KUCHING: Hero Bowling’s captain, Bong Kihow, expressed his elation after his team clinched an “unbelievable” victory as the overall champions in the Sarawak Hornbill Team Cup 2025.
Speaking to reporters after the prize-giving ceremony at Megalanes Sarawak, Batu Kawa on Feb 16, Bong described the win as a testament to the remarkable teamwork and mental resilience of his squad.
“Chong, Daniel, and I were SUKMA bowlers before. We have bowled together for over 10 years, so throughout the year we have built up great chemistry,” Bong shared.
“Melvin is my junior; he used to be my student. Now, he works with us at Megalanes, but since moving to Miri, he has also become the coach for our Miri programme,” he added.
Bong credited their strong team chemistry as a crucial factor in overcoming the intense pressure of the final moments.
“The final game was incredibly tense. Everywhere you looked, there was pressure.
“You just need that one big game to turn it around, though I am still a little bit speechless, an unbelievable feeling,” he remarked, still in awe of the victory.
Reflecting on the journey to the championship, Bong emphasised the mental toughness required to succeed in such a high-stakes environment.
“You’ve got to beat everyone — not just for the overall championship, but for every single battle along the way,” he exclaimed
Acknowledging the challenges faced throughout the tournament, Bong explained that adaptability was key to their triumph.
“We saw a lot of changes and challenges. Other teams were hitting better scores, so we learned from that.
“We assessed what worked and what didn’t, made the necessary adjustments, and today everything came together,” he added, reflecting on their performance across all categories.
The competition, which ran from Feb 11-16, saw over 200 bowlers from teams across Malaysia and Brunei, including those from Sabah, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kedah, and Brunei Darussalam, making it a thrilling showcase of top-tier bowling talent.
Also present at the prize-giving ceremony were Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development, Morshidi Frederick, Amateur Bowling Tenpin Association of Sarawak president (ABAS), Sunny Si Poh Heng and ABAS vice president, Robert Lu Nam Min.
