1212 Kiing players credit defence and focus for victory over Bulls

KUCHING: The 1212 Kiing secured a resounding victory over Kuching Bulls (B) at the 2024 Kuching Basketball Men’s Open, thanks to a focused team effort and effective execution of their game plan.

Kiing power forward Muhd Afifi remarked on the overall performance, stating that the collective effort of everyone working within the system was crucial to their victory.

 “Everything about the game today was good. Everyone worked within the system. We just need to concentrate more on executing our set plays on offence,” he said.

Obasa strikes again, denying Kuching Bulls’ Majak a scoring opportunity.

Joseph Obasa denies Kuching Bulls’ Jongkuch, swatting the ball away.

He highlighted the importance of transition, noting the team’s priority of transitioning play.

“Since we are a younger team, we prioritise transition play,” he added.

Afifi, who hails from Kuching, stressed that the focus should be on the game itself, rather than the score, which he and his teammates gave their all in each quarter.

Teammate Joseph Obasa, 25, from Nigeria, echoed this sentiment, sharing his enjoyment of the match.

“We tried to implement everything the coach instructed. It’s crucial that we execute well, especially since our defence can sometimes lack intensity, leading to less efficient play,” he said.

Reflecting on the game, Joseph highlighted the need for a stronger defensive effort.

“Our mentality was to be as tough as possible on defence. The coach knows the best strategies through scouting, which helps us prepare for what to expect in the game.

“When you’re great at doing that (preparation), it makes it easier for us to execute -less thinking, more reacting,” he added.

Joseph also mentioned that he and his teammates had practised the necessary plays extensively.

“In practice, we worked on all the sets we wanted to run. It’s all about moving the ball and looking for the right shots on offence,” he said.