Hong Wei Jian: “I would like to set the goal of local Slingers contributing more on the score sheet.”

Interview by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports

Hong Wei Jian was the outstanding local player for the Singapore Slingers in the inaugural 2009/10 ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) season. He had an average of 6.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game to lead all locals and made the starting five on several occasions.

In the crucial Game 3 of the best-of-three semi-finals against Satria Muda BritAma last season, he put up 17 points and five rebounds in a losing team effort.

At the end of the 2009/10 season, Hong Wei Jian was acknowledge for his efforts both on the court and in training and was awarded the Most Improved Player award by the Slingers’ management.

Red Sports: I understand you are out of action due to an injury. How did you sustain it?
HWJ: On 25th April, while representing my local club Whye Nam in a game against Siglap, I kneed into my opponent during a layup attempt. The impact was so great that my knee hyper extended and went into an awkward position while I was still in mid air.

RS: How bad was the injury?
HWJ: I had a complete tear of my right ACL and a depression fracture on my cartilage. The depression was due to the sudden impact on the knee.

RS: When will you be back on court?
HWJ: Optimistically, I hope to return to team training by the end of the November and resume participation in the ASEAN Basketball League during the December period. Hard work alone during rehab is not enough and I need some luck on my knee’s recovery. If the depression doesn’t heal, there’s nothing I can do about it.

RS: Now that you are unable to play, what is your role with the Slingers?
HWJ: I’ve been going around schools in Singapore to conduct basketball clinics for them. But it’s not just me, the whole team is involved in it. I’m only helping the team to arrange the schedules with schools and coaches.

We’ve been traveling around schools in Singapore to conduct basketball clinics for kids as young as 7 years old all the way to 18-year-old junior college students. I can see that there is improvement in the standard of play as compared to my time when I was still in secondary school. It’s part of our Slingers program to spread our knowledge of basketball to all schools in Singapore.

RS: What was the highlight of last season (2009/10) for you?
Hong Wei Jian: It was definitely the game winning 3-point shot Steven Khoo hit during the third regular season game against the Philippines Patriots. They were totally stunned by that shot, and it greatly boosted the morale of the team and fans.

RS: In your opinion, which was the best match last season?
HWJ: The first match up against Satria Muda in our very own gymnasium – the stats sheet will tell everything (the Slingers won 96-62)! That game was the biggest win of the whole season, and the locals contributed around 50% of the total points in that game, which was quite an achievement.

RS: How do you feel about receiving the Most Improved Player award from the Slingers management?
HWJ: I feel that it’s a recognition of my hard work and effort throughout the whole season from the management.

RS: Which aspect of your game do you think won you that award?
HWJ: Perhaps its was my fearless play when driving through the keyway. I’m always hungry to contribute something to the team whenever I’m on the court, be it defensively or offensively.

RS: What do you think of the fan support last season?
HWJ: I think the turn out was quite good, just that Singaporeans are still too shy. They don’t dare to shout and cheer, but overall, I wouldn’t complain. It is already the best crowds I’ve seen so far throughout all four seasons.

RS: Last year was your first season as a professional athlete, so what does being a professional athlete mean to you?
HWJ: Simple – No more late nights, less sleeps, more trainings.

RS: What steps need to be in place for it to be easier for youths and potential professional basketball athletes to become like you?
HWJ: They just need to train the right way, and be given opportunities like me.

I used to play basketball like a wild horse, couldn’t control myself and when I’m too excited, I will jump and run all over the place, reacting to the slightest fake and miss open layups. It was only until I got selected into the national team at 2006 and the Slingers last year that I started to control myself.

I believe there are lots of potential Singaporeans out there just waiting for the chance. I hope that all of them will be as lucky as me to meet the right coach and receive the proper training.

RS: What are your hopes for the Slingers this season?
HWJ: To win the championship. Although it is easier said than done, but I believe nothing will stand in our way if the whole team stick together and train even harder than before.

RS: Out of the eight local players, who do you think was the local MVP in the 2009/10 team?
HWJ: I believe the person should be Lim Wai Sian aka Lao Lao. Everyone should already be aware that he injured himself two nights before our final game of the season, and that he was admitted to ICU and was unconscious for a few days.

It was through Lao Lao that we realised how much the whole team was bonded and united and how much an individual meant to all the rest of the players. He’s someone that really mean a lot to us, and brought the whole team together.

Michael LeBlanc even told me that when he saw Lao Lao lying in the ward, he heart ached like he [Lao Lao] was his younger brother, and he couldn’t bear to go away.

This is how influential Lao Lao is.

RS: What did you do in the off-season?
HWJ: I was neglecting my schools for some time during the season, and I went back to them when I was free. So I was full time coaching and training with the local national team.

RS: What are some goals for this season?
HWJ: The aim of the ABL is actually to improve the level of basketball across the South East Asia region, so ultimately the league is meant for the locals in these areas.

I would like to set the goal of local Slingers contributing more on the score sheet. Say maybe 40%? That would be great!