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