Ulaanbaatar—The first two nights were brutal.
South Korea ran them out of the gym. China doubled that humiliation, a 56-point reminder of the gulf between Malaysian youth basketball and Asia’s elite. By the time the U16 national team walked into MBank Arena for their third group game, it was less about rankings and more about resilience. How much could they take? How much did they still believe?
Turns out, they found their rhythm, with Cameron Jeremie Pagbe Tan leading the charge.
In the span of one quarter, the 16-year-old from Selangor delivered the kind of performance that can alter a tournament’s tone. He ripped the ball four times, piled up 15 of his 23 points, and turned a fragile 10-point halftime lead into a 28-point stranglehold.
Mongolia, the hosts, wilted under Malaysia’s full-court press, committing 36 turnovers in a 79-57 loss. The win secured Malaysia third place in Group C and a ticket to the quarter-finals play-in game against Iran.
Jeremie was everywhere: flying into passing lanes, pushing the break, and finishing through contact. His nine steals matched the entire Mongolian team’s total. And yet, when asked about it, he shrugged. “I feel good, but I know it’s just one game,” he said afterward. “My focus is on helping the team win, whether it’s scoring, defense, or making plays.”
That humility is part of what makes him compelling. Wearing No. 77, Jeremie—whose father is from Cameroon and mother is Malaysian—didn’t begin taking basketball seriously until age 13. By 15, he was named the Most Promising Player at the U15 Lum Mun Chak Cup National Championship. Now, three years later, he’s leading Malaysia’s charge on the Asian stage.
Asked if he felt relief after finally notching a win, he admitted, “Yeah, for sure it felt like a relief. We’ve been fighting hard, so getting that first win felt good. After the buzzer, I was just thinking about how we can keep this momentum against our next opponent Iran.”
It’s not just the box score. It’s the way he frames his own role—accountable, yet unsatisfied. “Even though I had a good game, I feel like I could’ve made better decisions on offense, defense, and cut down on some mistakes,” he said. The self-critique reveals a player aware of his ceiling but unwilling to coast on promise.
Malaysia needed that kind of voice. The U16 side looked overwhelmed in their first two outings. The step up from regional competition to facing powerhouses like Korea and China can feel like a sudden shock. Mongolia, on paper, was the reprieve. But on their home court, the hosts threatened to make it complicated. When they answered Malaysia’s 17-0 run with a 10-0 surge of their own, the game tightened.
That’s when Jeremie imposed himself. One steal, then another. Transition layup. Another steal and score. A deflection that turned into a fast-break layup. The momentum had shifted permanently.
By the time the third quarter ended, Malaysia led 65-37. For once, there was no anxiety, just clarity.
Mikel Rohit Kingsley Daniel
Jeremie wasn’t alone. Another mixed-heritage forward, Mikel Rohit, added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Sham Wei Kun chipped in 15 points and four steals. Together, they pressed and swarmed, turning Mongolia’s guards into targets.
But the story of the night was Jeremie, and what he represents. His performance showed that Malaysia, even after heavy defeats, can find belief in teamwork and persistence. His story is one of many young players whose different backgrounds and steady growth are shaping the country’s basketball identity.
Sham Wei Kun
Iran awaits in the quarter-finals play-in game, a tougher opponent than Mongolia. Jeremie knows what that means. “We need to stay locked in on defense, control the boards, and play at our own momentum,” he said. Asked to sum up his expectations, he didn’t hesitate: “I expect us to come out with focus, intensity, and give everything we have to get another win.”
In Ulaanbaatar, the final buzzer on Mongolia was more than just Malaysia’s first win. It was the sound of a teenager, barely three years into taking the game seriously, announcing himself. One game doesn’t make a career. But sometimes one night can light the path forward. For Malaysia, and for Jeremie, this was that night.
