NCBasketball.net

Finally, after hearing comments from the readers & our very own Yasier Rashid’s opinion on the National/Ex-National Player (Nationals) cap for the Non-Chinese Basketball League 2009, here’s my take on the subject.

Earlier, in the NCBasketball Circles (www.circles99.com/ncbasketball), this is what I wrote

I would like to elaborate on why we SHOULDN’T have a player cap for teams:

1) Basketball was mainly a Chinese sports – we came up with NC Basketball so the NC can play.

2) Petronas had the best team year-in-year-out during the Petronas Cup – we threw them out the KLCC, only to be replaced with State teams with a large salary cap.

3) NCBL Histroy
- 2006 Scorekeys had tons of talents & MABA trainees. They were upset by Pegasus in the Finals (Scorekeys won the group game vs. Pegasus).
- 2007 Scorekeys still has the MABA trainees. They were upset in the Semi-Finals by the Phantoms.

We’ve been given the “tongkat” many times already where basketball development for non-chinese is concerned, so another “tongkat” will only nullify the efforts & objective of Non-Chinese basketball itself. We may have an “exciting” league, but a subpar talent within it.

 

However, after filling up my car at a local Petronas station, I had this thought (coincidence, I don’t think so)..

We should have a Nationals cap for the NCBL. Reason - MABA decided to scrap the Petronas team from participating in the annual Petronas Cup tournaments (beginning 2007 I think). MABA scrapped the Petronas Cup team due to the fact that all the players are Nationals, and they thoroughly dominated the Petronas Cup by winning the Cup virtually every year without a stiff competition.

While it may be a long shot for any teams to hire the services of 12 Nationals at one time (or even 5 players for their starting lineup), it is not impossible. If there is no Nationals cap, maybe one day Sathyaseelan could grab an entry form, call up all Nationals and former nationals to participate in the NCBL, win it, and share the RM5000 prize for the champion. (nothing against Seelan. Just an example. Seelan is a great basketball player & an awesome individual, and I do respect him to this day).

While it may develop the level of competition for the NCBL, more teams (especially the minnows) would be likely to pull out from NCBL.

Therefore, I do agree with the Nationals cap, only that having the National Cap at 2 is not really the right number.

Maybe I’ll go back to National Cap – only 3 or 4 Nationals per game ruling?

What do you think? Post your views and make your voice heard!