AND1 3on3 Gran Final (Berjaya Times Square) 9 september

Roaring time at the grand finals

Thanks to star Metro :

By STUART MICHAELPhotos by CHUA KOK HWA and GLENN GUAN

SINCE the inception of three-on-three basketball events in Malaysia in 1993, basketball players have picked up more skills and the game has become increasingly popular.
This was seen at the AND1 Streetball Challenge Grand Final at Berjaya Times Square yesterday that drew 410 teams from as far away as Penang, Pahang and Johor.
Malaysia Basketball Association deputy secretary-general and national women’s team coach Tan See Wah said the AND1 Streetball Challenge was a great platform for basketball players to develop individual skills.
 

In action: Players battling it out on court during the event.

“I believe that competitions like this have a great impact on players and make them more skilful.
“We encouraged state and national players to take part in three-on-three basketball to gain exposure. It makes players think out for the box,” said Tan, adding that three-on-three competitions are organised abroad on a large scale.
Nestle Products sports marketing manager Ng Ping Loong admitted that he has seen the skill level of the freestylists and players at the AND1 Streetball Challenge grow tremendously.

Fighting for the ball... A participant (third right) tries to pull the ball away while others surround him.

“The boys and girls here do not need to see the ball when they bounce it. They can feel it and are one with the ball.
“This is why this event is so unique and we are glad to be associated with this challenge,” he said.
Tunku Abdul Rahman College student Ng Wei Ching, 18, said he loved hip-hop but was not good enough for any dance groups so he learnt freestyling for about six months.
“I decided to use my dance moves in basketball and I feel it looks good,” said the Penang-ite.
Lam Wei Ken, 18, a form five student from Chung Hwa Confucian in Penang, said that taking up streetball has made him a better basketball player.
“I have been playing since I was 12-years-old and only learnt about streetball last year. Previously, I was not confident to dribble players. Now, I am not afraid of dribbling any player not matter how tall they are.

Here you go: Tan launched the event and presented a lucky draw winner with a pair of shoes.

“I also joined a school group for freestylists in Penang called Mystical,” said Lam.
Besides the main event which had six categories – girls’ Under-15, boys’ Under-14, boys’ Under-16, boys’ Under-18, boys’ Under-21 and Open (non-Chinese) - there were also Nokia’s In Search of MC competition where four units of the Nokia 5700 and eight units of the Nokia 5300 were given to winners. Cash prizes totalling RM1,800 was also given away.
Milo also had an artificial wall for wall-climbing activities.
StarMetro also had the StarMetro In Search of Freestylists competition with journalist Ng Wei Loon as one of the judges.
StarMetro is the official media, while Nokia is the official mobile phone and Milo the official beverage of the 2007 AND1 3-on-3 Streetball Challenge.
Organisers want youths to come back for more streetball challenge
THE organisers are going all out to improve the side activities and make the AND1 Streetball Challenge a lifestyle for youth.
And, it was no exception at the AND1 Streetball Challenge Grand Finals held at Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Organisers Ossia World of Golf, together with sponsors Milo and Nokia, created side activities that thrilled participants and supporters alike.





ubilant trio: Nabil Hariz Mohd Ariff (second from left), Samuel Amoh Junior (third from left) and Tan Wei Keong (third from right) with Nestle Products Malaysia Berhad's Julia Teo (second from right) after the Star Metro In Search of Freestylist competition





Ossia World of Golf executive director Saw Swee Leong said cagers could expect more side activities and something exciting in the line-up next year.
“Since the beginning of the AND1 Streetball Challenge held at The Summit three years ago, the side activities have improved with Nokia's In Search of Emcee, StarMetro's In Search of Freestylist, Milo Wall Climbing activities, Slam Dunk Competition and lucky draws.
“We want to make the AND1 Streetball Challenge a lifestyle for youth and keep them coming back for more,” said Saw, said.
The AND1 Streetball Challenge grand final was a roaring success with 410 teams taking part in six categories – girls' Under-15, boys' Under-14, boys' Under-16, boys' Under-18, boys' Under-21 and Open (non-Chinese) in this tournament.
In the StarMetro In Search of Freestylist, Nabil Hariz Mohd Ariff, Tan Wei Keong and Samuel Amoh Junior emerged the winners from the 14 boys who took part.

Top girls: (From left) Ossia World of Golf executive director Saw Swee Leong, Star Publications (M) Bhd marketing services department senior manager Iris Tan, Lim Teh Wun, Shirley Ng Mei Yan and Law Phooi Teng.

Each of them received RM3,000 worth of AND1 basketball products sponsorship, a Nokia mobile phone and a Milo hamper.
Meanwhile, eight hopefuls took part in the Nokia In Search of the Emcee competition. They were Teh Chong Kai, Dzikhry Dzulkarnain, V. Moganadas, Jeremy Yap Chong Kian, Ahmad Zaki Nawawi, Samuel Saw, Anirudh Aravind and Neoh Ming Chew.
Jeremy Yap emerged tops, while Moganadas grabbed second spot and Chong Kai finished third. Each participant received a Nokia 5300 handphone, hampers and notebook backpack.
In the girls' Under-15 final, EMEO outclassed EPL 8-4 to emerge winner.
The trio of Shirley Ng Mei Yan (13), Lim Teh Wun (15) and Law Phooi Teng (15) from SMK Raja Abdullah had teamed up for the first time for a shot at the title.

Awesome: Former Cameroon player Chris Knefe, who was invited to do a slam dunk, executing it perfectly.

Lim said she found the side events, like the StarMetro In Search of Freestylist, very exciting as the players were very skilful.
“I envy the players who make such skilful moves. I want to learn how to do those tricks but no one wants to teach me!
“My hope is that the organisers will hold an In Search of Freestylists competition for girls next year. I would definitely take part,'' she added.
StarMetro is the official media, while Nokia is the official mobile phone and Milo, the official beverage of the 2007 AND1 3-on-3 Streetball Challenge.