Seri Mutiara Cup set for expansion next year
KUALA LUMPUR: The Seri Mutiara Cup basketball tournament is set to feature more teams next year following the successful conclusion of this year’s edition.
The eight-team club invitational tournament, which is into its third year, was a big success.
Several top Asian teams such as Beijing Fly Dragons, Guangzhou Securities Long Lions (both from China) and Japan’s national champions Link Tochigi Brex took part in the tournament at the Maba Stadium.
It was also not short of star power, with Dragons’ two-time NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury the biggest crowd-pleaser.
The were also several top-level Asian players in the mix like Japan’s Yuta Tabuse, South Korean Kim Jong-kyu and Taiwan’s Ray Chen and Yang Chin-min.
The 40-year-old Marbury played four matches for the Dragons, who clinched the trophy after beating Croatia’s KK Split 80-73 in the final on Sunday.
The 33-year-old Chin-min, who also played for the Dragons, ended the tournament as the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Event promoter NBL Asia’s chief executive officer Tan Kee Hian was pleased with the way the tournament panned out, saying it has the potential to grow even bigger.
“The end result was really good because we did not expect such competitive matches. All teams played at a very high level,” said Kee Hian.
“Our promotions for the event got off to a rocky start as FIBA Asia initially didn’t recognise us. But we got that resolved and the participating teams were pleased with the tournament setup.
“I think this tournament has room to grow. I believe in continuity and we are definitely looking at expanding beyond eight teams next year.
“It’s also important that we keep tournaments like this running because it can inspire kids to take up basketball.”
It is understood that NBA G League side Texas Legends are ready to participate if the tournament is expanded.
Three of the Legends players – Keith Hornsby, Bryson Fonville and Joseph John Avila – featured for Malaysia’s NS Matrix in this year’s competition. Matrix finished fourth.