.jpg)
KUALA LUMPUR – Basketball in Malaysia is not known for being a big sport in the country. However, the National Community Basketball League (NCBL) serves as an effort to promote the sport and its development, and sponsorship from a local clothing company, Pusat Pakaian Hari-Hari Sdn Bhd, marks another milestone in this effort.
The NCBL, that started in 2006 with 8 teams competing has now grown to a total of 128 teams as of this year. Co-founder of the NCBL, Wong Wing Wai, credits the support of Pusat Pakaian Hari-Hari Sdn Bhd for this growth. Hari-Hari has helped push the growth in the sport.”
The Hari-Hari National Community Basketball League is Mr Syed Mohammad Sami’s, director of Pusat Pakaian Hari-Hari Sdn Bhd, way of supporting the local basketball scene.
“We are always finding ways to contribute to the nation’s sports,” says Syed Mohammad Sami.
Upon extending their support for another two years, Pusat Pakaian Hari-Hari would have sponsored this league for a total of five years; all on top of supporting the local community football. This clothing company has definitely shown Malaysia that there are corporate companies that are willing and anxious to be a part of the development of basketball in the country.
The NCBL also leans on the support of the current Selangor Menteri Besar, YAB Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari as they proceed with the league. Despite the ordeal of the pandemic, Dato’ Seri Amirudin is confident that next year’s league will still be able to proceed as long as Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are followed. “We will be following SOPs tightly where there will be no audience during the match, but a live stream instead. We could even have a few rounds in the smaller towns where some teams are from before allowing them to play at the official venues.”
The 16th season of the NCBL is expected to start on January 9th 2021 at UCSI University, SJK (C) Kwong Hon and MABA Stadium. Other sponsors are Molten, Gatorade, Astro Supersports, PEAK, Bauerfeind, Capsters Hijab and MVP Basketball Academy. – The Vibes, October 13, 2020
