Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
FZ-JURAMAS captain Esmond Tan (pic) believes that it is anyone's game now that import players are made available for Phase 2 of the YOU.C1000 Cup.
They had captured the Phase 1 title after edging Easyway 70-65 in a comeback victory last Wednesday at the BBA court in Batu Bersurat.
“Everyone is a threat to us as all the teams that made it to Phase 2 have their qualities in their players and with their imports,” said Esmond in an interview with BruSports News yesterday.
“Every team has an equal chance to win the title. From how we see it, we will have to take it one game at a time,” he added.
A total of five teams - Easyway, YTE, Systematic Living and Setia Builders being the others - are vying for top honours in the Aug 31 - Sept 7 competition.
The teams will contest in a round-robin format with the top-four teams moving on to the semi-finals.
FZ-Juramas have added the duo of Filipino imports Macky Acosta and Allan Mangahas to their lineup.
Acosta, a 6’3 power forward, and Mangahas, a 5’11 point guard, had plied their trade with Binan City Heroes in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League).
When asked on how the team decided on signing the pair. Esmond replied: “The imports were chosen by our management.
“These two imports will help us fill the gaps we have in our squad and with the quality these imports bring, it should give us more depth,” he added.
Esmond also revealed that they haven’t done their homework on other teams just yet.
“We have been resting the past week to be ready for a tight Phase 2 schedule,” said the 35-year-old.
“Some of us had injuries after the last game (final against Easyway) so this break gave us time to recover
“We haven’t researched on our opponents’ imports. We will just need to take it to the game and adjust as we get along,” he added.
“Some of the imports we have seen them play before and we already have a few game plays in our mind,” continued Esmond.
Out of the five teams, only YTE have managed to max their import quota with three players.
Leon Kwek will become the second player from Singapore to play in Brunei following in the footsteps of Delvin Goh.
They have also signed Indonesia national player Galank Gunawan and as well as Filipino Jai Reyes.
Easyway have roped in Charles Pepito and Harold James Butron to boost their roster.
Both Systematic Living and Setia Builders are bolstered by Sarawak state players.
Ma Chee Kheun and Yiek Chai Teck will lace up for the former while the duo of John Tang Jun Kai and Voon Yiew Ting for Setia Builders.
Voon is no stranger having won the annual tournament with most of the Juramas players in 2013.
Phase 2 will tip off with a meeting between FZ-Juramas and Setia Builders at 7.15pm.
The second game pits Systematic Living against YTE at 9pm.
