Super sub Yin Yin can give women cagers a cutting edge

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian women’s basketball team are making good progress in their bid to retain the gold medal for the KL SEA Games in August.

This can be clearly seen from the way they emerged with a perfect 4-0 record to win the Maba International Basketball Invitation Championships last week.

Although Pang Hui Pin, Yap Fook Yee and R. Kalaimathi showed that they’re capable of leading the team when the KL Games are held from Aug 19-30, it was second-string guard Chong Yin Yin (pic) who could well provide the extra cutting edge off the bench.

The 1.66m Yin Yin, who will turn 24 on Monday, proved that she has an eye for the basket after firing a total of eight three-pointers (from 18 attempts) in the five-day meet for a 44% conversion rate.

Fook Yee, Malaysia’s top scorer, also managed eight three-pointers in the tournament but her conversion rate was just 28.6% .

“I think I had a good tournament. We are making good progress and I really did my best last week,” said Yin Yin, who also top scored with 20 points in Malaysia’s 73-63 win over the Taiwan Nanshan High School.

“It’s been a good test for us ahead of the SEA Games. We know that we still have to work on our stamina, our defence and rebounds.

“I’m still not very stable. I still lack a bit of consistency and I know I can do even better.

“But it’s good to finish as winners because it will help us deal with the pressure at the SEA Games.”

National coach Yoong Sze Yuin was also pleased with how her substitutes rose to the occasion.

“My first team players are mature and know how to handle the pressure,” said Sze Yuin.

“But I’m really pleased with how the back-up players have stepped up during crucial moments. “We still have a lot of work to do, but I feel we’ll be ready by the time the SEA Games start.”

The Malaysian women will head to Taiwan for a playing tour on July 18. They will also compete in the BLIA Cup in Kaohsiung from July 25-30.