Mamba Select Wins U15 Championship, Lin Bor-en Eyes HBL

Mamba Select clinched the U15 championship title in the U19 Basketball League, overcoming a halftime deficit against the formidable Xinming Junior High School. The decisive shift came when Mamba Select's coach, Chen Jianhao, moved key forward Lin Bor-en to point guard. This strategic move disrupted Xinming's tight zone defense, allowing Mamba Select to rally and secure the victory.

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Listening to the final whistle, seeing the confetti fall, and watching these children excitedly embrace and cry, as a coach, the emotion is indescribable. Xinming Junior High's strength is formidable, and their defensive formations are very challenging.

Xinming Junior High, led by former SBL player Zhang Yiming, initially put Mamba Select under pressure with their defense, leading to a 16-18 halftime score. However, Lin Bor-en's height and ball-handling skills at point guard proved effective. Mamba Select's defense also adapted with a 1-2-2 zone, enabling a crucial 15-8 run. The game remained close, with Mamba Select ultimately securing the win thanks to a critical offensive rebound by Lai Guan-you.

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From the start of the game, we encountered unexpected turbulence. Several key shooters were injured on the court, significantly weakening our outside firepower, and we were even left with only one stable offensive point struggling to hold on. But even with poor shooting and an unfavorable situation, they remembered my instructions: maintain composure on the court, don't dwell on mistakes, and focus on playing the next ball well. This attitude of never giving up is precisely why we were able to stay close in the score.

Coach Chen Jianhao expressed immense pride in his team's resilience, noting their ability to overcome early setbacks, including injuries to key shooters. He emphasized the importance of maintaining composure and focusing on the next play, a mindset that proved vital. Chen also highlighted the team's three-year development and the collective effort that led to this significant championship, which is their second in this phase and fuels their ambition for a three-peat in the upcoming Diamond group competition.

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This championship is the most beautiful fruit of our team's three-year plan. Not only did we win the second championship in this phase, but we are also preparing for the Diamond group competition next week, moving towards the ultimate goal of a three-peat.

Xinming Junior High's coach, Zhang Yiming, acknowledged the valuable experience gained from the U19 League, praising the quality of the competition and facilities. He noted that the league helped integrate younger players and provided crucial real-game experience for their future development. Meanwhile, Lin Bor-en, who is graduating junior high, revealed his intention to join the prestigious Nengren High School basketball team, aiming to continue his journey in the highly competitive HBL.

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Through participating in the U19 League's series of events, our team has gained a great deal. The league provides very high-quality hardware and venues, allowing children to compete in comfortable arenas and experience different levels of competition atmosphere. Such events not only help us smoothly integrate the eighth and ninth-grade player rosters but also allow these children who love basketball to adapt to different environments early and gain valuable practical experience. This is irreplaceable nourishment for their future basketball development.