adidas Nations basketball league tips off on Saturday, February 7th

By Ian Chew

58 elite under-18 basketball players from all over the island were selected last year in two drafts and basketball fans have been looking forward to seeing them play. The 58 were drafted into four teams – Black, Gold, Red and White – and, led by their respective coaches, have been practicing hard for the past two months.

It’s finally time for the ultimate showdown.

And the prize – an all-expense paid trip for selected members of the winning team to Shanghai for an NBA game, together with the best players being chosen to represent Singapore at the prestigious adidas Nations camps later in the year in China and USA.

Yet Ong Yao Kwang, coach of the Golds squad is playing it cool.

“The chances are even as every team consists of a number of national youth players. For our team, we do not have any outstanding player, but we will be relying on our teamwork and team spirit to compete with the rest,” he said.

“We will still play to enjoy the game regardless of the results!”

The coaches of the Reds team, Joe So and Foo Kwang Hock, are also modest about their chances.

“I think the better players are in the other zones!” remarked Joe.

Coaches Koh Meng Koon and Han Li Jun of the Whites squad are also full of respect for their opponents.

“Every match is a 50-50 game. The results would depend on the players’ performances on that day,” said Meng Koon.

All that is left is a quietly confident Blacks squad coach Andre Wong. Analysing his team’s strengths, he had to this to say:

“We have the advantage of stronger inside players compared to the rest of the teams. Our players like Ang Wei Xian, Koh Chee Siang and Scott Driscoll will provide us with crucial rebounds.”

The schedule for the matches are as follows:

7 Feb (Sat)
1.00pm – Blacks v Reds
2.30pm – Whites v Golds

14 Feb (Sat)
1.00pm – Reds v Whites
2.30pm – Golds v Blacks

21 Feb (Sat)
1.00pm – Reds v Golds
2.30pm – Whites v Blacks

All matches will be played in the Catholic High School indoor hall located at Bishan St 22.

Notes: All players are kindly requested to report at 11am at the hall to collect their jerseys.