Asean Basketball League The Brunei Barracudas 1st Tune-up match.

Barracudas bare teeth in friendly
By James Kon


Leonidez Avenido lobbing the ball into the net.



Towering Lonnie Jones in a dunking mood. - PHOTOS: JAMES KON





The newly formed Brunei's Barracudas team showed they are the country's new basketball powerhouse after sweeping away Brunei Pepsi cup finalist's Linktech team in a tune up friendly played last night.

The one-sided match up was already over in the third quarter when the all-Filipino Linktech trailed Barracudas 42-100, and the scorekeeper stopped keeping track.

The win was especially sweet for Barracudas player Leonidez Avenido, who celebrated his birthday yesterday.

The Barracudas combined with the Liga Bumiputra basketball team.
Head coach Bong of Barracudas said "to gauge the team's execution of plays, tonight we played our first tune-up game against Linktech.

"We have been practicing with six or seven players and only today we have all 12 players for training. I am trying out different players in various executions of offence and defence during tonight match to look at my rotation of players.

"There is still room for improvement. As long as the players give me 40 per cent for the matches, it will be enough. I don't expect 110 per cent because there is no one in any basketball team who can do that."

Comparing the local players with players in other Asean nations, he said, " players from Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are of different levels. I am hoping that the local players can play hard defence".

Speaking about the seven footer Lonnie Jones, "as long as he can run, play and defence. I am happy. We need a centre and the three Filipino imports will be playing forward and guards."

On the complete team roster, coach Bong said, " I am expecting the arrival of another import on Monday. On the recruitment of local players, I am thinking of taking up new local players."

Miss Nadzaty Azma Azeez of Everwide Sports Company, the owner of the team said, "although I have no idea about the game of basketball, I know that the team are in good shape and are ready to face the Singapore Slinger in an away game on Oct 11."

The Barracudas team have Lonnie Jones, Francis Kiko Adriano, Celedon Camaso and Leonidez Avenido and five confirmed local players: Benjamin Lim, Xavier Fong, Edmond Tan, Presley Ho and Benjamin Sim.


Source: BORNEO BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS

The Brunei Barracudas Foreign Import Lonnie Jones

Photos courtesy of www.bruneibasketball.com

Full Name: Lonnie P. Jones
Position: Center
College: Ball State
Height: 7-0
Weight: 228 lbs.
High School: Wallace HS (Gary, Ind.)
Birthdate: November 8, 1979
Birthplace: Gary, Ind.


HIGHLIGHTS

Established Mid-American Conference and Ball State career blocked shots records with 301 rejections.

Finished senior season 21st in nation in blocked shots (2.6 bpg).

Total of 89 blocks set new school single-season record.
Started 51 of final 53 games of his career.

Ranks eighth in school history in career rebounds.

Owns Ball State’s first-, third-, fourth- and fifth-best single-season block totals.

Averaged 2.5 rejections for his career.

At the 2002 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, averaged 9.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots.



AT BALL STATE

Missed only one game of senior season (Central Michigan, sore knee).

Topped team in blocks and was second in rebounding (5.4 rpg) and fourth in scoring.

Also led conference in blocks and defensive rebounds (116, 3.4 drpg).

Rejected four or more shots in 12 different games.

Tied career-high with seven blocks against Buffalo.

Posted double-double against Indiana, scoring 10 points and hauling in 11 rebounds to go with two blocks.

Scored season-high 15 points vs. IPFW.

As a junior, averaged 25.8 minutes while starting the final 18 games of the season.

Scored in double figures 14 times and reached double digits in rebounding six times.

Recorded three double-doubles.

Notched three or more blocks 13 times.

Scored career-high 23 points against Marshall.

As a sophomore, was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week two times.

Topped team in blocks and field goal percentage and paced MAC in blocked shots while ranking
14th in rebounding (6.1 rpg) and 14th in defensive rebounding (128, 4.1 drpg).

Led team or tied for team lead in rebounding seven times.

Tallied at least four blocks 10 times.

Rejected career-high-tying seven shots against both Western Michigan and Miami University (MAC Tournament Championship Game).

Scored season-high 18 points against Western Michigan in regular season finale.

Averaged 14.5 minutes as a freshman.

Led team and MAC in blocked shots.

Posted his first career double-double against Buffalo with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Had six games with four or more blocks, eight games with three or more rejections, 16 with two or more and 20 with at least one.

Upped rebounding during league games to 5.1 rpg, compared to 4.3 rpg overall.


Source: http://www.bruneibasketball.com/