Interview with Olivia Lee of Unity

BASKETBALL

Red Sports 5

Interview and pictures by Leslie Tan. © Red Sports/soulbreath pictures

Olivia Lee of Unity Secondary School was recently voted into the Red Sports 5, an online poll conducted on this website where she received the highest number of votes for the position of Point Guard. Olivia was also part of the team that played in the National ‘C’ Division Championship Final against Raffles Girls’ School. Unity lost the Final 49-64.

Olivia Lee with one of the prizes she won. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

Red Sports: How long have you played basketball for your school?
Olivia: 2 years. =)

Red Sports: What is your most memorable, happiest moment playing for your school?
Olivia: Making new friends and winning … =D

Red Sports: What is your favourite shot? Favourite team tactic?
Olivia: The lay ups. HAHA.

Red Sports: How did you get started with basketball?
Olivia: I would go downstairs from my flat and watch people play. It looked like it was quite fun and that’s how I started playing. =)

Red Sports: What is the hardest thing you had to overcome as a school player?
Olivia: Getting scolded by coach.

Red Sports: Are you hoping to play on in the ‘B’ Division?
Olivia: Quite …

Olivia Lee (#7, in black) executes her favourite shot – a layup – against RGS during the final of the 2007 National ‘C’ Division Basketball Championship. © Goh Shao Wei

Red Sports: Your school made it to the national final. What was the hardest game of the season before the final?
Olivia: I think the games against Chung Cheng High, Nanyang and Raffles were the hardest games of the season before the final as they were very strong and their players are also very tall and fast. Their defence are also good.

Red Sports: What is the most difficult thing you find about playing basketball as a team?
Olivia: Sometimes we don’t have enough teamwork. We don’t know where the other players are running to or whether they want to shoot or to layup. Sometimes we block each other and get in the way of shots or layups.

Red Sports: How do you juggle your studies and basketball?
Olivia: After the game, when I go home, I would revise the things I’m not very sure of. On days where I have to go off for a match, I would ask my friends what my teacher taught.

Red Sports: How often do you train during the season?
Olivia: Hmm … two times a week … and sometimes I will go out and play bball with some of my other friends.

Red Sports: Did you expect to reach the final?
Olivia: Actually not really. The schools that we met on the way to the final were very strong and we had already lost to them once or twice during the year. It was quite shocking when we reached the final because I didn’t really think that we could make it.

For more stories on the Red Sports 5, please go to:

Interview with Rachel Wang of Anglican High