Big names to grace Seri Mutiara Champions Cup

ANOTHER exciting edition of the Seri Mutiara Champions Cup kicks off with a quality field and a long list of big-name basketball players at the MABA Stadium in Kuala Lumpur today,

The tournament, organised by NBL Asia, will feature defending champions Guangzhou Securities (China), Malaysia’s NS Matrix, who finished runners-up last year, as well as Japan’s Tochigi Brex and Kano Pillars (Nigeria), all of whom are champions in their respective national leagues.

The other teams competing this year are are LG Sakers (South Korea), Beijing Fly Dragons (China), KK Split (Croatia) and Fubon Braves (Taiwan).

Among the big name players are Tochigi duo Yuta Tabuse and Takatoshi Furukawa. Yuta is the first Japanese player to compete in the NBA while Takatoshi was named MVP in the Japan Basketball League this season.

Also competing are Kim JongKyu (LG Sakers), who is a starting centre for the Korean National Team, and Abubakar Usman (Kano Pillars), rated as one of the finest players Africa has produced.

NBL Asia chief executive officer Tan Kee Hian believes that the tournament, which is in its third edition this year, will help raise the standard of the game in the region.

“The Seri Mutiara Champions Cup was created to fuel basketball communities in the region, and we are growing in scope and significance,” said Kee Hian.

“There is also much to cheer for Malaysia as our local team, the NS Matrix, came in second place last year.

“By showcasing the very best action to fans of this great game as well as provide a platform for the best teams in Asia to compete.”

NBL Asia is also hosting a Star Coach Camp in conjunction with the tournament led by highly-regarded basketball figure, Tony Ronzone. Coaches will be flown in from across the Asean region to learn from Ronzone.

Fans also stand a chance to win RM5,000 worth of cash and prizes in the “Guess the Number of Balls Competition” in addition to other activities during the tournament.