BANGKOK: Sarawakian referee Mandy Ngieng Sing Tong has described officiating the SEA Games women’s 5×5 basketball final as an “amazing” experience.
She said the high-stakes occasion demanded absolute emotional control from referees throughout the match.
The 29-year-old from Miri was part of the officiating crew for the gold medal match, which saw the Philippines edge Thailand 73–70, marking a significant milestone as she became the first Sarawakian referee to be appointed to a SEA Games women’s basketball final.
Despite the prestige of handling a championship game, Mandy said referees must remain emotionally neutral throughout the contest, particularly during tense moments when the score is close and pressure from players, coaches and fans intensifies.
“Everyone thinks refereeing a final is very exciting and full of pride, but as referees we cannot allow emotions to affect our judgement.
“We have to always be the ones who keep calm. So when we receive the assignment for a game, our crew and partners already start to prepare ourselves. Our mindset and emotions are really important,” she told Sarawak Tribune at the Nimibutr Arena here last night (Dec 19).
She highlighted preparation and experience as key factors in maintaining focus, noting that mental readiness begins long before match day. Rest, emotional control and familiarity with high-pressure situations all play an important role in ensuring consistency on the court.
Mandy also credited the strong teamwork within the officiating crew for helping her navigate the high-stakes encounter.
“I’m really grateful because I had very strong and trusted partners. We communicated well and reminded each other of the important details, such as the game clock, team fouls and warnings,” she added.
The officiating team was led by crew chief Kim Bohui of South Korea, alongside umpire Huang Yun Hsuan of Taiwan, with Mandy serving as the second umpire.
Having started her refereeing journey at the age of 17 in Miri, Mandy now has 12 years of experience and said there was no shortcut to handling pressure at this level.
“It comes from years of practice. Other than focusing on the game, everything else is just noise,” she said.
Emotionally, Mandy said she enjoyed the match and was not overwhelmed by the occasion, stressing that her role was to ensure both teams and spectators could enjoy a fair and well-official game.
