Assalamualaikum WBT and Gooday Everyone
Simply awesome results!!!!!!. My personal conclusion of the recently held MASUM Netball Games that ended a few days ago. This annual event, the third major netball championship in Malaysia, brought together 19 teams from various universities nationwide, to the Sport Centre of the University of Malaya,
The MASUM games were held on the 20th until 25th June 2011, divided into two divisions; 1 and 2 respectively. Div 2 was further subdivided into 2A and 2B based on the previous year’s performances and rankings. The top guns in division 1 based on 2010 rankings were, the University Technology of Malaysia (UTM), University of Malaya (UM), Mara University of Technology (UiTM), National University of Malaysia (UKM), Putra University of Malaysia (UPM), International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM),Sultan Idris University of Education (UPSI) and the University of Science of Malaysia (USM).
Of all the matches played throughout the week, the major attractions were of course, the matches between the top three teams, UTM vs. UiTM, UTM vs. UM and UiTM vs. UM. All these three crème de la crème were laden with current or previous national squad members or current SUKMA state members.
The first unexpected and totally unpredictable outcome came from the match between the perennial nemeses; UiTM and UM. The UiTM side came out as an underdog, wearing the 3rd best team tag from last year’s achievement and never once in their history of netball, beating UM at national level. Nonetheless, even before taking the court, there was something very refreshing of this side as they looked very much focused during the ball handling sessions, full of spirits and pride, and their cohesiveness as a unit was something to be envied upon profoundly. Most of the team members were very fit, freshly recruited and trained from the previous SUKMA games, held 2 weeks earlier.
UTM (Black) vs UM (Red)
They were very strong in every third of the court, right from the defensive end, midcourt and definitely at the shooting end. They stomped the court hard early on and pressed the UM side mercilessly from the first whistle, forcing them into series of errors culminating from tight defensive markings, capitalizing on every single loose ball and beautifully rewarded by good conversion at the shooting end. In spite of ongoing cheering from the UM supporters within the complex, the UM side was left playing “catch up” netball throughout the game, much to the dismay of the spectators. The final score was 29-16
After the game was wrapped up convincingly by the UiTM, some of the spectators approached me, ventilating their deepest disappointment and frustration, upon the lack of fighting spirit within the UM camp. Even Cik Norsham, Head of Netball Programme of UM was speechless with her side below par performance. On different note, almost everyone was profoundly surprised with the sudden surge in performance and the “machine-like” cohesion within the UiTM unit, as one of the UiTM team members told me later, this year they wanted to prove themselves otherwise and as a result of that, UM became their first victim.
The second, a much highly anticipated game was at 5pm on Friday, between the defending champion UTM and again UiTM. Similarly, the sport complex was filled with spectators eager to watch the UTM, laden with 4 current national members and 2 national training players who would be traveling this week to Singapore for the Netball World Championship. UTM was led by Aruna at GS, assisted by Nur Ezzainie @Zai at GA. The mid courters were in the faces of Nur Atika @Eker at WA and Siti Sri Dalimah at Centre. They were supported by the defensive end lined by Noor Atikah@Mek at GK, Nor Salfarina at GD and Marian as utility WD.
The same UiTM squadron that swamped the UM lineup a couple of days earlier, took the court led by the captain, Rozliana@Rosie at C and Adde Shah Nadra at WA. The shooting end was manned by Rafidah at GA and GS bib worn by Nurrul Aiera. The circle defenders were Nur Aishah at GD, supported by Nurhayati @ Mek Nor at GK whereas the WD bib belonged to Nor Mastura.
As evidence by the elite status of the UTM contingent, unsurprisingly, they paved the way with 3 unanswered goals within the first few minutes of the game, looking very relaxed and composed as in their previous matches. The delivery of the ball in the midcourt and around the circle was exceptionally beautiful to watch and the conversion was on par, as expected of their status as the current national GA and GS. At one point, the UiTM was left way behind by 6 goals. Nonetheless, half way through the first quarter, the UiTM side stepped up their tempo and mounting pressure on the UTM’s shooters as well as on the midcourters, forcing them into ball handling errors. This wasn’t helped much by the aura of “complacency” visibly seen on court amongst the UTM members, very uncharacteristic of a side filled to the brim by 6 national squad members!!!
UTM Team
On the other hand, playing as an underdog, and displaying “nothing to loose attitude” proved to be the upper hand as the UiTM calculatively and patiently crawled back and trimmed the deficit by half quarter time. The second half proved to be the major winner as the midcourters of UiTM led by player of the match, Rozliana, brilliantly marshaled the game truly to her side’s advantage, banking on very solid defensive pressure and brilliant intercepts by Aishah and Mek Nor at the defensive end, leveling the score. Much to the delight of the spectators, as they could smell another potential upset and raw blood to be shed. Another history was in the making, another giant to be gunned down. And sure enough, in the dying minutes of the last quarter, one timely crucial intercept was all it took to be lethal, as the UiTM side now ahead for the first time soon after converting that crucial intercepted goal. With the next centre pass lining up for them, they played the ball around well, converting everything, putting extra efforts chasing after the ball as well as defending the ball every chance they had and consequently, at the end of the day, winning the match by 30-26. Ultimately, claiming this year’s crown as the premier netball team of Malaysia.
The UiTM side attributed this year’s amazing winning streak against the two netball giants to their continuous, relentless dedication to netball development within their camp as well as to their patience, fighting spirit as well as hunger for more success after years of wearing the 3rd best team tag amongst the universities. This year, as they had reiterated earlier, they wanted more and they definitely achieved it in style and in a flamboyant manner. They were simply magnificent indeed as they ran across court after the match was all over, saluting their supporters and singing their university’s official song full heartedly right in the middle of the court. What a sight!!!!!
The last game of the MASUM was between the UTM and UM held at 12.15pm on Saturday’s 25th June (last year’s grand final match).A consolation match by nature after their matches against the UiTM. On paper, the UTM was definitely the strongest, not to mention the names on it, but UM was also adamant of proving the might of their side, because so much was at stake if losing this game i.e.; the grand final match next year (2012) would be between this match’s winner and the newly crowned this year’s champion i.e. UiTM.
As expected, this one sided game was way and truly out of league for the UM as UTM was sharp, calculated and punishing in every goal third. In stark contrast, UM was hesitant and lack that fighting spirit from the word go. At the end of the day, UTM outsmarted the UM by 42-22.
UiTM TeamBest Player of the Series:
Rozliana Mohd Ridwan (UiTM)
The latest Rankings of Netball for MASUM 2012
Division 1
1. UiTM
2. UTM
3. UM
4. UPM
5. UKM
6. UIAM
7. UUM
8. UNIMAS
Division 2A
1. UPSI
2. USM
3. UMS
4. UTHM
5. UniMAP
6. USIM
Division 2B
1. UMT
2. UMP
3. UniSZA
4. UMK
5. UPNM
Good luck and all the best to our Malaysian Netball Team who would be traveling to Singapore on the 30th June 2011, participating in the World Netball Championship beginning on the 3rd-10th July.
Wassalam
