[Sponsored article] The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) men’s team snatched the championship of the “PolyU・King’s Flair Group Asian Universities Invitational Basketball Tournament” following a heated finale fight. The Tournament, with eight elite basketball teams from Asian universities competing in Hong Kong, is one of the celebratory events of PolyU’s 80th anniversary . It also aims at fostering connection among Asian universities, as well as promoting basketball and sportsmanship. After a series of exciting matches in the preliminary round held on 13-15 June, the final matches were staged on 17 June at the packed MacPherson Stadium in Mongkok. In the third place match, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University defeated Nanyang Technological University by 97:53. The finale fought between PolyU and Taiwan University of Science and Technology turned out to be a breathtaking match, with PolyU eventually snatching the championship by 92:74. The other teams participated in the Tournament are from: Kyoto University, South China University of Technology, Universiti Brunei Darussalam and University of Macau. Describing the championship as “a timely gift for celebrating the University’s 80th anniversary”, coach Mr Tam Wai-yeung of the PolyU team said, “Our players have been at the peak of their physical and psychological condition throughout the Tournament. They have displayed the PolyU spirit in unity, despite facing keen competition from some very strong teams. We are glad to have the opportunity to learn from the different tactics and competing styles of other Asian teams.” PolyU men’s basketball team has been in top-notch standing in recent years, having won the championship at the Hong Kong Inter-Collegiate Basketball Competition four years in a row. Seven of its members will be representing Hong Kong in the World University Games to be held in Taipei in August this year while another 18 PolyU sportsmen will compete in other events of the same competition. Winning teams awarded prizes and scholarships At the Tournament’s prize presentation ceremony, PolyU President Professor Timothy W. Tong and Deputy President and Provost Professor Philip C. H. Chan presented trophies to the top four teams. Scholarships were also given out to the winning teams by Mr Kendrick Wong, representative of King’s Flair Development Limited, title sponsor of the Tournament. The champion PolyU team received HK$50,000, and Taiwan University of Science and Technology, the 1st runner up, received HK$30,000. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and Nanyang Technological University, which came in 3rd and 4th, were presented HK$20,000 HK$10,000 respectively. Dr the Hon. Lam Tai-fai, Deputy Chairman of PolyU Council, presented the individual awards of Points Leader, 3-Points Leader, Assists Leader, Steals Leader, Rebounds Leader, and Most Valuable Player to seven outstanding players. PolyU active in promoting sports on campus In addition to providing an opportunity for the basketball teams of the eight Asian universities to compete against and learn from each other, the Tournament also enabled students to gain knowledge on different cultures. Moreover, it echoed PolyU’s effort in promoting healthy lifestyle. PolyU has always been active in promoting sports development. Through the Outstanding Sportsmen Recommendation Scheme, 600 student athletes were admitted to the University over the past 19 years. PolyU also provides various sports and recreational activities to students to enhance their physical and psychological wellbeing, and in turn, empower their academic and whole-person development. --- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Ms Balaussa Alpysbayeva, Team Manager and Coach, remarked, “It is my team’s first international tournament. We are happy to present our team, our university, and our country to Hong Kong.” Mr Atay Zhansyn Altun, Captain, said, “We are glad to meet the enthusiastic Kazakhstan exchange students who are studying at PolyU. Hong Kong is such a beautiful place, though a bit too hot and humid for us. (This experience) makes me aspire to pursue studies here too in future.” --- Universiti Brunei Darussalam Mr Lim Kok-shien, Coach, stated, “We really take all the matches as learning lessons and do not mind being defeated. My team do not have much time for training before the tournament, as the timing clashes with our exam period. Moreover, in comparison with other teams, we have much less competition experience. We can learn from PolyU in terms of the assistance it offers to sportsmen, and how it supports both physical and academic developments of students.” --- Nanyang Technological University Mr Chiang Chai-liang, Head of Delegation and Team Manage, said, “In Singapore, we do not have that many opportunities to play in competitions. This tournament is a very good experience for my players. They have an interesting and exciting journey here — even just travelling in the city with players of other teams, chit-chatting and making new friends from other countries. This is already an eye-opener for these young people.” --- Taiwan University of Science and Technology Mr Lee Yong-hsiang, Head of Delegation and Coach, stated, “The tournament offers my boys the valuable chance of exchange in sports with other Asian universities. It also provides them with the learning opportunities beyond the matching field through communicating in-person with different people from different cultures and places. We have some tough matches, especially in the preliminary round, facing opponents of huge figure and strong physique. I am glad that my boys could overcome such challenges by applying their trained skills, speed and unity.” --- Results of the “PolyU・King’s Flair Group Asian Universities Invitational Basketball Tournament” Champion :The Hong Kong Polytechnic University First Runner-up : Taiwan University of Science and Technology Second Runner-up : Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Third Runner-up : Nanyang Technological University Points Leader : Hsieh Zong-rong (Taiwan University of Science and Technology) 3-Points Leaders : Yeung Man-kong (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) and Long Jai-hao (South China University of Technology) Assists Leader : Lu Tsung-lin (Taiwan University of Science and Technology) Steals Leader : Yan Wen-zuo (Taiwan University of Science and Technology) Rebounds Leader : Hsieh Zong-rong (Taiwan University of Science and Technology) Most Valuable Player : Tsai Choi-kwan (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
