National basketball player dies in China

National basketball player, Jacky Ng Kiat Kee, 25, passed away while representing the country in an Invitational tournament in China, believed to be due to a heart attack, yesterday.

Malaysian Basketball Association (MABA) secretary-general Chey Tat Woon, who confirmed Jacky Ng's death said the player was seated on the reserve bench during a match in Jinjiang when he collapsed at about 4.30pm and pronounced dead at 7pm while receiving treatment in a hospital.

"A MABA official and the late Jacky Ng's parents are in China to make the necessary arrangements to fly the body back to Malaysia. The death of Jacky Ng is a great loss to the team and the country," he told Bernama, here, today.

Chey said after the Invitational tournament in China, the National squad was down to compete in the FIBA Asia Basketball Championship in Manila, the Philippines, next month and prepare for the SEA Games in Myanmar, come December.

The late Jacky Ng who is 1.96m tall and represented Sarawak Firehorse Club, was picked to represent the National squad last year after impressing the National selectors during the Agong's Cup Basketball Championship and the Malaysian National Basketball League.