Scouting Report: Malaysia

Moniker: Sang Harimau (Malaysian Tigers)

Qualification: Placed second in the 2013 SEABA Tournament to qualify, beating Indonesia and Singapore, but losing to Thailand.

Last FIBA Asia Appearance: 2011 – 3 wins & 5 losses – Beat India and Uzbekistan (twice), but lost to South Korea, Lebanon, Iran, Taiwan, and UAE.

Roster:

Name, Age, Height, Position

Ban Sin Ooi, 30, 5’11″, Guard

Tian Yuan Kuek, 22, 6’8″, Center/Forward

Eng Heng Soo, 29, 6’0″, Guard

Sing Tee Ng, 24, 5’11″, Guard

Wee Seng Wong, 25, 6’0″, Guard

Wei Hong Choo, 21, 6’5″, Forward/Center

Wen Keong Tong, 21, 5’10″, Guard

Hong Hoong Gan, 23, 6’2″, Guard/Forward

Ivan Yeo, 20, 6’4″, Forward

Ching Yong Wong, 25, 6’4″, Forward/Center

Kiat Kee Ng, 25, 6’5″, Center

Min Joe Foong, 25, 6’6″, Center

 

Key Players:

1. Ban Sin Ooi – Ban was one of the top shooters from the Malaysian team that played in the 2011 FIBA Asia Championships, the 2011 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the 2011 SEA Games, and the 2013 SEABA Tournament. He is also the most senior guy on this team. Needless to say, without many of the mainstays of the Malaysian NT, Ban will have to carry a big chunk of the scoring load.

2. Tian Yuan Kuek – Tian first played for the Malaysian NT as a thin 18-year old way back in 2009. He was the third-string back-up center to veteran Lee Wei Chee and then up-and-comer Yoong Jing Kwaan. Without both of those guys in the current Malaysian roster, and with his being the tallest guy in the team, Tian will have to be the main man in the middle for coach Teh Choon Yean. I don’t envy him, of course, as he will have to go up against some of the best bigs in the continent – Wang Zhizhi, Hamed Haddadi, and Kim Joo-Sung.

Point of Interest:

Rebuild – In this most recent iteration of the Sang Harimau, there are exactly just three (3) holdovers from the 2011 Wuhan tournament. This is a little strange, since Malaysia did pretty well in that joust, winning against a more favored Indian side and upending the heftier Uzbeks twice. Finishing 11th was their highest since placing 9th in the 1989 ABC Tournament. Ban is actually the only remaining player from their main (read: starting) backcourt, with veterans Guga Batumalai and Shee Fai-Loh sitting this one out. Taking all these into consideration, we can surmise that Malaysia is in rebuilding mode, and that they are probably more focused on readying their youngsters for the upcoming SEA Games in Myanmar rather than actually advancing to the next round.

Tournament Outlook:

Though the Malaysians have next-to-zero chances of advancing to round two, that would be fine, since their main objective is to gain experience for their young guys and hope that this will help them in future battles. Of course, getting blown out 3 straight times in the first round might have the opposite effect on these guys’ self-esteem, too. – Rappler.com