Leo Avenido and Lim Sheng Yu make first appearances for Slingers

By Kenneth Tan/Red Sports

In their second successive pre-season victory against Meralco Bolts of the Phillipine Basketball Association (PBA) on Monday, the Slingers unleashed another two new players in Filipino Leo Avenido and local Lim Sheng Yu.

Leo, who was recruited from fellow ASEAN Basketball Leagueu (ABL) side Brunei Barrucudas in the close season was introduced into the fray after four minutes of the first quarter. He announced his arrival in style as he promptly landed a three-pointer within one minute. He clocked up 25 minutes of action and contributed 10 points in total.

Meanwhile Sheng Yu was given five minutes of action, missing his only attempt in the game. With the presence of four foreigners, he will face stiff competition from five other new local players for the remaining slots in the 12-man squad for the upcoming ABL.

Red Sports caught up with the two debutants at the end of their first ever game for the Slingers.

Red Sports: Where did you come from and how did you get to join the Slingers this year?
Leo: (shrugs) I don’t know how I ended up here! Previously I was playing for Brunei Barrucudas.

Maybe it’s Michael Johnson (Slingers’ general manager) who saw me playing and then offered me a contract. At first it was Al Vergara (fellow Filipino) who went to Philippines and said to me “the Slingers want you” but at first I didn’t believe in him because I was playing for the Barracudas against them. Then somehow when the ABL (new season) is coming and they’re starting to get players then they called. I arrived on 23 August, almost a month already. So far I like it here.

Sheng Yu: I believe I was spotted during this season’s Division One when I was playing for SAFSA. We finished third runner-up. After our second last game, I was approached by Michael Johnson who asked me whether I’m interested to train with the Slingers. That was around April to May. At first I rejected because I was still serving National Service.

At the same time I was called to the national team training, so I was training with the coach Neo Beng Siang who happens to be the head coach of Slingers. As soon as the Slingers’ pre-season training started three weeks ago, I started to join them.

I’m finishing NS in one to two month’s time. I’ll be studying from November onwards but I can commit full time thankfully.

Red Sports: How’s the training and settling in with the new teammates so far?
Leo: I’m still adjusting but it’s not difficult to cope with that (the settling in), the teammates are good and nice and I’m a nice guy too!

Sheng Yu: We have been training for three weeks so far. I’m very new to the team and still learning a lot. Everybody’s been very welcoming and the seniors are very willing to teach me. And I’m playing in a whole new position. In Singapore I play 5 but in here I play 2 or 3, it’s a lot of difference.

It’s (trainings) at a very intense level, it’s definitely different from how we train in Singapore. It’s very professional and the players are very disciplined. They make things short, sharp and sweet, everything we try to do it once to be good. In terms of skills play and physical play, its very intense which I’m still trying to cope with at the moment. I still have so much to learn!

Red Sports: How you do feel about playing your first game for the Slingers today?
Leo: It was very hard but we need that for the upcoming games. It’s good that we won!

Sheng Yu: I was so nervous! I believe I had around five minutes of game time and I am happy that I didn’t make any major mistakes. That is actually my goal for this match. I know that I won’t be shining as a forward but the least I can do is to support them and not be a burden, which i think i did.

Red Sports: What you thought was the main reason that Slingers decided to sign you? What made you decide to move over? Was this a step up for playing for the Barrucudas?
Leo: It was maybe due to my experience. I also like playing here because we got tools to win the championship (the upcoming ABL). Players-wise, we are as good as the powerhouses like Philippines.

I’m not trying to say we’ll definitely win the championship but at least we’re a title challenger. I believe all the players want that.

They’re (Singapore’s basketball scene) not developed here like Philippines. Maybe ten years from now they’ll be good, but now Singapore’s behind and catching up little by little.