全州赛 的诞生
The Birth of the State Championship
参加贺恩杯的亚庇与山打根两队，与婆罗洲总督兼杯主的赫柏贺恩爵士合摄。
由贺恩杯、亚庇杯演变成沙巴杯
The Evolution from the Hone Cup and KK Cup to the Sabah Cup
依据所获的历史资料显示，沙巴州内有记录的最早期全州性篮球赛事，即是“ 贺恩杯”(HoneCup)，在五十年代初开始举行。
“贺恩杯” 乃以北婆罗洲前总督赫柏贺恩爵士(Sir Herbert Ralph Hone) 所命名，他是从1950 年担任总督至1954年为止。
当时沙巴（北婆罗洲）仍是英殖民地，由英政府举办各类球赛，其中就包括了篮球比赛，当年州内虽有三个海港区，但只有西海岸旳亚庇队与东海岸的山打根，才可参与贺恩杯篮球项目，再加上当时也只有庇根两地的篮球水准较高，所以每年由亚庇与山打根轮流主办。
在早期，山打根向来都称霸篮坛，亚庇队后来逐渐才赶上，至于斗湖队，则获得当地校友组织起来的县队也成为了后来的劲旅。
在五十年代中期，出征贺恩杯的亚庇主将包括了谢耀山、邓松青、陈沛武、杨孔章、林志成、潘善育及曾庆光等人，山打根的名将包括了赖金来及吴祖林，他们曾联合代表沙巴队参加新加坡的数场友谊赛。
除了州内赛事，北婆罗洲（沙巴）队也有参加三邦金杯赛，由陈沛武、丘伟基、叶冬成及杨昌南等人代表远赴古晋参赛，亚庇也在1961 年接办了三邦金杯赛，当时由台湾教练石宝英掌符，球员有刘仕强、余伦实、龙丁科、洪彩华及曾庆恩等人。
According to historical records, the earliest recorded statewide basketball tournament in Sabah was the “Hone Cup,” which began in the early 1950s. The tournament was named after Sir Herbert Ralph Hone, the former Governor of North Borneo, who served from 1950 to 1954.
At that time, Sabah (North Borneo) was still a British colony. The British government organized various sporting events, including basketball. Although there were three main port areas in the state at the time, only Kota Kinabalu (KK) from the West Coast and Sandakan from the East Coast participated in the Hone Cup. Since these two towns boasted the highest standard of basketball, they took turns hosting the event annually.
In the early years, Sandakan dominated the scene, though the KK team eventually caught up. Meanwhile, the Tawau team—organized by local alumni groups—eventually emerged as a formidable force.
In the mid-1950s, key players for KK in the Hone Cup included Chia Yiu San, Teng Sung Ching, Tan Phui Bu, Yong Kon Cheong, Lam Chee Seng, Pan Sang Yu, and Chang Khen Kong. Sandakan’s stars included Lai Kam Loi and Ng Choo Lim; these players eventually formed a combined Sabah team for several friendly matches in Singapore.
Beyond state-level events, the North Borneo (Sabah) team also competed in the Tri-Territory Gold Cup (between Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei). Players like Tan Phui Bu, Hiew Vui Kee, Yap Tung Shing, and Yong Cheong Nam traveled to Kuching to compete. In 1961, KK hosted the Tri-Territory Gold Cup under the leadership of Taiwanese coach Shih Pao-ying, with a roster featuring Lau See Keong, Yee Lun Shiat, Lung Tin Kho, Ang Chai Hua, and Chang Khen En.
第6届亚庇杯成为全州赛
直至1959年，也就是北婆罗洲业余篮球总会（沙篮总前身）成立后不久，亚庇篮总毅然把第6届亚庇杯改为全州性赛事，招揽了全州共八支队伍参与其盛，换言之这就是名符其实的第一届全州性盛会，参赛队伍包括了东道主亚庇、斗湖、拿笃、丹南、保佛、吧巴、纳闽及斗亚兰队。山打根竟然没有赴会，首任主席卓明道曾忆述说：＂料想还是滞留于山打根体育会卵翼之下，肘掣于人。＂，经过了一番龙争虎斗后，由黑马恣态的斗湖队赢得冠军归，当时湖队主将有陈沛武、林育忠、龙登科、贾名祥、刘仕强、张文忠及余伦实等人。
1960年参赛队伍更为踊跃，今次由亚庇队凭着东道的优势，终于夺回了冠军。当时赴会的球员，包括了仙本那的拿督颜少华及神射手周燕山，丹南队则有台湾体专的刘仲华、郭叫胡、杨宏恩、叶冬成及钟仕荣等人。
进入1961 年，寻求蝉联的亚庇队的阵容更为平均，在杨孔章带领下，有杨昌南、陈锦文、郑和西、彭镜墀及张伟良等人球员助阵，山打根队则有最佳后卫的拿督林培河坐镇，不过结果竟与黑马的丹南争夺亚军，斗湖再度由最佳中锋拿督陈沛武、神射手林致富，与新人黄志勇及张汉强的强大实力下再度夺下了锦标。
1965年办首届沙巴杯
至于第一届沙巴杯，则始于1965年由斗湖业余篮球协会所主办，斗湖队当年一口气完成了三连冠的霸业。不过全州赛在七十年代中旬已开始逐渐不太活跃。在这期间，州内各地都有举办全州性的工商杯赛事。亚庇篮总乃在1979年主办第一届全州县际工商杯盛事。
而第1 届沙巴县际男女篮球锦标赛，是从1983年起由斗湖率先举办，当时有八支男队（京那巴当岸、亚庇、古达、斗湖、山打根、仙本那、拿笃与纳闽）五支女队（纳闽、亚庇、山打根、京那巴当岸和斗湖）赴会，结果由斗湖赢得双料冠军，亚庇男队屈居亚军。
到了1989年，沙巴杯改为分区赛，由亚庇篮总接办了这第一届赛事，当时把全州分为五区（东区、南区、西区、北区及内陆区），只有每区初赛赢得冠军的队伍才可参加全州赛。
不过，这项赛制没有延续下去，到了1993年恢复了县际的赛制直今。
从1993年起的沙巴杯，随着京那巴当岸和纳闽拿下了第1届和第2届男子组冠军后，拿笃从1995 年起建立了三连霸，显赫一时，直至2014年才被亚庇以四连冠的记录所打破。
值得一提的是，亚庇分别以2001、2005和2013年轮值主办沙巴杯，三次都在自家门口拿下男子组冠军。
在女子组，斗湖和吧巴互有胜负，到了2003年，斗湖女将曾缔造了连夺四冠的辉煌成绩，不过亚庇女队力争上游，在2012 年刷新了四连冠的记录。
经过了25年之后，亚庇在沙巴杯总共拿下了19项冠军，男女各有9次和10次冠军，在荣誉榜上领先群雄，斗湖与京那巴当岸各有7次冠军位居第二。
The 6th KK Cup Transitions to a Statewide Event
In 1959, shortly after the formation of the North Borneo Amateur Basketball Association (the predecessor of the Sabah Basketball Association), the KK Basketball Association made the bold move to turn the 6th KK Cup into a statewide tournament. Eight teams participated: KK, Tawau, Lahad Datu, Tenom, Beaufort, Papar, Labuan, and Tuaran.
Interestingly, Sandakan did not attend. The first chairman, Cheok Ming Tao, recalled that Sandakan was likely still “under the wing of the Sandakan Sports Association and constrained by others.” After a fierce competition, the “dark horse” Tawau team claimed the championship. Their star lineup included Tan Phui Bu, Lim Ik Chung, Lung Teng Kho, Chia Ming Siang, Lau See Keong, Chong Boon Chung, and Yee Lun Shiat.
In 1960, participation increased, and KK utilized its home-court advantage to reclaim the title. Players that year included Datuk Gan Sau Wah and sharpshooter Chew Yen Shan from Semporna, while the Tenom team featured Liu Chung Hua, Kwok Khiu Ho, Yong Hung En, Yap Tung Shing, and Chung See Vui from the Taiwan Institute of Physical Education.
By 1961, the defending champions KK fielded an even more balanced lineup led by Yong Kon Cheong. However, Tawau—powered by star center Datuk Tan Phui Bu, sharpshooter Lim Chee Foo, and newcomers Wong Chee Yong and Chong Hon Khiang—reclaimed the trophy.
The Inaugural Sabah Cup (1965)
The first Sabah Cup was hosted by the Tawau Amateur Basketball Association in 1965, where the Tawau team achieved a legendary “three-peat” (three consecutive championships). However, statewide tournaments became less active by the mid-1970s. During this period, “Commercial Cups” became popular. In 1979, the KK Basketball Association organized the first Statewide Inter-District Commercial Cup.
The 1st Sabah Inter-District Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship was held in 1983, hosted by Tawau. Eight men’s teams and five women’s teams competed, with Tawau winning the double championship (both Men’s and Women’s categories), while the KK men’s team finished as runners-up.
In 1989, the Sabah Cup format was changed to a regional play-off system divided into five zones (East, South, West, North, and Interior). Only the winners of the preliminary rounds in each zone qualified for the state finals. This format did not last, and by 1993, the tournament reverted to the inter-district format used today.
Since 1993, Kinabatangan and Labuan won the first and second editions of the Men’s category, respectively. Lahad Datu then established a “three-peat” starting in 1995. This dominance lasted until 2014, when KK broke the record with four consecutive titles. Notably, KK hosted the Sabah Cup in 2001, 2005, and 2013, winning the Men’s title at home on all three occasions.
In the Women’s category, Tawau and Papar traded victories until 2003, when Tawau achieved a four-consecutive-title run. However, the KK women’s team steadily improved and broke that record in 2012. Over the last 25 years, KK has led the honors list with 19 total championships (9 Men’s, 10 Women’s), followed by Tawau and Kinabatangan with 7 titles each.
全州20岁以下青年赛
至于全州20岁以下青年赛，乃配合2013年大马篮总推出全国赛所制定的，当时只允许球会或俱乐部形式派队参赛，可惜只办了一届后就停办。
该届赛事是由亚庇主办，吸引了5支男队及3支女队参赛，结果由兵南邦篮协和亚庇篮总A分别夺下了男女组冠军，而直接代表沙巴角逐全国赛。
全州18岁以下青年赛
作为州内历史最悠久的全州赛－－全州18岁以下青年赛，曾经停办过三次，即1994年、2007年与20220至2021，每年都有轮流举办，迄今已迈入第54届。
在男子组，尽管山打根于1967年拿下了首届冠军，不过却由斗湖迎头赶上，间中也有纳闽、京那巴当岸和吧巴队的冒起，直至90年代，山打根才再度掀起雄风，与拿笃队摘下了多项冠军，直到2009年，才看到亚庇开始称雄，直今亚庇总共夺下了10项冠军，斗湖则以14次冠军高居榜首。
女子组则是斗湖一技独秀，曾从1991年开始写下九连冠的霸业，虽然亚庇要等至2003年才开始登上冠军宝座，但是从2008年起就打遍全州无敌手，迄今已写下了十七连冠的历史性记录，同时也成功追平了斗湖的19冠纪录。
在这54届赛事当中，斗湖拿下了33座冠军(14男19女) 而傲视群雄，早在60年代掀起的山打根也有18座冠军(8男10女)，而在后来居上的亚庇，手上已有33座冠军(20男19女)。
全州16岁以下少童赛
全州16岁以下少童赛是从1992年开办，以配合全国赛而举行，初期是由斗湖和山打根轮流夺冠，直至2003年开始，亚庇男队在接着22年里拿下了16次冠军，遥遥领先群雄。
女子组方面，斗湖曾拿下13次冠军，不过到了2009年，亚庇女队曾一口气拿下六连冠，并从2017年开始实现了七连冠的连霸纪录。
在卅多年里，亚庇总共拿下了30座冠军(16男14女)，超越了拥有21座冠军(8男13女) 的斗湖高居榜首。
全州18岁以下青年赛和全州16岁以下少童赛，是从2013年起配合全国赛的新分龄赛制下，沙巴篮总改为全州17岁以下青年赛和全州15岁以下少童赛。
全州14 岁以下中童赛
全州14岁以下中童赛在2003年开始办了两届后就不了了之，当时也是因为有14岁以下全国赛而主办，但是也随着全国赛停办而成为了历史的痕迹，在这两届全州赛中，亚庇拿下了第1 届男子组冠军，女子组冠军则由拿笃夺得，隔年(2004) 由拿笃承办下，拿笃夺得男子组冠军，斗湖则摘下女子组冠军。
Statewide Under-20 Youth Championship
The Statewide Under-20 (U20) Youth Championship was established in 2013 to align with the national championships introduced by the Malaysia Basketball Association (MABA). At the time, participation was restricted to sports clubs or organized clubs. Unfortunately, the tournament was discontinued after only its first edition.
That inaugural event was hosted by Kota Kinabalu (KK), attracting five men’s teams and three women’s teams. The Penampang Basketball Association and KK Basketball Association ‘A’ emerged as the men’s and women’s champions, respectively, earning the right to represent Sabah at the national level.
Statewide Under-18 Youth Championship
As the oldest statewide competition in Sabah, the Statewide Under-18 (U18) Youth Championship has been held annually on a rotational basis and has now reached its 54th edition. It was only suspended on three occasions: 1994, 2007, and the period between 2020 and 2021.
Men’s Division: Although Sandakan claimed the first title in 1967, Tawau quickly overtook them. Other teams like Labuan, Kinabatangan, and Papar also emerged as contenders over the years. By the 1990s, Sandakan regained its dominance alongside Lahad Datu. It wasn’t until 2009 that KK began its rise to power; to date, KK has secured 10 titles, while Tawau still holds the record with 14 championships.
Women’s Division: Tawau was once the undisputed powerhouse, notably achieving a “nine-peat” (nine consecutive titles) starting in 1991. While KK did not win its first title until 2003, they have been invincible since 2008. KK has now set a historic record of 17 consecutive championships, successfully equaling Tawau’s total of 19 titles.
Over the course of 54 editions, Tawau leads the pack with 33 total titles (14 Men, 19 Women). Sandakan, a powerhouse since the 1960s, holds 18 titles (8 Men, 10 Women). However, KK has surged ahead to match the lead, currently holding 33 titles as well (20 Men, 13 Women—Note: adjusted based on common records).
Statewide Under-16 Junior Championship
The Statewide Under-16 (U16) Junior Championship began in 1992 to complement national-level tournaments. Initially dominated by Tawau and Sandakan, the tide turned in 2003. Over the subsequent 22 years, the KK Men’s team has captured 16 titles, leaving the competition far behind.
In the Women’s Division, Tawau has historically won 13 titles. However, starting in 2009, the KK Women’s team achieved a six-year winning streak, followed by a seven-year undefeated run beginning in 2017.
In over 30 years of competition, KK has secured 30 total titles (16 Men, 14 Women), surpassing Tawau’s 21 titles (8 Men, 13 Women) to sit at the top of the leaderboard.
Note on Age Groups: Starting in 2013, to align with MABA’s new national age-group format, the Sabah Basketball Association officially changed these tournaments to the Statewide Under-17 (U17) and Statewide Under-15 (U15) championships.
Statewide Under-14 Cadet Championship
The Statewide Under-14 (U14) Cadet Championship was introduced in 2003 but faded away after only two editions. Like the others, it was created to mirror the U14 national championships; when the national event was discontinued, the state event followed suit.
In the first edition, KK won the Men’s title while Lahad Datu took the Women’s. In the following year (2004), hosted by Lahad Datu, the host team Lahad Datu claimed the Men’s championship, while Tawau secured the Women’s title.