By Kelvin Lim
The sudden withdrawal of Singapore Adroit from the season didn’t hinder Circuit 2 at MABA Stadium, Kuala Lumpur from being an absolute showstopper for basketball enthusiasts with five of the six games finishing in single digits winning margin.
It was clear to see that as the season moved into Circuit 2, teams improved on their chemistry and understanding of their adversaries’ strategies, hence the number of tight encounters we saw last weekend.
With the league now being contested by five teams, the changes to the format will see teams play each other four times.
Qualification for the playoffs remain the same with the top four teams qualifying.
Here’s our weekly Power Rankings!
(All rankings are the personal opinion of the writer)
#1 JOHOR SOUTHERN TIGERS
Overall (4-0) , Circuit 2 (2-0)

Circuit 2 Results
vs NS Matrix Deers 102-99 W (OT)
vs KL Aseel 87-83 W
Johor Southern Tigers remain the only unbeaten team so far with two gritty victories, earning our No.1 slot of our weekly power rankings.
After a comfortable circuit in Penang, the Southern Tigers grinded out a 102-99 overtime win over a Amir William-less NS Matrix Deers. Down by nine in the fourth quarter against the defending champions, the three point barrage of Heng Yee Tong helped them force overtime where they would ultimately emerge the victors through a clutch three from John Wong.
Feeling the effects of their overtime slugfest, the Southern Tigers trailed for most of the game against KL Aseel but once again pushed through late in the fourth to take the win through the late game heroics of Brian Tang and Arinze Chidom.
The team continued to impress with their excellent teamwork, dishing out a season high 35 assists against NS Matrix Deers while averaging the fewest turnovers (14.75 per game) so far.
Despite playing one game less, the Southern Tigers have made the most three pointers so far (66) and lead the league in three point shooting (44.3%).
Circuit 2 Star Performer:-
While star forward Arinze Chidom continues to stuff the stat sheet, our star performer for Johor Southern Tigers is the 27 year old National Team guard from Pengerang, Heng Yee Tong. Yee Tong was instrumental in both wins, dazzling the crowd with his pull up three point bombs and passing. Yee Tong averaged 14.5 PPG and 8 APG in Circuit 2 and is currently second in the league in assists (7.3 APG)
#2 NS MATRIX DEERS
Overall (4-1) Circuit 2 (2-1)

Circuit 2 Results
vs Johor Southern Tigers 99-102 L (OT)
vs UCSI Rising Stars 92-65 W
vs KL Aseel 96-89 W
The defending champions entered Circuit 2 at a huge disadvantage with Amir Williams missing the entire circuit due to illness.
The team performed admirably against Johor Southern Tigers in their circuit opener, limiting MVP candidate Arinze Chidom to only 18 points, but fatigue overtook Wong Yi Hou and Ting Chun Hong who couldn’t make the key baskets down the stretch in overtime, sending them to their first loss of the season.
Despite trailing at the half to UCSI Rising Star in their second game, the Deers blew them apart in the second half, bouncing back in style.
In their third game, the team expertly took advantage of KL Aseel’s fourth quarter foul struggles, outshooting them 25-13 in the final stanza.
Despite no longer being unbeaten, the shorthanded Deers still showed why they are the ‘Mount Rushmore’ of Malaysian basketball, coming away with two wins against full strength opponents.
A noteworthy observation of Circuit 2 has been the below par form of 2022 Local MVP, Ting Chun Hong, averaging only 10.7 PPG, on poor 29% shooting and making only 3 of his 19 three point attempts. The team will surely need him to overcome his slump to improve their odds of back to back championships.
Circuit 2 Star Performer:-
Dequan Abrom aced his assignment of being his team’s lone import and was an absolute menace, averaging 26.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4 APG and 2.3 APG. Abrom’s finest moment was his clutch performance against KL Aseel, leading them to the comeback win with 31 points, including six three pointers.
#3 – UCSI RISING STAR
Overall (1-4) Circuit 2 (1-1)

Circuit 2 Results
vs NS Matrix 65-92 L
vs Penang Sunrise Youngsters 76-72 W
The newcomers received some much needed reinforcements with Lai Kok Weng, Lim Wan Seong, Chong Zhen Yang and Matthew Chin Jin Yen joining up with the team after completing their duties in China with parent club MBC.
The new additions sparked some positive moments against NS Matrix Deers with the team leading at the half before collapsing against the more experienced defending champions with another subpar performance from Steven Toyloy who could only muster 4 points and 5 rebounds in 23 minutes of play.
In their second game, the team stunned Penang Sunrise Youngsters early building an 18 point lead but unfortunately threw it away, eventually finding themselves trailing in the fourth quarter. Despite seeing Tychique Bosango foul out of the game, Rising Star remained composed and managed to come away with the win thanks to the inspired play of their unlikely hero, 24 year old big, Matthew Chin Yen, delivering five points and some key defensive stops en route to their first win of the season, snapping a four game losing streak.
The returning MBC four has certainly provided the team with some much needed depth and size and the team now leads the league in rebounding (39 RPG).
Despite helping Rising Star to the win, it was clear that Steven Toyloy couldn’t meet the team’s requirements and news has surfaced that 28 year old American center, Marcellus Roberts is on the way to replace Toyloy. Coming straight from France after playing for NM1 team, Vitre, Roberts will be in game shape and should be able to compliment his teammates with his athleticism.
Circuit 2 Star Performer:-
The 20 year old guard from Bangi, Chong Zhen Yang showed why he deserves to be considered as a future National Team player with his excellent performance over two games, averaging 16.5 PPG, 5 APG and 3 SPG.
#4 PENANG SUNRISE YOUNGSTERS
Overall (2-3) Circuit 2 (1-1)

Circuit 2 Results
vs KL Aseel 83-77 W
vs UCSI Rising Star 72-76 L
Despite being higher ranked than UCSI Rising Star at the end of Circuit 2, Penang Sunrise Youngster’s shock loss to the newcomers after a morale boosting win over KL Aseel led to us deciding to put them at No.4 on the power rankings this week.
Their Circuit 2 opener saw an incredible plot twist with reinforcements arriving at half time direct from KLIA. Touching down at 6 PM, the MBC trio of Jayson Lee, Phang Yoon Khong and Kiu Guang Yang returned from their duties in China to lead the team to a second half comeback win over KL Aseel with Jayson Lee’s 18 points leading his home state team to the win.
Seemingly overconfident against the winless UCSI Rising Star, Sunrise Youngsters paid for their early game complacency and missed the opportunity to win the game through careless play from Cameron Satterwhite down the stretch.
Still the poorest rebounding team so far, news of Agong Cup MVP, Goh Yan Qing being ruled out for the season doesn’t bode well for the Sunrise Youngsters who will be hungry not to miss out on the playoffs again.
Circuit 2 Star Performer:-
Jordan Tolbert was once doing it all for his team, averaging 20 PPG, 16 RPG, 4.5 APG, 4 SPG and 2.5 BPG but will be ruing the fact he only managed 15 points against the smaller UCSI Rising Star team who only had Steven Toyloy on the court for 22 minutes.
#5 KL ASEEL
Overall (1-4), Circuit 2 (0-3)

Circuit 2 Results
vs Penang Sunrise Youngsters 77-83 L
vs Johor Southern Tigers 83-87 L
vs NS Matrix 89-96 L
‘Frustrating’ is probably an understatement to sum up KL Aseel’s Circuit 2 as the team from the capital city faltered to three defeats in their home city after leading by double digits.
Replacing the injured Anton Gill with 2022 Indonesia Basketball League Finals MVP, Brachon Griffin, KL Aseel had a positive start against Sunrise Youngsters but crumbled in the second half due to a clear lack of chemistry between Griffin and his teammates.
The team had an improved outing against Johor Southern Tigers but once again fell apart late in the fourth, failing to withstand the Johor comeback wave as Griffin failed to convert his late game attempts to salvage the game.
In a true deja vu feel, their third game once again saw them blowing a second half lead as the Amir Williams-less NS Matrix Deers took advantage of Anthony Moe and Kwan Yoong Jing fouling out of the game to deal KL Assel with their fourth straight loss.
The team must find a way to strengthen their mental resolve if they hope to qualify for the playoffs after three morale shattering late game collapses.
KL Aseel are also still struggling badly in the turnover department, averaging 22.6 per game and the team will need to work fast on integrating Brachon Griffin into the team as the import guard is currently averaging a dismal 8.3 turnovers per game.
Circuit 2 Star Performer:-
Guyana National Team Center, Anthony Moe remains the team’s most consistent performer, averaging 25 PPG and 17.3 RPG but will surely be dismayed with fouling out , only playing 25 minutes in the loss against NS Matrix Deers.
