TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — National Chengchi University’s Griffins defeated the Forest City Crawdads 71-69 on Sunday to win the 9th Tan See Sung International Men’s Basketball Invitational Tournament in Klang, Malaysia.
The six-day tournament featured teams from Malaysia and the Philippines and is regarded as a prominent basketball exchange event in Southeast Asia. The victory marked the Griffins’ first international appearance since capturing their sixth consecutive University Basketball Association championship in Taiwan, and the team’s first time competing in Malaysia, per CNA.
NCCU head coach Chen Tzu-wei (陳子威) said after the game that he was proud of his players for rebounding from an earlier Group B loss to the Forest City Crawdads. The Griffins responded by winning three straight games to reach the championship, where they earned a chance to avenge the defeat and capture the title.
Chen said the team’s strategy focused on limiting the opponent’s key players during the first half, successfully reducing its offensive production. In the second half, the Griffins emphasized rebounding and interior defense to secure the victory.
He credited the win to the team’s performance in the paint and said he was generally satisfied with the effort. However, Chen noted there was still room for improvement in rebounding and defensive positioning, areas he identified as priorities moving forward.
Commenting on basketball development in Malaysia, Chen said the sport has continued to grow in recent years. He added that tournaments such as the Tan See Sung Cup provide valuable opportunities for local players to compete against international opponents and raise their overall level of play.
Malaysia’s Kluang Basketball Association has organized the tournament since 2015, and Taiwan’s Shih Hsin University won the tournament in 2024. NCCU alumni living in Malaysia attended the championship game to support their alma mater. Following the final, fans gathered around the court to take photos with players and celebrate the team’s victory.
