Wednesday June 11, 2008 & Friday June 13, 2008 By JADE CHAN.
SAMUEL Omoh Junior, 21, is not a fan of rigid rules on traditional basketball courts, which is why he is drawn to the freestyle elements of streetball (street basketball).
“I didn’t enjoy basketball until I saw the seniors in my high school in Ghana playing streetball.
“Streetball is more interesting and less restrictive,” said the University College Sedaya International management student, who picked up streetball when he was 17.
“I didn’t enjoy basketball until I saw the seniors in my high school in Ghana playing streetball.
“Streetball is more interesting and less restrictive,” said the University College Sedaya International management student, who picked up streetball when he was 17.
Shoe-flying action: Omoh Jr (left) concentrating intensely on his moves during the pick-up game in Bandar Botanic, Klang.
Omoh Jr has been playing with his college friends and guys from his neighbourhood in Taman Connaught for the past year, and was crowned the AND1 In Search of Freestylist champion last year.
“Basketball is a great way for me to make new friends and serves as an ice-breaker,” he said, admitting that he has become more recognisable and made more friends and fans after his win.
Omoh Jr and Billy Chen, a 20-year-old HELP University College student, were two AND1 Streetball players who were making their rounds during several pick-up games in Klang.
Ossia World of Golf (M) Sdn Bhd will be having a series of pick-up games and coaching clinics that will lead up to the AND1 Streetball Challenge on June 29 at AEON (Jusco) Shopping Mall in Bukit Tinggi, Klang.
“The pick-up game’s concept is similar to the AND1 Mix Tape Tour in the United States, where we have two-on-two or three-on-three on-the-spot games at ball parks in residential areas,” said Ossia World of Golf sales executive Moo Kok Hsiung.
High-flyer: A student attempting to block Chen (left) during a pick-up game.
“We’re also distributing entry forms for the challenge and encouraging students to get their schools to sign up for the coaching clinics.
“The coaching clinics are targeted at secondary and primary schools in the Klang Valley. We’ll have coaches, comprising former and current national players, to teach students the fundamental skills of basketball like dribbling, shooting and defence,” he said.
Eddie Lee, 17, was one of the students who planned to get his school to have the coaching clinic soon.
“I took part in the AND1 Streetball Challenge last year, and I hope to sign up for it again this year, depending on time constraints,” said the SMK La Salle, Klang Form Five student.
The Bandar Botanic resident plays basketball with his neighbourhood friends once a week and enjoyed his pick-up game with Omoh Jr.
Lee said he had represented his school at inter-school basketball games and named Boston Celtics' Ray Allen and LA Lakers' Kobe Bryant as his favourite players.
The streetball challenge is divided into six age categories – four for boys and two for girls.
The age groups for boys are Under-13, Under-15, Under-18 and Under -21, while those for girls are the Under-15 and Under-18.
Other activities lined up include competitions for freestyle, emcee, beatbox, breakdance, creative innovation drawing and graffiti, slam dunk demonstrations, interactive games, as well as lucky draws with AND1 products up for grabs.
The entry fee for each team is RM90.
Each participant will receive an AND1 jersey and each team will get an AND1 basketball.
For details on the challenge or to make arrangements for the coaching clinic, call 012-601 6869 (Moo) or 012-204 3771 (Fox).
More clinics on streetball
MORE coaching clinics will be held to encourage students to take part in the AND1 3-on-3 Streetball Challenge at the AEON (Jusco) Shopping Mall in Bukit Tinggi, Klang, on June 29.
Ossia World of Golf, the distributors of AND1 brand in Malaysia, had organised three clinics last week in Klang last week. The overwhelming response has prompted the company to initiate another six clinics before the big event.
Ossia World of Golf executive director Saw Swee Leong said they wanted to have a maximum participation of 350 teams for the third leg of the Streetball Challenge.
Streetball action: AND1 Streetball player Samuel Omoh Junior (right) aiming for the hoop while blocking his opponent during a pick-up game.
“Our vision is to encourage more youngsters to be involved in the game. It is with this aim that we are initiating the coaching clinics,'' said Saw.
The streetball challenge has six age groups – four for boys and two for girls,
The age groups for boys are Under-13, Under-15, Under-18 and Under -21 while those for girls are the Under-15 and Under-18.
Bandar Bukit Tinggi Residents Association has also initiated programmes to get the residents to be involved in the streetball challenge.
Its chairman, Gan Ee Chai, said they would be going all out to get the youngsters in Bukit Tinggi to be part of the streetball challenge.
“Streetball is an interesting event and had the ingredients to excite the younger generation.
“We hope to see more youngsters in the area sign up for the challenge,'' said Gan.
Besides the 3-on-3 Challenge, participants will have a chance to be involved in other activities including freestyle competition, emcee, beatbox, breakdance competitions, creative innovation drawing and graffiti competition and slam dunk demonstration and competition.
Hip Hop recording artist Dareyno will put up a show while there will also be interactive games. Attractive products from AND1 will be offered as lucky draw prizes.
Milo is the official beverage of the challenge while Star Metro is the official media.
WCT Land are the venue sponsors for the third leg.
The entry fee for each team is RM90. Each participant will receive an AND1 jersey and each team will get an AND1 basketball. The top eight teams in each category will get prizes from AND1.
In conjunction with the 3-on-3 Challenge, AND1 will also be initiating a series of coaching clinics in Klang.
About 10 coaching clinics are being lined up in Klang and Kuala Langat.
Schools can contact 012-6016869 or 012-2043771 for more information on the clinics.
AND1 STREETBALL CHALLENGE FACT FILE
Date: June 29, 2008Venue: AEON (Jusco) shopping mall, Bukit Tinggi, KlangTime: 8am-6pm
Entry forms available at:
1. One Sports Trading, Klang (03-3342 9955)
2. Hoops Station, Summit USJ (03-8023 1229)
3. Echo Park, Times Square (03-2144 0211)
4. Echo Park, Mid Valley (03-2282 0127)
5. World of Sports, Subang Parade (03- 5631 9578)
6. WCT Land, Klang (03-3324 3255)
7. Hoops Station, China Town (03-2031 4948)
8. Echo Park, Sunway Pyramid (03-5638 1121)
9. Echo Park, Sungei Wang (03-2141 7127)
10. http://www.and1malaysia.blogspot.com/
