DESPITE the wet weather threatening to ruin the prelude to the fifth AND1 Streetball Challenge at the USJ6 Basketball Centre (U6BC) outdoor court in Subang Jaya recently, the modest crowd of budding cagers who had turned up for the launch braved the unrelenting drizzle to join in the action.
Former Philippines national basketball team head coach David Zamar, who led the coaching clinic, said he had initially thought the session would be called off because of the rain.
“The participants, though, were eager to carry on with the programme,” he added.
Zamar, who was guiding the Malaysian NBL side at the South-East Asia Basketball Championships that was held in Indonesia from April 4 to 6, came with four assistants in tow.
They were Benjamin Knight from Australia, Chris Kuete from Cameroon, Anish Balla from Canada and local Lau Er Kheng.
Former Philippines national basketball team head coach David Zamar, who led the coaching clinic, said he had initially thought the session would be called off because of the rain.
“The participants, though, were eager to carry on with the programme,” he added.
Zamar, who was guiding the Malaysian NBL side at the South-East Asia Basketball Championships that was held in Indonesia from April 4 to 6, came with four assistants in tow.
They were Benjamin Knight from Australia, Chris Kuete from Cameroon, Anish Balla from Canada and local Lau Er Kheng.
New season: Ng (third from left) and Saw (fourth from left) unveiling the stripes and ball for this year's challenge.
Knight and Kuete were the two imports for the Malaysian NBL side for the regional meet that had four countries – Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia – taking part.
The coaching crew went through the basic ball handling skills, such as dribbling, passing and shooting, with the participants.
The 32-year-old Knight, who plays for the Singapore Slingers in the Australian NBL League, had fun helping the youngsters in performing the drills.
“It is great seeing the children putting in some hard work on the court,” said Knight.
SK Dato Onn Jaafar Year Five pupil Jason Gan went through the paces with the senior players in the group.
Currently, the 11-year-old is training with the U6BC boys' Under-14 squad regularly every Monday and Friday evening.
Jason's mother Carole Gan said her son had shown good progress since taking up basketball last year.
At the launch, Ossia World of Golf executive director Saw Swee Leong and Milo sports marketing manager Ng Ping Loong also unveiled the new stripes and ball for the challenge this season.
Also present was U6BC chairman Loo Chin Oon.
Entertaining the spectators was rapper Dareyno from Rough Sound Entertainment, who rendered his hip tunes.
In addition, last season's In Search of MC champion Jeremy Yap also showed up to engage in freestyle rapping.
The coaching crew went through the basic ball handling skills, such as dribbling, passing and shooting, with the participants.
The 32-year-old Knight, who plays for the Singapore Slingers in the Australian NBL League, had fun helping the youngsters in performing the drills.
“It is great seeing the children putting in some hard work on the court,” said Knight.
SK Dato Onn Jaafar Year Five pupil Jason Gan went through the paces with the senior players in the group.
Currently, the 11-year-old is training with the U6BC boys' Under-14 squad regularly every Monday and Friday evening.
Jason's mother Carole Gan said her son had shown good progress since taking up basketball last year.
At the launch, Ossia World of Golf executive director Saw Swee Leong and Milo sports marketing manager Ng Ping Loong also unveiled the new stripes and ball for the challenge this season.
Also present was U6BC chairman Loo Chin Oon.
Entertaining the spectators was rapper Dareyno from Rough Sound Entertainment, who rendered his hip tunes.
In addition, last season's In Search of MC champion Jeremy Yap also showed up to engage in freestyle rapping.
Emphasis on fundamentals: Knight (centre) guiding the participants at the coaching clinic.
This year, the challenge will begin at USJ Summit on April 27.
Before the grand finals at Berjaya Times Square on Aug 17, three legs have been scheduled at Komtar, Penang (May 18), Jusco, Klang (June 29) and Danga Bay, Johor (July 27).
The Red Fighters, comprising Nicholas Choo, 10, Shaqeel Eiman, 11, and Kesavendra Naidu, 12, were among the early birds to sign up for the first leg.
“We are excited about competing in the boys' Under-13 category for the first time,” said Shaqeel, who trains with the U6BC beginners' programme conducted every Sunday morning.
For the opening leg of the three-on-three basketball event, the organisers are expecting a total of 350 teams to compete in six categories – boys' Under-13, girls' Under-15, boys' Under-15, girls' Under-18, boys' Under-18 and boys' Under-21.
The entry fee is RM90 for each team. Each player will receive a jersey and the team will be given a basketball.
Entries close on April 23.
For details, call 012-601 6869 (Moo) or 012-204 3771 (Fox).
Before the grand finals at Berjaya Times Square on Aug 17, three legs have been scheduled at Komtar, Penang (May 18), Jusco, Klang (June 29) and Danga Bay, Johor (July 27).
The Red Fighters, comprising Nicholas Choo, 10, Shaqeel Eiman, 11, and Kesavendra Naidu, 12, were among the early birds to sign up for the first leg.
“We are excited about competing in the boys' Under-13 category for the first time,” said Shaqeel, who trains with the U6BC beginners' programme conducted every Sunday morning.
For the opening leg of the three-on-three basketball event, the organisers are expecting a total of 350 teams to compete in six categories – boys' Under-13, girls' Under-15, boys' Under-15, girls' Under-18, boys' Under-18 and boys' Under-21.
The entry fee is RM90 for each team. Each player will receive a jersey and the team will be given a basketball.
Entries close on April 23.
For details, call 012-601 6869 (Moo) or 012-204 3771 (Fox).
