By Les Tan

51 basketball players have signed up for a trial this Saturday November 15th in hopes of making the second round draft of the adidas Nations League.

The adidas Nations League comprises of four teams – Reds, Whites, Golds, Blacks – and some of the best youth ballers on this island will make up their squads. The coaches of the four teams selected 43 players for the first round of the draft selection that will be conducted at 12pm this Saturday at Catholic High.

The four teams will play a round-robin league in February 2009 next year over a few weekends and two of the best players will get a chance to attend the adidas Nations camps in China and the United States where they will go up against the best Asian and American ballers.

The 51 hopefuls aiming to make the second round draft will have their work cut out for them as they try to force their way into one of four teams.

Said Coach Ong Yao Kwang of the Golds team: “We’ll see how they perform as a leader, as a team. If they can catch our eye, we will draft them in.”

His Golds team will be looking out for two centres, four forwards and four guards to make up their provisional team for the league. All four teams will announce a final squad of 12 at the end of the year.

Ballers who are concerned that they won’t stand a chance to get into the second round draft will be reassured by what coach Ong has to say.

“We might have missed out some of the good players because they are not in school teams. So they have a chance to overtake the first twelve players (in the first draft). They first twelve might not be the best.”

In agreement was Coach Andre Wong of Blacks.

“We want to see hidden talents, especially those who are not in school teams or those who don’t even have a school team. This trial is an opportunity for them to showcase themselves.”

When I put it to him that some believe that the coaches have already chosen their players, Coach Wong was quick to reply: “No, no. We need to choose. Right now, we don’t have enough players.”

As for the type of players Coach Wong is looking for to fill the ranks of Blacks, he is “looking for team players. Basketball is a team game.”

So ballers, bring your A-game on Saturday at 9am. Good luck.

Players going for trials this Saturday, 9am, November 15th, at Catholic High:
Agus, Carlo Balestier Hill Secondary Centre

Boey Chee Siong Woodlands Ring Secondary Forward

Cendrajaya, Fandy Balestier Hill Secondary Guard
Chen Jia Hong Anderson Junior College Guard
Chen Wei Xiang Telok Kurau Secondary Guard
Chong, Raymond Kok Wai Presbyterian High Guard
Chua, Danny Zhen Guang Raffles Junior College Forward
Chua Kang Yi Ngee Ann Polytechnic Forward
Cinco, Dan Elvir Ramsie Maturan Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary Forward

Gn, Gavin Wei Wen Tampines Secondary Guard

Ho, Andy Lian Jie Ngee Ann Secondary Guard
Hoe Ming Jun Nanyang Polytechnic Forward

Jong Kai Jie Presbyterian High Guard

Khoo Dawei Hougang Secondary Guard
Koh Jia Cheng Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary Forward
Kow, Alton Guan Leong Balestier Hill Secondary Forward
Kua Hiong Yong Jurong Junior College Guard

Lai, Marcus Min Shen Tampines Secondary Centre
Lee, Colin Song Haw Woodlands Ring secondary Forward
Lee, Dominic Yong Quan Henderson Secondary Guard
Lee, Ivan Jun Wei Bedok View Secondary Guard
Lim Chum Hao Springfield Secondary Guard
Lim Dao Yuan Hwa Chong Institution Guard
Lim Qi Xiang Peirce Secondary Forward
Loh Hui Han Pioneer Junior Colleage Forward

Mah, Abraham Jun Kai Xinmin Secondary Guard

Ng, Jeremy Quan Wei Queensway Secondary Guard

Ng Hui Wen Victoria Junior College Guard
Ng Jia Hui Xinmin Secondary Guard
Ng, Kelvin Jing Cheng Dunman Secondary Guard
Ng Shen Siong Ngee Ann Polytechnic Guard
Ng Yan Bo Hillgrove Secondary Guard
Ngai Yi Cong St. Andrew’s secondary Forward

Ong Jie Wei Nanyang Polytechnic Guard

Pan Zai Xing Temasek Polytechnic Guard
Paramasivam, Ruban Ngee Ann Secondary Forward
Poh, Desmond ITE College East Guard

Quek, Royson Ji Hao Peirce Secondary Forward

Siow Wei-Zhong Anderson Junior College Forward

Tan, Alvin West Spring Secondary Guard
Tan Zi Kun Ngee Ann Polytechnic Forward
Teh, Johnny Ying Sheng Nanyang Polytechnic Forward
Tham Jian Ngee Ann Polytechnic Guard
Tong, Darryl Peirce Secondary Guard

Wee, Dominic North Vista Secondary Guard
Wong, Dominic Jun Jie Yishun Secondary Guard
Wong, Keith Yiheng Geylang Methodist School Guard

Yap, Macus Jin Xin Victoria Junior College Guard
Yar Hong Chiong Woodlands Ring Secondary Forward
Yeo Bin Balestier Hill Secondary Guard

Zhang, Jeremy Wei Wei Junyuan Secondary Forward

N.B. For those interested in attending the trials, please contact Hans Yeo of adidas Singapore at wh.yeo@adidas.com with your name, school, position and date of birth.

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