Having A Ball In Brunei Again
By Ignatius Stephen

Bandar Seri Begawan - For former Brunei sports official Rod McGarth, the Sultanate is constantly on his mind.

That is why Rod McGarth, now Executive Officer with the Darwin Basketball Association (DBA) in Australia keeps coming back. He was for a time assisting Brunei with the SEA Games way back in 1999. He was back here in August leading the Darwin Airport All Stars for the Shell Rimula Brunei Cup tournament.

Now with his Brunei link he has arranged the Philippines connectionbecause the Filipino Basketball Association of Brunei has agreed to send their senior men's representative team to Darwin at the end of this month.

"We have been in negotiations with the Filipino Basketball Association (FBA) of Brunei since May and we are very happy that they have now confirmed their tour to Darwin," said John Sealy, the president of the Darwin Basketball Association.

"One of our key objectives this year has been to develop a senior representative programme for our male and female players as well as our coaches and referees who participate in the Darwin Airport Resort Darwin Basketball League."

"When the Darwin Airport Resort All Stars were in Brunei in August for the 6`° Shell Rimula Brunei Cup tournament, the FBA executive met with the DBA to discuss reciprocal senior men's representative team tours between our two associations with the FBA wishing to travel to Darwin in the second half of the year and the DBA to travel to Brunei in the first half of each year.

"Another of our key objectives this year has been to support the Northern Territory Government's sporting and business initiatives into Southeast Asia by developing relationships with basketball associations in those countries.

"Further to this objective, we are also very much appreciative of the NT Government's contribution to sport within the community through their strong support for the Arafura Games which involves basketball teams from the Asian and Pacific regions being invited to participate here every two years."

During their tour to Darwin later this month, the Filipino Basketball Association's team will be playing three games at Darwin Basketball Association's stadium complex at Marrara. On 25 and 30 November, the FBA will play games against Darwin's senior men's team and on 2F November, the FBA will play a Darwin under 21 men’s team. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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