The Kota Kinabalu (KK) U14 Selection Tournament began in the early 2000s when the Malaysia Basketball Association (MABA) decided to host a National U14 Championship. In alignment, the Sabah Basketball Association (SABA) launched a statewide tournament, prompting the Kota Kinabalu Basketball Association (KKBA) to resolutely establish its own district-level selection trials.

In 2003, facing funding challenges, KKBA followed the model of its U16 and U18 tournaments by seeking private sponsorship. Their search led them to Mr. Lee Gee Chung, proprietor of Hiap Loong Tayar Sdn Bhd. A passionate advocate for basketball and education, Mr. Lee readily agreed to sponsor the event during a courtesy visit from the board. That same year, KKBA also secured sponsorship from AD Asia for the U18 category, marking the completion of the association’s “Three Pillars” of youth basketball.

The “Hiap Loong Cup” and Early Success

Named the “Hiap Loong Cup” U14 Selection Tournament, its primary goal was to select representatives for the KK district to compete in the state championships. The inaugural KK U14 boys’ team clinched the state title in its first year and finished as runners-up the following year. Although the state tournament was later suspended due to the cancellation of the national championships, KKBA refused to abandon the event. Today, it remains one of the few district clubs that continues to host U14 competitions.

For the association, the U14 tournament highlights the importance of tiered training. Previously, teenagers transitioning from primary to secondary school lacked opportunities for major competition; they were often too young or physically mismatched for U16 events. Despite the absence of a state-level goal, KKBA recognized the intrinsic value of the U14 bracket and chose to preserve it.

“Cup donor Mr.Lee Gee Chung effectively opened the door for nurturing young talent in the KK region.”

Expansion and Community Connection

In 2007, at Mr. Lee’s suggestion, the Hiap Loong Cup expanded to include a U12 category. This allowed the tournament to span both primary and secondary schools, enabling the association to extend its reach and build friendly ties with local primary education institutions.

Because the tournament is no longer restricted by the state championship schedule, it has grown into a lengthy event, typically held during the school holidays from October to December. To foster family bonds, KKBA organizes “Parent-Child Games” on the final day, featuring free-throw competitions where families can win prizes together.

Now in its 15th year, the Hiap Loong Cup has seen dominant performances from local schools:

KK High School (U14 Boys): The standout performers with 8 titles, including a recent five-year winning streak.

KK High School (U14 Girls): 4-time champions with a three-peat in 2015, before being overtaken by Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School, who now holds 5 titles.

Primary Schools (U12): Shan Tao Primary and Yu Min Primary are fierce rivals, each holding 4 titles. Shan Tao’s girls’ team notably achieved a four-year winning streak.

Innovative Awards and Structural Changes
The tournament goes beyond scoring, offering awards for Best Cheerleading and Best Team Discipline. Since 2012, a “Team Free Throw” competition has also been integrated into every match to improve fundamental skills.

While a misunderstanding led to a lack of sponsorship in 2016, Hiap Loong has funded 14 of the 15 editions. Starting in 2016, following public feedback, the U12 and U14 events were separated into different venues and time slots (U12 in the mornings, U14 in the afternoons/evenings) to better accommodate the growing number of participants.

In 2019, the donor Mr.Lee Gee Chung officially rebranded the “Hiap Loong Cup” as the “BST Cup” , while maintaining both the U14 and U12 categories.