In a sport often overlooked and under-celebrated, Team Malaysia A’s journey at the SEA Age Group Championships quietly turned heads, and turned the tide.
A squad built on youth, grit and belief, clinched the silver medal in this year’s SEA Age Group Aquatics Championships — a finish that may not yet echo across the nation’s headlines, but will surely ripple through the future of Malaysian water polo.
An All-Malaysian Derby to Start the Storm
The tournament curtain rose with a homegrown clash — Malaysia A against Malaysia B. A brotherly duel on paper, but once the first whistle blew, there was nothing friendly about it. This was Malaysia A’s opening statement, and they delivered it with fire. While the scoreboard read 22–8 in favour of the A squad, it was more than just goals and quarters. It was a statement: this team came prepared.
Brandon Wong, the captain, netted three goals and orchestrated the match with poise. The opening quarter with 8-2 lead set the tone. From Teo Zun Jet to Presley Phang, the attacking lines worked like a well-oiled machine, showing fluid transitions, powerful counterattacks and a hunger for control. While Malaysia B found brief sparks through Benjamin Fung Dejian who netted 3 goals, the “younger brother” couldn’t match the intensity.
MVP for the match: Presley Phang
Day 2 Double Duty: From a Goalstorm to a Grit Test, Malaysia A Finds Fire and Flaws
If Day 1 sparked the engine, Day 2 tested the fuel. Malaysia A dove into a double-header that asked them to be both bold and brave—to juggle disappointment and dominance within the span of a few hours.
The results?
A heart-thudding 13–6 loss to Singapore A followed by a 23–3 rout of the Philippines.
This was a day that revealed both the power and the pulse of this Malaysian squad. A team that could dazzle, yes—but also a team still learning to conquer the chaos of high-stakes moments.
It was a day that began with bruises and ended with belief.
The morning match saw Malaysia A step into the lion’s den — facing off against Singapore A, a team that knew this pool like the back of their hand. The game was intense, physical, and unforgiving.
At halftime, the team trailed by just a single goal (4–5), holding their own against the dominance Singapore. There was grit in their defence, hunger in their counterattacks, and moments of fluid brilliance. But the Q3 changed everything. Singapore dictated the pace. Their passes were cleaner, their defence suffocating. They punched-in six more goals as Malaysia failed to answer their countless attacks.
Malaysia faltered under pressure, committing costly turnovers and struggling to find rhythm in attack. A 13–6 loss wasn’t just a score — it was a cold splash of reality. “We didn’t play to our potential,” Brandon, the Captain admitted. “Playing against them, we realised we still have a lot of work to do if we are to become one of the best in Southeast Asia.”
Despite the loss, the boys braced the storm and bounced back for the 2nd match of the day. Hungry to restore belief after their earlier stumble, they took to the water against the Philippines with a fire that was almost visible.
There was no hesitation, no overthinking — just pure instinct and precision. The scoreline? A thunderous 27–3. But this was more than numbers on a sheet.
Teo Zun Jet lit up the night with six stunning goals, moving like clockwork between defenders, while the other ten teammates added their names to the scoresheet. Every sprint was sharper. Every pass had purpose. And the defence? Ruthless. By the time the final horn sounded, the message was clear: the boys weren’t here to lick their morning wounds, they were here to roar!
Photo credit: Colin Ong
MVP for the match: Teo Zun Jet
Rebuild rhythm. Reclaim belief. Rise of a Leader
New day new challenge! Up next, Singapore B. This opponent came in bold and brash, playing with the energy of youth and the hunger to disrupt Malaysia’s rhythm. The first half was a tug-of-war, ending 3–3, as both teams refused to blink. But when the third quarter began, Malaysia A shifted gears. Teo Zun Jet continued his scoring streak with four goals that came with equal parts precision and poise. Casper Tan bulldozed his way to a gritty hat trick, each goal forged through tenacity.
Still, the heartbeat of the team was Brandon Wong. The captain didn’t just score three goals — he dictated the tempo, calmed the nerves, and made the right reads when it mattered most. His voice echoed in defence, his passes stitched together attacks, and his presence alone elevated the team’s spirit.
MVP for the match: Brandon Wong
The final score read 14–9. However, beyond the scoreboard, it was the way Malaysia A imposed their rhythm that stood out. Control, not chaos. Finesse, not flash.
The Final Roar, Sealing Silver with Soul
Final day! Stakes are high! And the Opponent: Indonesia.
This was the match that would determine the medal. From the very first whistle, it was clear Malaysia had no intention of letting doubt linger. The match opened tight: a 3–3 after the first quarter. By halftime, the boys had inched ahead 7–6.
But in the final stretch, they erupted. Eight goals in the final period — a barrage led by Brandon Wong, Presley Phang, and Teo Zun Jet, each scoring two in the final quarter, sealed a stunning 17–10 victory.
It was a finish forged in discipline, drive, and desire. As the final buzzer rang, silver was theirs. Aidan Wong was named MVP of the match for his crucial contributions and command in the heart of the pool, adding to Malaysia’s all-rounded team performance.
MVP for the match: Aidan Wong
To add a final flourish another accolade: Brandon Wong, named Tournament MVP.
“It means a lot for me and the team,” he shared. “It’s been a long time since Malaysia has won silver in an international event. This proves that the future of water polo in Malaysia is heading in the right direction.”
He also reflected on what it took behind the scenes:
“We trained five days before the tournament. We had a plan. We ate well, we rested, and we believed. This MVP — it belongs to everyone who made that happen. I’ll never forget it.”
That future? It’s already in motion.
Beyond the Deck: Reflections from the Poolside
Head Coach Voon Yong Hui, tasked with moulding a team in days, saw something deeper than a medal.
“It’s not easy — these boys came from different states, trained together only briefly. But they gave it their all. This silver? It’s a start and we are one step further to the preparation of SEA Games”
Team Manager Julian Lim echoed the same sentiment:
“We didn’t set a target. We just told them to play with heart. That’s what they did. And it brought them to the podium.”
A Ripple That Could Become a Wave
Silver doesn’t shine like gold. But sometimes, it reflects something deeper.
This was not just a team that won matches. This was a team that grew — in rhythm, in resilience, in unity. In four days, they found their identity. Not perfect, but powerful.
“We want to be consistently top 3,” Brandon said. “That’s the vision. That’s the hunger that drives us.”
Water polo in Malaysia has never been about limelight. But this team, this moment — it pulled the spotlight in.
