Orcas edge out Vivagold in narrow 54-53 victory

KUCHING: The Orcas (Kuching Bulls) narrowly defeated Batu Kawa’s Vivagold 54-53 at the 2024 Kuching Basketball Women’s Open, showcasing the determination of a team of mothers and former state athletes.

Veteran coach Voon Soon Liong reflected on his team’s performance, stating that his players did their best.

“We were nearly there, but not quite yet,” he said

He highlighted the unique composition of his squad, which consists mostly of mothers and former SUKMA basketball players, many of whom have represented the state.

Voon (in blue) rallies his players on as he discusses tactical play with them

The Orcas (in white) were able to give a good fight to quicker Vivagold

“Our players average over 30 years of age, with the youngest being 25 and the oldest 44.

“We have players aged 36, 33, and 37- some of them are proud mothers with 2-3 children, balancing family and sport,” he told Sarawak Tribune last night at the MBKS Stadium.

Despite facing a younger opponent, The Orcas displayed incredible resilience and determination.

“We wanted to fight. The players did their very best.

Voon’s players still got game, no matter the age

“In our previous match, we fell short, and this time we struggled with limited substitutes. But the effort was there ‘nearly but not yet there’,” he said.

The Orcas’ tenacity and spirit serve as an inspiring reminder that age is no barrier to passion and commitment in sports.

In the previous match early this week, on Monday (Oct 7), The Orcas (Kuching Bulls) lost by a single point to Vivagold 54- 55 making it difficult to progress further in the tournament.