Ramona Wong – C Girls Basketball MVP

Interview by Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports.

Ramona Wong Wei Xuan is a centre in the Unity Secondary C Division girls basketball team. She was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) after her team clinched the championship, beating Dunman Secondary in the C Division Championship Final on 26 August 2008. She is currently in Secondary 2.

Red Sports: Tell me about yourself.
Ramona: I was from Choa Chu Kang Primary School where I used to play badminton. However I became interested in basketball when I was in Primary 5. I thought it was a cool thing for girls to play basketball so I joined. I play in the centre position. My coach put me there because I’m tall and since Primary 6, I’ve been in that position.

How did you feel when Unity qualified for the final?
I was really happy because I honestly did not really expect us to go that far. I actually thought Raffles Girls’, SCGS or Nanyang Girls’ would go in because they are so strong.

How was the run towards the final like?
It was tough. There were many trainings and additional physical trainings. It was difficult for me to cope because training was tough and exhausting, and I had loads of homework to do. It was really tiring. But in the end we still pulled through, so I think it was all worth it.

Any intense / memorable moment you had throughout the entire season?
Yes. We had self trainings and everyone made an effort to come. The never-give-up and fighting spirit that the team had during the semi-final and final match was really unforgettable. Although we were not leading at first, everyone continue to fight and encouraged each other throughout the game. It was really memorable for me.

What did you do to prepare yourself just before the final?
I went jogging at the park near my house to build up my stamina. Partially it was also because I was a little scared. I tried to do some muscle relaxation. My team had talks and we analysed Dunman Secondary's strength and weakness together. Our teachers also gave us little pep-talks to teach us how to cope with our emotions during the final.

How did you feel about / during the game?
I think it was quite a tough fight. Dunman's defense was really tight and it was difficult for us to pass through. I started to panic when they put in the first ball, afraid that we would lose. This game really made us stronger as a team. We built up chemistry and this allowed us to learn from our mistakes. Midway through, I slowly got used to the atmosphere and I wasn’t really scared or nervous anymore. I was able to play to my best. Towards the end, I was not nervous at all. Instead, when I saw that Unity was going to win, I was super happy as this was going to be the first time my team was going to become champions.

How did you feel that after beating so many schools, your team has finally overcome the last hurdle and emerge as champions?
I felt so relaxed. It was like everything was over. The days that passed were really exhausting. It was tough for the whole season. The time we spent for trainings, the times that we had to skip lessons to attend matches all paid off. It’s because we won.

Anybody in particular you would want to credit this win to?
My teammates, coach and my parents, for supporting, motivating and encouraging me throughout the season. My seniors in particular wrote cards to help motivate us to play well for the game.

What was your initial reaction when you found out that you were awarded the MVP?
I was super shocked. I did not even expect myself to receive this award. I feel that I might not have played really well compared to my other team mates. I expected either Li Jun (#14) or my team captain Siti (#6) to win as they played much better than me.

What are your future aspirations?
In the near future, I just hope that I am able catch up with my homework as soon as possible and score well for my end-of-year exams. For next year, I hope that Unity can become champions for B Division!

Any advice for aspiring young players?
My coach always tell us "?????", meaning that when we are on court, it is like we are fighting a war. Just play your best on court and stay calm for every match. Even if you are not leading at first, do not panic. Just stay calm.

Complete this sentence: “If I were able to turn back time, I would…”
"If I were able to turn back time, I would have joined basketball earlier so that I would have realised my love for the game even earlier. I would also try to organise my time better so I can cope with trainings and studies even better."

Related posts:
Unity beat Dunman 63-49 to win C Division Girls Basketball Championship Final