, Adam Albert Chu, Foo Chee Seng and Joshua Thien Nyuk Yeu at a Press conference at the BBA court in Batu Bersurat yesterday. Picture: BT/Yee Chun Leong)

The biggest match on Day 1 will be between Linktech and YTE.

Linktech are being represented by players that lined up for Queenielin/Softlab the champions of the 111th Philippine Independence Basketball Cup, which was held early last month.

YTE, meanwhile, are made up of the national players that won the 2009 Belait Sultan's Cup.

Head coach-cum-player of Linktech, Lito Porlahe, expects a very tough game tonight eventhough the team have been playing together for a while.

"We have been practising and preparing for the tournament but we just have to try our best to win the game. We know that the national team are very strong," said Porlahe.

"I will be banking on Geve Leones to lead the team but I think that the national team have the size advantage as my players are a bit smaller. Nonetheless, I think that the tournament has a lot of strong teams this year," added Porlahe.

Leones was last year's Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the final of Aewon's Sultan Cup, when Ilonggo Slashers defeated Tumasek or the 2008 national team 97-86 to lift the trophy.

He was also awarded the MVP award for the 111th Philippine Independence Basketball Cup.

YTE will have to contain his many moves if they were to have any chances of stopping Linktech. To make matters worse Leones will be supported by Elvin Requintin a sharp three-point shooter who is very good at grabbing rebounds.

Other players from Linktech who can trouble their rivals are Apollo Bibat a versatile player with his never-say-die attitude and Aries Castro, a sharp shooter from the baseline.

YTE will be led by national team superstar Esmond Tan and national team regular Yap Chun Ping.

Tan will be hard to handle as he can both score and assist.

Other main players for YTE will be Benjamin Lim and youngster Soon Kian Liang.

The match will start after the opening ceremony, which will be held at 7.30pm. The early match will see Chop Eng Seng Keo (CESK) Pinoy Resources take on Kitchen of Jasmine at 6pm.


The Brunei Times

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