Singapore looks to compete
and build for the future
by
rick olivares
The Singapore Men’s
National Basketball Team flew into Manila with a quiet confidence in their
abilities and firm goals in mind.
Singapore’s Australian
head coach Franco Arsego summed it up, “We didn’t just come here to participate
but to compete. We might not have the materials of other teams like the
Philippines but to expose our youth and to lay a foundation for the Sea games
is good for the program that we are undertaking.”
Team captain Hanbin Ng
understands the enormity of the task: “We have a lot of young players so we
will try to soak in as much experience as we can.”
Basketball has grown by
leaps and bounds over the past decade in the Lion State. “It has been growing quite
a bit from a decade ago,” shared Ng. “Six years we managed to win our first
bronze medal after 34 years of drought. That galvanized a lot of support for
Singapore basketball. Now there are more sponsors and support from the crowd.”
Arsego concurs, “In the
past if you come to a basketball game, over the years we have grown so much we
have achieved in Sea Games and the Asean Basketball League. With this
tournament in Seaba, we hope to continue to build on our gains.”
“I had an opportunity to
work in Singapore from 2008-10 and have seen the massive growth and the
interest and support. Our pro team Singapore Slingers has had success and that
has spurred great interest. But for me as a basketball coach, it is also
gratifying to see the locals come out and watch. And this is football country.
So the growth of the game of basketball has been fascinating.”
The
fact that the Philippines is favored to win the Seaba tournament has not dimmed
Singapore’s outlook. “You can say it is the same for the Philippines in
football, a rising power that has had its success and setbacks. For us, it is
the same in basketball. It is good that the competition is growing. At the end
of the day, we hope to make Singapore proud.”
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| Singapore captain Hanbin Ng |
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