AJBC on track to secure early pass for the Finals

PETALING JAYA: Ampang Jaya BC (AJBC) are in prime position to secure an early ticket to the SS Purple League Finals after rounding up their Stage 1 campaign with an emphatic 15-3 victory over Serdang BC.

Their biggest win in the season yesterday sent them to the top of the eight-team standings with 81 games won.

Only the top two teams qualify directly to the knockout stage in the Finals, which will be held at the Arena of Stars in Genting Highlands from Jan 24-27.

But AJBC can’t afford to celebrate yet as they will have to wait for the outcome of today’s deciding fixture between defending champions Puchong United BC (PUBC) and Petaling BC (PBC).

PUBC are currently second on 71 games, one-game more than third-placed PBC.

PUBC and PBC still have a chance to overtake AJBC if both of them win 12 games each today.

AJBC team manager Ho Khek Mong was relieved that his side rose to the occasion when they needed it most.

“We’ve been unbeaten but we’ve not been winning enough games,” said Khek Mong.

“I’m just so glad that today we managed to pick up all the 15 games and put us in a great position for a top-two finish.

“We’ve to wait anxiously now for the match between PUBC and PBC.”

The third to eight ranked teams will have to battle it out for the remaining four spots in Stage 2 from Jan 11-13.

Stage 2 features a two-group round-robin competition with games won from Stage 1 carried forward. The top four teams in the final standings will complete the six-team cast for the Finals in Genting Highlands.