By Les Tan/Red Sports
Pathman’s girlfriend Li Ling tries on the Slinger away jersey for the fun of it. We think Li Ling looks better than Pathman in the jersey. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
The Singapore Slingers were surprised to see me show up at Changi International Airport last Friday morning to join them for their trip to Brunei to play the Barracudas in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).
“You’re going?” the players asked, incredulous.
“Yes!” I replied.
And, like true Singaporeans, they also asked: “Slingers paying for you?”
“No, I’m paying my own way,” I said.
“Really, ah?”
Having covered the Singapore Slingers extensively since they began their pre-season training – 41 stories since the beginning of September – we couldn’t stop now, could we?
If they were still the Slingers of old, dominated by Australians and playing in the Australian National Basketball League, we would have no interest. However, with seven local Singapore boys on a team playing in the first ever ASEAN regional sports league, it’s a fascinating story in our book.
Slinger co-captain and local boy Michael Wong, 30, made me feel quite at home with the team as we chatted before the game on Saturday.
“This is the first time we have media coverage on a road trip. So it’s pretty good to know that we have a lot of media coverage. At least more people will know about us,” he said.
“Let’s hope that we get a win on our first road trip and since you [Red Sports] have first hand coverage of us, [the supporters] will get the news asap.”
As it turned out, the Slingers won their third game in a row and Red Sports did get the news out as soon as we could. Fellow Red Crew Jan Lin and I were the only Singapore media there and while I was shooting photographs and taking notes, she was updating quarter-by-quarter results via Twitter and doing post-game interviews with players and coaches.
At the airport on Friday to send off the players were their wives and girlfriends. Michael LeBlanc’s wife, Dora, has been in Singapore for about two and a half weeks and is trying to extend her trip to be able to watch this week’s home game in Singapore against Satria Muda BritAma on Sunday, November 1st.
“It’s wonderful. This is the first time that my wife has been able to come overseas to see me play, spend time with me. It’s good,” said LeBlanc. “It gives me a chance to get away from basketball when I’m not on the court. But at the same when I’m on the court, I’m having much more focus, knowing that, not only are my teammates behind me, the fans behind me, but that my wife, at the end of the game, win, lose or draw, she’s still there cheering me on. I think that’s a positive.”
While we can’t replace a wife – and please don’t hug me, LeBlanc – Red Sports will be there to support the Slingers and tell the Singapore sports story.
Dora LeBlanc is in town for three weeks to see her husband Michael LeBlanc play for the Slingers. (Photo 2 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Big men in a small coach. The players on their way to the hotel after landing in Brunei. (Photo 3 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Michael Wong (left) at breakfast with teammates Desmond Oh (centre) and Wong Wei Long. (Photo 4 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
A cheery Hong Wei Jian after the light workout on the morning of game day. (Photo 5 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
On the bus back to the hotel after the training session in the morning … (Photo 6 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
… and getting into the hotel lobby. (Photo 7 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Getting into a lift with big basketball players is not a good idea. (Photo 8 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Assistant coach Neo Beng Siang (left) and Hong Wei Jian were poking out some tunes on the hotel grand piano while waiting for the bus to take them to the stadium … (Photo 9 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
… while the rest of the players try to figure out what songs they are playing. (Photo 10 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Slinger GM Michael Johnson (centre, in white) led the team up to Brunei. (Photo 11 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Al Vergara gets on the bus … (Photo 12 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
… followed by Michael LeBlanc … (Photo 13 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
… Hong Wei Jian, Desmond Oh (right) … (Photo 14 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
… Neo Beng Siang, Kyle Jeffers and head coach Frank Arsego. (Photo 15 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
The players in their changing room … (Photo 16 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
… where coach Arsego holds a final pre-game meeting to name the starting five and go over the game plans one last time. (Photo 17 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
The Slingers warming up before the game. (Photo 18 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
On the morning after the game, the players do their recovery session in the pool but Michael LeBlanc (left, reclining) sits out with shingles while Desmond Oh is allergic to chlorine (and he was in the Naval Diving Unit). A flu-stricken Marcus Ng also takes a break. (Photo 19 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Wei Jian does his laps in the pool … (Photo 20 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
… and Pathman shares a joke with a teammate. (Photo 21 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Vergara does his free style … (Photo 22 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
… and shares a chat with Michael Wong (left) and Pathman. (Photo 23 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Michael and Lim Wai Sian (left) do their laps as well … (Photo 25 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
… while Kyle Jeffers also does his. (Photo 26 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Wei Long finishes his recovery session … (Photo 27 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
… while Pathman chows down on fruit. (Photo 28 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
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How did I miss this… better late then never…. this is the humor I miss with the picutres!! So good!! lol
Yea, I think it won’t hurt if they pay for the photographer so that we can get some official photos of the game. Don’t quite like the current Slingers website, very unprofessionally done. Doesn’t reflect well of the Slingers.
@les,
You’re attending the game in the Philippines?
If you are, remember to bring umbrella, you might need it… inside the stadium. = D
@mart: Yeah, I’ll be in the Philippines. Looking forward to the atmosphere ; )
Slingers shld pay for francis to go
@Len:
Great idea man, calendar. Even though I’m a grown-up man, I’ll still buy, because the Slingers are really worth supporting.
Wow Slingers should have calendar sales at year end. Since 47% of attendance are gals..sure sell one!! Great pics and nice coverage of a different perspective!
Red Sports Rocks! Go Slingers this Sunday…go undefeated!
Wow…the flyboy can play the piano and swim and pose for pics ie Photo 6…haha…lol
great job, the photos really help us understand more about what the slingers do when they are abroad!
This site should come with the slogan, ‘Pride of Singapore Sports’ Some interesting player facts too, Desmond is allergic to chlorine? Jeezz. All credit to Jan and yourself Les. Kudos to Redsports, maybe I can tag along with you guys for the January 17 KL Dragons game? (of course from my own pocket)
@Gordon: Yeah, poor Desmond. He’s allergic to grass and chlorine! He showed me his rashes from dipping in the pool. And to think he’s a naval diver. He is a macho man, lah, that one.
@realcool – glad you enjoy the pics. : )
@Gordon: Yeah will be fun to organise a group to go up together to KL. : )
november 4 is on wednesday, not sunday.
Ah yes. Sorry for the wrong date. Updated.
Thanks, Slingerrocks.
: )
lol to some of the pictures. Look at Wei Long’s face at photo 5. Well done Redsports, esp Les, on covering the game. You guys make Singapore proud!!! I’m very very proud of this site which is doing everything the normal media isn’t to keep the singapore sports scene going. Keep up the good work!!!!
And Slingers, YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!