Metro

Monday May 18, 2009

Students gain valuable tips from national women cagers

BY MOHD FARHAAN SHAH


JOHOR BARU: THE recent basketball clinic for 60 basketballers of SM Tun Fatimah turned out to be a knowledge-gaining experience.

The students were coached by the AND1 coaching crew comprising women national basketball assistant coach Yoong Sze Yuin and national basketball players Thoh Chai Ling and Choo Shwok Ping.

Women national basketball coach Yoong was surprised to see that the school’s basketball team possessed various skills.

“They have what is needed to be successful in basketball.

“They have good teamwork but need to polish up their skills,” she said, adding that the team had the potential to be very good if they practised hard.

Yoong also added that more effort should be taken to find new talent especially at schools participating in many basketball competitions.

“Parents should realise that their children can have a good future by excelling in any type of sport, not only basketball and encourage their children to participate in sports.

“In countries such as Japan, Australia, the US and China, I have seen the combination of sports and education can produce great athletes,” she said.

Meanwhile, the school’s basketball coach Abdul Halim Hussien, 60, said the AND1 basketball clinic would help the school’s team for the upcoming basketball competition.

“Our team is proud of our record in basketball competitions that we have taken part in.

“I feel the clinic especially with the two national basketball players as coaches, will help my team.

“I hope my players have picked up important tips from the clinic and learn a thing or two from the two national players,” he said.

The coaching clinic was organised by Ossia World of Golf, the distributors of AND1 brand in Malaysia, in conjunction with the second leg of the AND1 Streetball Challenge at the ZON on May 24.

Ossia World of Golf divisional manager Ong Sai Ping said the clinic would provide children with the basic skills needed in a basketball game.

“Malaysian Amateur Basketball Association (MABA) supported the clinic programme as we are reaching out to grass roots level.

“MABA gave us the opportunity to bring the national assistant coach and two national players for the clinic where they would teach these kids the higher level of basketball,” he said.

The AND1 Streetball Challenge is sanctioned by MABA with Milo is the official beverage, The StarMetro as official media, FlyFM as official radio and the ZON Johor Baru as venue sponsor.

The first leg of the competition was held at USJ Summit in Subang Jaya on April 26 while the third leg in Klang is on June 28, the fourth in Penang on July 26 and the grand finals will be at Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur on October 4.

Other activities lined up on May 24 are the AND1 Streetball video game zone, freestylist, emcee, beatbox and breakdance competitions and a lucky draw offering AND1 Limited Edition NBA and Mixtape Signature shoes for all participants.

The tournament is divided into three categories - Boys Under-14, Under-16, Under-18 and Girls Under-18 and is limited to 200 teams while the closing date for entries is May 21.

Ex-national or national junior players are not allowed to participate while the entry fee for each team is RM90.

Entry forms can be obtained at Hoops Station in Skudai Parade, Crystal Mas Hotel in Taman Johor Jaya, Justin Shoes Store in Bandar Seri Alam, Cihua Vegetarian Food Trading in Taman Sri Kulai Baru 1, and OJC at Jalan Berkek in Taman Bunga Raya Masai.

Each player will receive an AND1 jersey and each team will receive an AND1 basketball on the event day.

Prizes in the form of AND1 products will be offered to the top four teams in each category.

For further details about the competition contact Raymond Chong at 012-7202025 and Yong Kian Ann at 016-7800800.

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