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3-on-3 cagers show dazzling moves during challenge
THE blaring music certainly had the 600 streetballers all pumped up during the AND1 3-on-3 Streetball Challenge at the Penang Times Square in Penang on Sunday.The shopping mall came alive with the dazzling streetballers’ basketball display and creative movements which saw many staring in disbelief at times during the one-day competition.
Cheers and claps by parents and friends standing by the sidelines also got the participants’ confidence growing from strength to strength as they tried to outdo each other for glory in five categories — Boys’ Under-13, Under-15, Under-18, Men’s Under-23 and Girls’ Under-18.
A drizzle towards the end of the competition resulted in the players adopting cautious approach in their moves.
Luckily, the rain did not last long when it came to the finals as players came to the court with renewed confidence, knowing they were just one win away from emerging triumphant.
One of the highlights was the Men’s Under-23 final which saw a keenly contested final between teams ‘A Zone Brother’ and ‘Washinoobka’ before the former prevailed at 7-6.
It also saw the battle of impressive players from both sides who strutted out delicate movement in the ding-dong battle that saw both teams neck-to-neck in points.
Luckily, the rain did not last long when it came to the finals as players came to the court with renewed confidence, knowing they were just one win away from emerging triumphant.
One of the highlights was the Men’s Under-23 final which saw a keenly contested final between teams ‘A Zone Brother’ and ‘Washinoobka’ before the former prevailed at 7-6.
It also saw the battle of impressive players from both sides who strutted out delicate movement in the ding-dong battle that saw both teams neck-to-neck in points.
Team A Zone Brother’s talismanic player Kau Tong Fatt, 23, said it was worthwhile for them to travel all the way from the mainland to compete in the competition.
“We sacrificed our sleep on a Sunday morning but in the end it was worth it as we emerged as the champion. It feels great!
“But more importantly, we got to play with other teams and learn new things,” he said.
The event, which is into its seventh year, was organised by Ossia World of Golf, the distributors of AND1 brand in Malaysia.
“We sacrificed our sleep on a Sunday morning but in the end it was worth it as we emerged as the champion. It feels great!
“But more importantly, we got to play with other teams and learn new things,” he said.
The event, which is into its seventh year, was organised by Ossia World of Golf, the distributors of AND1 brand in Malaysia.
Master at work: Freestylist guru Mohd Ismadi delighting the crowd with his skills with the basketball.
Freestylist guru Mohd Ismadi Hamidi was also present and delighted the crowd with his basketball skills during the Freestylist Competition.
Three players — Lee Chee Seng, 14, Ben Ooi, 16, and Loh Wei Hong, 16, — outshone six others in the Freestylist Competition.
They would come up against the nation’s top performers in the grand finals next month.
Two players — Tan Rui Yong, 13, and Loo Lian Wei, 15, — were selected as StarMetro’s Most Promising Players of the challenge.
The duo, who looked impressive throughout the competition, will get the chance to train with the national junior squad at the Malaysia Basketball Association (MABA).
State Youth, Sports, Women, Family and Community Development committee chairman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi also gave words of encouragement to the players before the start of the competition.
The five-leg challenge is sanctioned by MABA. Milo is the official beverage, StarMetro the official media, FlyFM and OneFM the official radio and Doublemint the official chewing gum.
The first three legs of this year’s challenge were held at Summit USJ, Selangor, Danga Bay, Johor, and Klang respectively prior to the fourth leg in Penang here.
The grand finals or the final leg will be held at the Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 8.
Three players — Lee Chee Seng, 14, Ben Ooi, 16, and Loh Wei Hong, 16, — outshone six others in the Freestylist Competition.
They would come up against the nation’s top performers in the grand finals next month.
Two players — Tan Rui Yong, 13, and Loo Lian Wei, 15, — were selected as StarMetro’s Most Promising Players of the challenge.
The duo, who looked impressive throughout the competition, will get the chance to train with the national junior squad at the Malaysia Basketball Association (MABA).
State Youth, Sports, Women, Family and Community Development committee chairman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi also gave words of encouragement to the players before the start of the competition.
The five-leg challenge is sanctioned by MABA. Milo is the official beverage, StarMetro the official media, FlyFM and OneFM the official radio and Doublemint the official chewing gum.
The first three legs of this year’s challenge were held at Summit USJ, Selangor, Danga Bay, Johor, and Klang respectively prior to the fourth leg in Penang here.
The grand finals or the final leg will be held at the Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 8.
