By Ian Chew
Singapore Basketball Centre, Tuesday, June 2, 2009 – There is a quiet revolution going on in the Singapore National Men’s basketball team.
Explained head coach Neo Beng Siang: “Of the team that has been representing Singapore for the past years, only two senior players are left (Pathman and Michael Wong).”
“In their places, we have exciting young talents in the form of Steven Khoo, Wong Wei Long, Desmond and Wei Jian, just to name a few. They are easily the most committed bunch of players I have seen so far in my years as the national coach.”
The injection of new talent into the Singapore national basketball scene certainly bodes well for its future, especially for the upcoming SEABA (South East Asian Basketball Association) tourmanent in Jakarta, Indonesia from 4-10 June.
The top two finishers in the competition will guarantee themselves a spot in the Asian Basketball Tournament later this year.
Yet there is more at stake apart from qualification for the Asian tournament and playing on a bigger stage.
“We also hope that a good performance in the competition will act as a springboard for the upcoming SEA Games in Vietnam,” he continued.
The Singapore men’s basketball team has failed to earn a place in the South-East Asian (SEA) Games for quite some time.
Pitted against regional powerhouses Philippines and Malaysia as well as hosts Indonesia calls for some realistic expectations of the local boys though, especially in the current state of renewal.
“We are taking the tournament one game at a time,” said Pathman, easily the team’s most experienced player who also features regularly in the professional Slingers team.
Schedule of matches:
6 Jun (Sat) @ 8pm: Indonesia v Singapore
7 Jun (Sun) @ 6pm: Singapore v Malaysia
8 Jun (Mon) @ 6pm: Singapore v Philippines
9 Jun (Tue) @ 6pm: Final
SEABA 2009 Men Basketball Team
4 Edwin Low – Guard
5 Wong Wei Long – Guard
6 Tan Chin Hong – Forward
7 Lim Min Jie – Forward
8 Desmond Oh – Forward
9 Lim Hong Meng – Centre
10 Hong Wei Jian – Forward
11 Wong Soon Yuh – Forward/Guard
12 Teo Chun Hoe – Centre/Forward
13 Steven Khoo – Centre
14 Lim Wai Sian- Forward/Centre
15 Pathman – Centre
See highlights of the training session – Game 1:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrepgLgTb9c
See highlights of the training session – Game 2:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aieFX-R6mCo
2009 SEABA Update: Philippines wallops Singapore by 48 points; 117 – 69
I think the national team is doing a good job this time round in the SEABA tournament, but they must improved in their team defence. If they can improve in their team defence,sure have a chance to win over Indonesia,Malaysia and other Southeast Asia team. The Score line against Philippines will be narrow down.
Trust me, cause we won Malaysia and Indonesia in SEABA tournament and SEA games.
They just have to work hard, train hard. Play for Pride & Honour!
Kidd: I agree with you.. But this team is still young and I think some of them have not go to NS.. we must see after that..According to a website, all the teams is changing new bloods..
Mentos: If Mengkoon is arrogant and proud, then he should continues to stay..so that he can become more arrogant and proud. But I think he not..I think it’s time for him to move on after he play for Singapore for so long. He maybe want Singapore basketball to move on if not maybe next time we will lose to a team which we never lose before.(I also think that after this tournament the two senior players should also step down)
A fair result against Malaysia and Indonesia from our young team.
Give them 3 more years, this team should be able to match them with coach Neo bringing them to next level.
Lets just pray that they are able to keep the score within 20 pts against Philippines.
Bear in mind Team Philippines is never WEAK!
sound nice when people say koh meng khoon didn’t continue because he wants to give the younger generation chances.
it never occur to anyone that he’s just arrogant and proud? no offence.
Total DOMINATION. Philippines will have the 1st place.
SG Basketball team is weak, I must say. They have been badly deafeted by weak teams like PH. I hope u get better.^^ More power…
Dear basketball fans,
Here are the updated for today matches.
07/06/09 Sunday
3: 1800hrs (PR)- Singapore vs Malaysia 70:82
4: 2000hrs (PR)- Philippines vs Indonesia 103:64
Dear basketball fans,
Here are results for the SEABA matches which played on 6 June 09 (Sat). You can also check the score on the below website.
http://www.fibaasia.net/cms/index.php?itemid=413
1: 1700hrs (PR)- Malaysia vs Philippines 73:100
2: 2000hrs (PR)- Indonesia vs Singapore 79:65
do you know if the games will be televised here in Singapore? Which channel? What time?
It is very good that Coach Neo has chosen young talents, but keeping at least two senior players (Path and Mike), though it could have been better if Meng Koon is also there…but I think he chose not to play (just a guess).
They will be playing against the big guys from powerhouse Philippines and Indonesia. Philippines is fielding in players selected from the PBA and this will be a breeze for them. But in order to keep them buy, S’pore should keep them busy by playing good defense. Quite a few players in S’pore national have already played against these PBA players (Steven, Desmond, Wei Jian, Path, and Chin Hong) when they were with the Slingers and hope that they bring in the experience.
Singapore also has to improve on perimeter shooting which I think just a few players have.
I am Filipino, but I do support the team and have high respect to Coach Neo…I wish them all the best to make the cut.
PSB:
Heard from my sources: Since last year he had already retired for international tournament for the national team(Giving more younger players to come up). What a waste?? I think he now coaching the Home United U17 on the current Milo Cup. Any comment??
Thanks for all your contributions. I have included the name list and schedule here. Unfortunately, none of the volunteers are able to cover the competition… but we will update you with the results as soon as we can. You may put down your well wishes for the team here though!
why koh meng khoon not in ?
Base on the evening paper (Lianhe Wanbao). The below players make it to the final 12.
Hong Wei Jian
Khoo Kian Huat Steven
Lim Hong Meng
Lim Min Jie
Low Kwok Keng Edwin
Lim Wai Sian
Oh Wei Jie
Pathman S/O Matialakan
Tan Chin Hong
Teo Chun Hoe
Wong Soon Yuh
Wong Wei Long
Will redsports cover the SEABA competition held in Indonesian??
1 Chua Soon Hua
2 Hong Wei Jian
3 Khoo Kian Huat Steven
4 Lim Boon Kiat
5 Lim Hong Meng
6 Lim Min Jie
7 Low Kwok Keng Edwin
8 Lim Wai Sian
9 Oh Wei Jie
10 Pathman S/O Matialakan
11 Tan Chin Hong
12 Tan Kian Loong
13 Teo Chun Hoe
14 Tony Ong
15 Wong Soon Yuh
16 Wong Wei Long
17 Yang Quan Ju
18 Yeo Yu Song
do you have the name for the full squad of Singapore National Men’s basketball team.?
hav the player list?