Singapore basketballer Han Xing Yue counting on support at Fiba 3x3 Asia Cup

SINGAPORE – Standing shoulder to shoulder with her brother and father – both former national basketballers who are 1.9m and 1.88m respectively – it is clear where Han Xing Yue inherited her height and love of the sport from.

The 24-year-old, who is 1.8m, started playing badminton as her primary school did not offer basketball as a co-curricular activity. But her natural aptitude for basketball took over in secondary school.

“I actually like the intensity and teamwork of basketball better, and it is a great feeling and sense of achievement when everyone works hard together and achieves a common goal,” said the final-year accounting undergraduate at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

From March 26 to 30, Han will be part of the Singapore team competing in the Fiba 3x3 Asia Cup at the OCBC Square.

She previously played five-a-side basketball before switching to 3x3 in 2023 and featured in the 2024 edition.

She said: “At first, I didn’t really like 3x3 because it’s more physical and there’s more contact. But I grew to like the team bonds and the 10-minute format compared to the 40 minutes in five-a-side, because there is a bigger chance a weaker team can surprise and upset a stronger team.”

In 2024, she registered a point and two rebounds in each of the pool losses against China and Chinese Taipei and hopes they can do better this year against Japan and another qualifier in Pool C. The men’s team will play Mongolia and another qualifier in Pool A.

She will be backed by the support from the giants in her family.

Her China-born father Han Li Jun used to play for the Guangxi regional team from 1983 to 1994, before coming to Singapore to play and coach. He became a Singapore citizen in 1999 and competed at the SEA Games in Brunei that year.

He continued playing at the masters level into his 50s and over the years has held various posts as the national women’s team assistant coach and coach of National Basketball League side Xin Hua, who won their first Division 1 title in 2017.

His two children have inherited his aptitude and love for basketball. The siblings would watch his games and try to imitate his moves at a neighbourhood court in Yew Tee.

The 61-year-old said: “I’m happy and proud they could play at a higher level and contribute to their national teams. It’s actually more emotional watching them compete than playing myself.

“As long as they have an interest for the sport, I’m totally supportive.”

His son Han Xing Yuan, a forward, also made it to the national men’s team in 2014 and played at the 2019 SEA Games. The 28-year-old now works in a bank and is also a weekend coach with the ActiveSG Basketball Academy (ABA).

He said: “We used to play basketball together as a family bonding activity and my father will give us pointers here and there to help us improve.

“Xing Yue is the more shy one in our family, but she feels very happy when we turn up to support her. Last year, we prepared a small banner with her name and recorded her highlights on our phones.”

Xing Yue added: “It is very different with the home crowd cheering and hyping us up. Usually, my family won’t tell me if they are going to watch me play. But when I see them, I will be happy and I will want to do much more for them.

“This year, we are also preparing for the SEA Games and we will try to win at least one match in the Asia Cup.”

Fans are also looking forward to the Cup, which will be held here for the fourth consecutive year.

Brothers Caleb and Andre Loo are keen to watch defending champions Australia, as well as their ABA coaches and Singapore players Kelvin Lim and Tay Ding Loon.

Caleb, 15, said: “We went with our friends and family (in 2024). The games were exciting to watch, the announcers and DJ were good, and the quiz segment was fun.”

Andre, 12, added: “We hope there will be more high-level competition, close games, fun atmosphere, and merchandise like T-shirts and socks.”