Adroit’s ex-internationals hope Singapore basketball can rise despite baptism of fire in regional tourney

SINGAPORE – Midway through the first quarter of their game against the New Taipei Kings on April 29, Singapore’s National Basketball League (NBL) champions Adroit were leading 14-10, with Leon Kwek grabbing seven points.

Their brief lead during their opening Basketball Champions League (BCL) Asia-East Group B match at Xinzhuang Gymnasium in Taiwan, brought back memories of a time when professional basketball in Singapore existed and flourished with the Singapore Slingers.

Alas, despite featuring several former Slingers like Jay Shay Lin, Ng Han Bin, Toh Qing Huang and Kwek, Adroit remain an amateur side training just once a week to face professionals.

The local players met imports Ihor Serheiev, Sergeii Pryimak and Oleksandr Kolchenko for the first time on match day, eventually losing 105-65 to the Taiwan Professional Basketball League leaders.

Adroit coach Ng Choon Hong said: “We are not a professional team, so we train very little and it’s hard to compare with the opponents, whose stamina is very good and shooting is very sharp.”

Kwek, who registered a team-high 18 points and five rebounds, added: “Once everyone settles into the game, the team chemistry, habits and structure come into play and that’s where the Kings showed the difference.

“We just want to showcase how Singaporeans can play at the international stage even though many of us have retired from the national team.

“I feel for the younger generation, because they need to have something to work towards and this is the challenge for Singapore basketball to navigate and get there.”

In 2023, the Asean Basketball League stopped play indefinitely after 14 years, leaving the Slingers in dormancy. Since then, the only regular competition local basketballers could get was the NBL.

Adroit’s victory in the domestic league in 2024 earned them a spot in the BCL Asia-East, giving the players more game time.

Ng, who scored 15 points and had six rebounds against the Taiwanese side, hopes something can be done for the next generation of Singapore players.

The 36-year-old personal wealth director said: “For the Slingers to work, we required the sponsorship from Mr Wee (Siew Kim, former Slingers owner), (former general manager) Michael Johnson being away from his country for so long to run the show, coach Neo (Beng Siang) coaching selflessly, and the players putting in the time and hard work.

“Now, there are academies run by former national players like (Wong) Wei Long, Leon, Larry (Liew), (Wong) Zhong Han and Kelvin (Lim). I believe with the help of the authorities, they will be open to work together to create a pipeline for the younger generation.

“If we really want to build a professional pathway, the focus must be on the young players from age 10-14 so we can give ourselves some time to build something together.”

While pursuing careers off the court, the former internationals still aim to perform well in the BCL Asia-East tournament, featuring eight clubs from East and South-east Asia.

The top two teams from each group reach the semi-finals, with the best two advancing to the Basketball Champions League (BCL) Asia.

In a double round-robin format, Adroit will face Thailand’s Hi-Tech and Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos in Bangkok on May 2 and 3. They’re playing home games there as no suitable venue in Singapore met Fiba’s seating and broadcast standards, and the OCBC Arena was unavailable.

Sport Singapore, when contacted regarding the venue situation, noted that the privately owned club had “sought SportSG’s assistance in early 2025 to source for an appropriate venue to host their home games”.

“Following a thorough review of the available venues, SportSG and Adroit were not able to identify a venue that fits Fiba’s requirements,” the national sports agency said.

Kwek, the 28-year-old founder of True Grind Basketball academy, said: “The main challenge will be in the logistics and we have to figure out a lot of things on the fly, but the Thai counterparts have been very helpful. We know it’s going to be tough, but we want to give a good account of ourselves and go for a win.”