HPB: Malaysia downed by Shanxi Zhongyu

The Malaysia Men's team played their second game in the HPB Invitational yesterday against the Shanxi Zhongyu team from the China. In a 52-91 loss, Malaysia, as in the previous game before, slowed the tempo of the game and successfully prevented the Shanxi team from breaking the century mark.

The Shanxi Zhongyu team plays in the China Basketball Association (CBA), which is the premier professional basketball league in China. They also have the aid of two American players, Donta Smith and Lee Benson, who can be considered among the most outstanding of the lot at this year's HPB Invitational. Lee Benson is blessed with superior athleticism and a good shooting stroke, and the addition of these two players undoubtedly have raised the Shanxi Zhongyu's chances of winning this tournament.

However, Shanxi Head Coach, Wu Qing Long, had no plans to run the score up, and did not utilise either of his American players against team Malaysia. Even so, the Chinese players were bigger, stronger and better skilled than our boys. With the inside-outside play of center, Li Ming Gang, sharpshooter Zhai Jin Shuai and point guard, Cheng Hua Shan, the Chinese took control of the game.

Malaysia had chose to clog the lane in an attempt to disrupt the inside play of the bigger Chinese post players but were unable to stem the Chinese tide. Zhai Jin Shuai rained three-pointers from all over the court, and despite the best defensive efforts of our boys, he managed to hit 6 three-point shots, scoring 21 points in total, in the first half alone. With the Chinese holding back, Tong Wen Yung and Ong Chun Kee were able to penetrate the Chinese defense to score.

Unfortunately, Tong Wen Yung ended up with four fouls in the first half and had to sit out most of the second half. The Malaysian offensive machine had to run on only one engine, greatly hampering the Malaysian scoring effort. Youngsters, Gan Hong Hoong, Tong Wen Keong and Kuek Tian Yuan performed relatively well, with Gan Hong Hoong managing 7 points in the first half.

The disparity between the two teams was evident and Malaysia lost its second game of the tournament 51-92, and now is now fourth in the Group standings, with no chance of moving on after the preliminary round of competition. The match against Taiwan's Yulon Dinos later this afternoon will be Malaysia's final game of the tournament.

In the game between Group A's Kyung Hee University and Taiwan Beer, Kyung Hee Head Coach, Choi Bu Young, pulled his team from the game with 2 minutes left to play as a mark of protest against the officiating of the match. Kyung Hee had been trailing by only 1 point against Taiwan Beer. Kyung Hee managed to regain their composure for their second game and managed to defeat the Kinmen Liquor team with a score of 84-81.

By Chen Hui Jing ‧ 16th October 2009

拖延战边打边走
马不敌山西中宇

马来西亚国家男篮队的二线军在观护杯国际赛的第二仗，以拖延战术应对中国山西中宇职篮队，以52比91，续首仗之后，成功再次阻止对手破百分胜出。

中宇是中国CBA联赛队伍，两名美国外援--SMITH和RIBENTSON球艺非常了得，后者长得与迈克乔丹有三分神似，灵巧、弹跳和力量都非常突出，中宇有此二人，成为观护杯赛的夺标大热门。

不过，中宇队对上以年轻队员为班底的我队，主帅吴庆龙没有横扫千军的打算，从头到尾都没有让外援上阵，仅以纯中国球员与我队交锋。

即便如此，中国队员身高、体格和技战能力，都在我队之上，其中中锋李明刚（201公分）、射手翟金帅（200公分）和控卫程华山，三人非常尤其标青，中宇队在内外线仍然有着绝对优势。

我队选择收缩内线，尽最大能力干扰外围，但是仍然无法阻止中宇队的进攻，其中，2米身高的翟金帅掀起”三分雨“，尽管多次面对我方的紧贴防守，仍然神准异常，单是上半场，便独轰6次，加一个跳投和两罚中1，狂取21分。

在强弱形成极端对比的当儿，中宇队战意阑珊，加上我队主帅苏永庆决意输少当赢，采取拖延战术，每每都在最后10秒才出手，唐文勇和王俊棋成为两个发动进攻的主轴，通过切入、或外传、或两侧插入，取得不少分数。

无奈，文勇在上半时即挂四犯在身，以致我队的进攻只剩单边引擎在推动着。整体来说，小将如颜坊锋、唐文强和郭添源，都积极投入竞赛，其中，在上半场续文勇一波9分打之后，坊锋通过6罚中5和一记禁区跳，也来一个7分秀。

无论如何，我队与中宇队的实力相差实在太远，当吃下第二场败仗后，我队在小组赛殿后，最后一仗完成与台湾SBL球队裕隆的交锋后，观护杯赛的征战，也划下句点。

观护杯在首日赛事即出现变故。韩国庆熙大学队主帅崔富永因不满裁判员执法尺度，在临尾2分钟拉队罢打。当时，庆熙队以1分之差落在台啤之后。无论如何，庆熙队在火气消退后，今日完成第二仗比赛，并以84比81险胜金门酒厂（金酒）。

刘祖麟报道