SEREMBAN: The Malaysian Basketball Association (Maba) are looking to strengthen the national teams with naturalised players.
This is part of their preparations to face the upcoming Cambodia Sea Games in May.
Maba president Datuk Seri Lee Tian Hock said the national body had already identified a number of players to be naturalised for the national men's and women's squads.
Among them includes two players from the United States - Tevin Charles Glass and Amir Darrion Williams - who are both well over six feet tall. The duo are currently on the books at NS Matrix Basketball Club.
"We have already sent in an application to the government. If they approve, the national squad is almost certain to perform better at the Sea Games this year if compared to our performance in Hanoi," said Tian Hock today.
"We have to accept the fact that physical size is very important in basketball. When we lost matches, it wasn't because we didn't fight, a lot of times it was because our opponents had the advantage in terms of size."
Tian Hock added that the national squads have found it hard to compete against teams such as Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia.
"These teams have many naturalised players who are taller than six feet," added Tian Hock.
"Thus, (to be competitive) we need to have at least two naturalised players. Tevin and Amir are currently playing for Matrix and we hope to be able to absorb both players into the national team."
Tian Hock was speaking after an appreciation event for Matrix players in conjunction with Chinese New Year. The event was held in Bandar Seri Sendayan today.
ENDS
KW: Basketball, NS Matrix, Maba, Tevin Charles Glass, Amir Darrion Williams