Neo Beng Siang (right) has been appointed Head Coach of the Singapore Slingers for the second season of the ABL. (Photo © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Singapore, Tuesday, August 10, 2010 — Neo Beng Siang has been appointed Head Coach of the Singapore Slingers. Coach Neo, who has been with the Slingers since 2006, is the first Singaporean to head a professional basketball team.
Neo previously assisted Australian head coach Frank Arsego who left at the end of the inaugural ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) season.
He also coaches the Eng Tat Hornets in the National Basketball League (NBL) where he led them to a second-place finish this year.
“After four years with Slingers, and under the two head coaches Gordie [McLeod] and Frank [Arsego], I learn a lot from both coaches about technique and strategies,” coach Neo told Red Sports.
As for what he thought would make the Slingers successful in the second season, coach Neo said: “First, (we) need to get all the players together and prepare ourselves well in the pre-season, like weights training and fitness conditioning. (We also need to) develop the team chemistry and improve team work and individual, motivate the players and build the trust.”
As for whether key local Slinger Hong Weijian will be back, coach Neo said: “He is still under rehab and physio with SSC. I hope he can be back in time, that’s depend on his situation because ACL need at least six months to recover and to be fit to be back on court.”
Weijian was injured in a National Basketball League Division 1 game while playing for Whye Nam.
American Kyle Jeffers and Filipino Al Vergara are expected back to fill in the import slots on the roster.
Fans can catch the Slingers in the ABL pre-season with a Challenge Series on September 5th involving teams from the Philippine Basketball Association.
The second season of the ABL will tip off Sunday, October 3rd, 2010.
hopefully this time they will do better than last season.. guess there will be a change in the locals at least.. with wei jian, lao lao still injured.. so guys, which local players do you think deserved to play for the slingers??
maybe next week after yog. what about le blanc? will he comeback?
No news on that. Probably not.
Any schedule for slingers pre season games??
If we get it we’ll let you know here on Red Sports.
Who are the official slingers line up?
The roster is not confirmed yet.
Get new imports,new taste!
Finally Neo has became the head coach. Slingers all the way man!!
and who are the players?? they are left with 2 months to the main season and 1 month to the Challenge Series and there are still no news of the team?? how do they get up to speed??