By Leslie Tan

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Law Wei Song of Republic Polytechnic, a member of the adidas U-18 squad. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports)

The best Under-18 basketball players in Singapore will go head-to-head in a highly-anticipated match this Saturday, March 15, 2008 at Catholic High School. To add to the excitement, there will also be a 3-point shootout contest before the match between the National Under-18 team and the adidas Under-18 selection. 35 B Division basketballers will contest the shootout to see who is the king of 3-pointers.

The adidas Under-18 team was selected at the end of 2007 after a trial and they have been training together every Saturday for this game against National Under-18s.

The two best players in the game will be selected for the adidas Nations camp in Shanghai, China from May 18 to 24, 2008, where they will join other players from Australia, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Elite coaches from the United States of America will train the players to compete against other teams from China and America.

If you are a basketball fan, this Saturday will be a treat for you, and so come on down with your friends to check out the 3-point contest and watch the game to see if your choice of the best two players matches that of the coaches. Entry is free and all are welcome.

Programme for Saturday, March 15, 2008 at Catholic High School:

9:00 a.m. – 3-point shootout practice for those who signed up
10:30 a.m. – Start of 3-point shootout contest
12:00 p.m. – National Under-18s vs adidas Under-18s


Rules for 3-point contest:

Each player will have 1 minute to shoot 25 balls placed at 5 racks on the 3-point line.

There will be 5 balls in each rack and each ball is worth 1 point except the last ball which will carry 2 points.

If a player steps on the 3-point line, that is a foul and the ball will not count.

The top 5 players will qualify for the shootout final to be held during the half-time break of the adidas Nations selection match between the National Under-18s and the adidas Under-18s.

The winner will receive two pairs of adidas basketball shoes while the other four who made it to the final will receive one pair each.

The players who are competing in the 3-point shootout are:

Aaron Wong – Catholic High
Andy Ong Yeow Teck – Mayflower
Adrian Sebastian Kohar – Maris Stella High
Adrian Yeo – Pioneer Junior College
Alton Kow Guan Leong – Balestier Hill
Auston Quek – Catholic High
Ang Wei Xuan – River Valley High
Benjamin Foo – Yusof Ishak
Bryan Koh – Catholic High
Chong Rui Kun – Ahmad Ibrahim
Colin Tan – ITE Ang Mo Kio
Dan Ramsie Maturan Cinco – Ahmad Ibrahim
Darryl Tong An Ting – Peirce
Desmond Heng – Fairfield Methodist
Desmond Poh Jia Jun – ITE College East Simei
Don Tang Jun Zhong – Hougang
Duncan Koh – Catholic High
Edwin Tan Zhi Xiang – Ahmad Ibrahim
Fandy Cendrajaya – Balestier Hill
Gan Kokk Kien – Deyi
Hao Yang – Fairfield Methodist
Ignatius Cher – Catholic High
Jadrien Loh Jia Wei – Chung Cheng High (Yishun)
Jerry Toh Han Shin – Peirce
Jonathan Lam – Chung Cheng High (Yishun)
Khoo Da Wei – Hougang
Larry Liauw Ling Han – Hougang
Leong Jie Yong – Pioneer Junior College
Leong Wei Hao – Catholic High
Lionel Kok – Pioneer Junior College
Lim Chong Mou – Catholic High
Martin Lam En Yi – Catholic High
Poh Tian Han – Deyi
Tan Bai Yong – Peirce
Wong Chuan Sheng – ITE Macpherson
Yeo Bin – Balestier Hill

If you think you would like to give it a try, you can come down on the day and sign up to take part in the 3-point contest. We’ll accept registrations on the day unless we run out of time for you to take part.