MALAYSIAN Basketball Association (MABA) president Datuk Seri Lee Tian Hock confirmed the target of at least one gold medal at the 2027 Malaysia SEA Games, with the 3x3 event identified as the country's main hope.
He said the target was made based on a realistic assessment of the national squad's strengths and weaknesses, as well as the advantage of playing as the host.
"For the five-a-side event, we are realistic. The biggest challenge is the Philippines, and our target is silver. But for gold, our focus is more on 3x3," he said after attending the MABA annual dinner with all affiliate members recently.
According to him, preparations towards the Sea Games will not be made at the last minute, but have already started this year through a series of competitive matches and international exposure.
"We can't wait until next year to start. This year, we have already started making preparations so that the team is better prepared when the SEA Games are held in Kuching," he said.
Tian Hock also informed that MABA has approved a total budget of RM9.1 million for this year, with RM7.3 million allocated for basketball activities and RM1.8 million for operating costs.
"We are satisfied with the financial planning and hope that the preparations made this year will enable the team to achieve the target of one gold or at least two silver medals at the 2027 SEA Games," he said.
Also present at the dinner were Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Vice President, who is also the President of the Malaysian Sepaktakraw Federation (PSM), Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan, OCM Secretary-General Datuk Mohd Nasir Ali and national players.
At the 2025 Thailand SEA Games, Malaysia brought home two bronze medals each in the men's and women's 3x3 events, with the host team topping the men's competition while Indonesia won the women's gold.
Tian Hock added that MABA now has a stable and strong source of income to fund its activities, thus making the association financially sustainable.
"MABA is one of the only - or perhaps the only - sports associations in Malaysia that is financially independent. Even without government contributions, we can still survive and continue our activities," he said. – February 6, 2027
