By Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports
Assistant coach of the men’s national basketball team, Neo Nam Kheng, suited up for Yew Tee CSC to play in his first Community Games. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
Senja-Cashew Community Centre, Sunday, May 25, 2014 — It is not every day that you get to see your basketball coach don a jersey and compete on court. Coaches who are well-known in the Singapore basketball fraternity suited up for Yew Tee Community Sports Club (CSC) and competed in the 3-on-3 Men’s Masters Basketball at the Community Games.
Assistant coach of the men’s national basketball team, Neo Nam Kheng, is one of them. Neo is part of the coaching team that led the men’s national basketball team to their first ever gold medal in the recent 2014 Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Stankovic Cup. Neo is also the head coach of Siglap Basketball Club.
The veteran coach is participating in his first Community Games. “It is fun. We were teammates many years ago, and naturally it feels good to be able to play together on the same team again,” Neo said in Mandarin.
“The Community Games is a very good initiative. Having such a competition motivates us to work out and keep fit and the atmosphere here is good. But if there are activities for our wives and children to do, then we can concentrate on our games better,” laughed Neo.
Han Li Jun, who coaches National Junior College, Chung Cheng High School (Yishun) and the B Division team of Hwa Chong Institution (HCI), is Neo’s teammate on the Yew Tee CSC team. “We are usually the ones who watch our players play on court, and now it’s our turn,” laughed Han.
“The Community Games provides us with the opportunity to meet up and pit our skills against each other. We’re all here for the same objective – to stay healthy and keep fit.” This is the second time that Han is participating in the 3-on-3 Men’s Masters.
The Yew Tee CSC team also boasts basketball veteran Lee Teng Hern, who is competing in his third 3-on-3 Men’s Masters. “Such competitions are good because they help us connect with many old friends whom we have not met for ten over years,” said Lee in Mandarin. To the basketball fraternity, Lee is more affectionately known as the spouse of Ng San Hong, the coach of Republic Polytechnic, the HCI A Division squad, and Bukit Panjang Government High School.
Due to work and family commitments, the group of basketball veterans usually play ball in their neighbourhoods on their own, but makes it a point to meet at least a few times every year to play together.
The Yew Tee CSC team clinched the top spot in the South West district after defeating Yuhua CSC 21–7 in the final. The team finished the competition with a 4–0 win-loss record.
Yew Tee CSC Roster
Tan Kuan Lye (#5), Lee Teng Hern (#9), Neo Nam Kheng (#12), Yeo Kian Hoe (#13), Han Li Jun (#15)
More photos next page
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