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Yung joins Winling quest to be champions

Hong Kong's top three-pointer Yung Kam-wah is looking forward to rekindling his success at the Asian Basketball Confederation Champions' Cup after accepting a last-minute invitation to play for local champions Winling in Dubai this week.

Yung, who played for Pacific 1636 this season, found himself returning to the tournament he won with now-defunct Regal in 1997 and came second at a year later when he was asked to join Winling's lineup last week.

'It's a special feeling,' said Yung. 'I'll join three other Winling players who were also in the winning side for Regal. The team is a little different so it's too early to fancy our chances. The event this year includes mostly Middle East teams and they have the advantage of being used to the weather.'

The players who also tasted glory with Regal are Ng Chu-yip, Lee Wai-lun and Choi Fong-yu.

Winling manager Lam Chik-cheong knows Regal's triumph is a hard act to follow, insisting that he will first aim for a semi-final berth by finishing in the top two in Group B, led by last year's runners-up Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia. Defending champions Sagesse of Lebanon are in Group A.

'We won't put ourselves under too much pressure because we also want to give more international exposure to our young talents, such as guard Poon Chi-ho. A couple of youngsters will be our sixth and seventh players,' Lam said.

Lam has signed American forwards Darren Henrie and Khari Jaxon for the tournament. The duo earned Lam's faith by leading the team to victory over Chinese First Division side Liaoning Pan Pan in the qualifying playoff in Hong Kong earlier this month.

'The key to our success will be whether the two foreigners pass the ball to the local players and I believe they will as they've done so in the qualifying playoff. Our local players, including Yung, will have chances to score from outside if Henrie and Jaxon trust them,' Lam said. Winling meet Al Ittihad on Friday.

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