By Jordan Yap — Kuala Lumpur, March 28

They had it.

After two tough outings where they were mostly chasing, this time NS Matrix Deers were ahead—by 20, no less. The crowd at MABA Stadium could feel it. So could the players. And for 30 minutes, it looked like a breakthrough was finally coming.

Then the final three minutes happened. And the ghosts of Games 1 and 2 came rushing back.

The Deers surrendered a 50–30 lead and watched as Indonesia’s Pelita Jaya—making their first appearance in BCL Asia-East, no less—stunned them with a 9–0 closing run to steal an 88–82 win. That’s now three straight losses to open their group stage campaign. But this one? It might sting more than the rest combined.

"Unfortunately today was not the day," head coach Felton Sealey said postgame, his voice equal parts calm and gutted. "I really thought we had this game today, and unfortunately we just couldn't make the plays down the end to close it out against a very well coached team."

"And I'm proud of my team because we fought all the way, except that basketball 40 minutes and we just didn't finish it out in the last three minutes."

This wasn’t just another loss—it was a window into where they are

You could argue the collapse was tactical. Maybe it was fatigue. Maybe it was decision-making. But Sealey didn’t sugarcoat what this game revealed:

"Well, I don't think you grow when you lose, but you get exposed," he said.

Sealey called these "exposure games." Games that show you who you really are when pressure hits. And to his credit, NS Matrix have been fighting—hard. Just not sharp enough when it matters most.

Yet for a team being built not just for this tournament, but with eyes firmly set on a SEA Games podium finish this December in Thailand, there were signs of something deeper taking root.

"From an offensive and defensive standpoint, we’ve improved every game," Sealey said. "But the biggest thing is we improved with our chemistry. Our local players are really starting to play for each other."

That, to Sealey, is non-negotiable. And he’s leaning into positivity as the anchor of a locker room learning what it takes to win under pressure.

"I try to stay as positive as I can with them. We always say, ‘next play,’ because negativity gets you nothing."

The pivot without Mei Mei

With star player Ting Chun Hong—affectionately known as “Mei Mei”—sidelined by a calf strain, it fell to former captain Wong Yi Hou to shoulder the load. And for long stretches, he delivered.

"We played really well in the first half, both on defense and offense," Yi Hou said. "We had many wide open shots and we made them. But we had key turnovers down the stretch. That’s something we can’t accept."

It wasn’t just about production. It was about keeping the team’s spirit from fracturing when the lead began to slip away.

"Even though we lost one of our best players (Mei Mei), we keep reminding each other to stick together and stay united. We’re ready for second cirtuit in Jakarta."

What happens next

This team doesn’t hide from reality. They’re 0–3. The standings say one thing. But the body language, the buy-in, and the moments where it all almost came together—they say something else.

And that’s what Sealey is banking on.

"The biggest takeaway for me is, you know, knowing time, clock, and execution," he said. "When the game is on the line, you've got to execute, and you've got to read the game."

"Because the good teams, they know what you're running, and you've got to have a counter for when they take away your main sets. And that's what we will grow into."

There’s no time for excuses. Not when the second leg of group play kicks off next week in Jakarta, with Pelita Jaya now the host and NS Matrix desperate to get one in the win column.

Because at this point, it’s not just about staying alive in the standings—it’s about proving to themselves they can finish the job they’re learning how to start.