MABA didnot discuss move with us, says Dragons boss Ruben

PETALING JAYA: Westports Malaysia Dragons coowner Ruben Gnanalingam has claimed that his team were kept in the dark regarding the Malaysian Basketball Association (MABA)’S decision to stop national players from playing for more than one team.

MABA decided last week that it would better serve the development of Malaysian basketball if players only play for the country. Dragons players have until the end of the current Asean Basketball League (ABL) season to chose between club and country.

However, it is a decision that has proven to be highly unpopular among Dragons players who form the core of the current national team.

Eight of the 14-man Dragons team are national players and could be left in a fix as those who reject the national call-up can be barred from competing in the ABL.

Several senior players, such captain B. Guganeswaran, Chee Li Wei and John Ng, have even hinted at retiring from national duty in order to continue with the Dragons in the ABL.

And Dragons boss Ruben revealed that MABA had made the decision without consulting them.

“I only knew about this rule the same time members of the media found out,” said Ruben.

“There was no discussions between us and MABA and this decision came out of the blue.”

Ruben, however, said the decision would not affect the Dragons’ position as a professional outfit and the league would carry on as usual.

“It is a poor decision and the ones badly affected are the players,” he said.

“But it will not affect us. The ABL rule states that those who reject a national call-up will be barred from playing in the league. However, the players have the option of retiring from the national team in order to stay with the Dragons.

“In fact, ABL team owners are considering doing away with the rule which requires each team to have local players. As long as the team have players from the Asean region, it is fine.

“The Brunei Barracudas were unable to compete this year because they did not have enough local players, hence the rule may be thrown out next season.”

Current ABL rules state that each team are only allowed three imports from the Asean region and two from non-asean regions and the rest must be local players.

Dragons are currently flying high in second place in the league after five wins and two defeats.