𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐨 𝐉𝐢𝐠𝐦𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐠𝐲𝐚𝐥

…𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒐 𝑱𝒊𝒈𝒎𝒆 𝑵𝒂𝒎𝒈𝒚𝒂𝒍

By Tashi Tshewang

The President’s Cup 2025 concluded on December 17 after ten days of competitive basketball, bringing together teams from across the country in a tournament that combined sporting excellence with remembrance. Held under the theme “One Team, One Dream,” the event was dedicated to the loving memory of Late Dasho Jigme Namgyal, whose vision, discipline, and commitment to youth and sport continue to influence Bhutanese basketball.

The tournament, which ran from December 7 to 17, featured a structured league round followed by decisive matchups that tested team depth, consistency, and tactical discipline. With the league fixtures released ahead of the competition, teams entered the tournament well-prepared, resulting in closely contested games and high levels of participation throughout the event.

Beyond the results and standings, the President’s Cup served as a platform to reinforce values of unity, teamwork, and respect- principles closely associated with Late Dasho Jigme Namgyal’s legacy. Players, officials, and supporters observed the tournament not only as a sporting contest but as a collective tribute to a leader whose guidance and service left a lasting mark on the nation’s sporting community.

Nima Gyaltshen, Head of Referees and Match Commissioner, said, “This year’s President’s Cup was held in loving memory of our late President, Dasho Jigme Namgyal. The tournament was not only about competition, but also about honoring his vision, dedication, and lifelong contribution to the development of basketball.”

He added, “The introduction of a league format allowed every team to play more games, raising the overall standard of competition as players improved with each match, teamwork strengthened, and the quality of basketball steadily increased throughout the tournament, reflecting the high standards Dasho Jigme Namgyal always stood for.”

He further noted, “Managing a tight schedule with numerous matches was challenging, but through close coordination, regular reviews, and strong teamwork among organizers, officials, and volunteers, we were able to ensure the tournament ran smoothly and respectfully.”

Kuenga Gyaltshen of Team Wizards said, “It was better than expected for us. We are an old team, and it has been some time since we last made the finals. This time, we focused on allowing the game to flow rather than forcing any particular aspect. Trusting each other and playing as a unit made a big difference, and that approach helped us perform consistently throughout the tournament.”

Sonam Tashi, coach of Team Pazap, shared, “The team showed strong commitment, discipline, and teamwork throughout the tournament. Although we faced some challenging moments, particularly in maintaining consistency and converting our opportunities, the players responded well under pressure and showed resilience when it mattered.”
He added, “The tournament proved to be a valuable learning experience for the team. It has helped strengthen the squad and given us clear direction on the areas we need to improve as we prepare for future competitions.”

Rinchen Dorji of Team Pazap said, “The biggest challenge for us was maintaining consistency throughout the tournament. During the league rounds, we had to learn how to win games even when we were not at our best, especially since we were placed in a tough group with strong teams playing very different styles.”

He added, “The knockout stages brought a completely different level of pressure, where a single poor quarter could end the campaign, making execution, composure, and collective decision-making critical under intense circumstances. In those moments, staying calm, trusting our strengths, and playing for each other is what ultimately brought us the championship. The short 10-day tournament limited recovery and preparation time, so communication on the court, trust in each other’s roles, and quick adjustments were essential. The biggest lesson for us is that preparation and mindset matter just as much as talent, and when trust and communication are strong, a team can overcome any pressure.”

Pem Choki, from Team Griffins, said, “At first, during the first three league matches, our game didn’t go well. I had recruited three new players, and our team coordination was quite poor. On top of that, we didn’t have a coach guiding us initially.”

He explained that changes before the semifinals made a big difference. “For the semifinals, I requested one experienced player from the Army team to guide us. We then focused more on team practice, and our coach revised our game strategy, clearly assigning the first five and second five players. From that point, our performance improved significantly.”

Pem Choki added, “The semifinal game went extremely well, especially our defense, which played a key role. We carried the same approach and strategy into the finals, and it worked effectively, helping us perform consistently at a high level.”

Hingten of Team Powerpuff Girls said, “The biggest challenges we faced came from entering the tournament without our core lineup, as several of our regular players were unavailable. Within a very short period and with very few practice sessions together, we had to integrate five new players into our lineup and rebuild our team chemistry. Early on, building chemistry was tough, and the rising intensity of the games tested us further as we adjusted to each other’s styles under pressure.”

She noted that the tournament format, with multiple league-stage games and shorter rest periods, provided valuable court time that accelerated their growth as a team. “This repetitive exposure helped us stay disciplined and develop teamwork organically through shared successes and setbacks. By the semifinals, our game awareness had improved dramatically, we were helping on defense instinctively and making smarter decisions under pressure.”

She added, “Most importantly, it reminded us how precious these opportunities are, especially for women’s basketball where tournaments are rare. Playing in honor of our late basketball president added extra meaning and motivated us to give everything. This runner-up finish has strengthened our mindset, teaching us to embrace adversity as a growth opportunity, stay positive as a group, and value every chance to compete at this level. It has only made us hungrier for future success.”