If we consider the most popular sport in Singapore, our list would not be complete without basketball. It easily ranks among the top five sports in the country and is played extensively at the national and regional levels. Not only that but the women’s and men’s national basketball teams are among the best in the region.
One major factor that has led to an increase in its popularity is its appreciation among the younger generation. Youngsters can be seen playing basketball largely as a recreational sport throughout Singapore as they show their prowess in twists and dribbling and scoring points within a short duration.
The sport is not only played widely, but it is also easy for the masses to follow these exciting basketball matches as they are broadcasted extensively. Presently, Singapore has around 2000 licensed basketball players. If you are also interested in learning more about basketball in Singapore, this article entails a comprehensive description of the advent of the sport on the island, its evolution over time, and the sport’s current status in Singapore.
History of Basketball in Singapore
Teachers introduced basketball to Chinese educational institutions in the early part of the 1920s. Soon academic and club teams from Hong Kong and China started playing regular exposition matches all over the region, and by the next decade, basketball had become one of the most popular sports.
During the next few decades, the sport was widely promoted among the locals. In 1934, the Singapore Basketball and Volleyball Association was formed to promote these sports. The association also organised a basketball championship in Singapore and Malaysia. In 1939, this association was replaced by the Chinese Sports Improvement Council.
Another institution that contributed extensively to basketball promotion was SCAAF (Singapore Chinese Amateurs Athletic Foundation). Chinese dialect associations in Singapore had sponsored the foundation for promoting sports among the local Chinese in Singapore. The main credit for its establishment goes to Goh Chye Hin, a competent athlete who sought education in China and displayed his sporting skills in various athletic competitions in China.
When the Second World War was over, Goh Chye Hin established the SABF (Singapore Amateurs Basketball Federation) and remained president until 1967. This federation was the forerunner to the Basketball Association of Singapore and played a vital role in basketball’s promotion. The men’s national team of the Singapore Amateurs Basketball Federation took part in the Summer Olympics in 1956.
In 1961, Singapore Amateur Basketball Federation arranged Orient Year Cup. Fifteen basketball teams from South East Asia took part in this highly competitive event, and Singapore was the winner.
Three years later, SABF hosted the Agong’s Cup National Basketball Championship in 1964. The event was originally scheduled to take place in August but was postponed till December due to racial riots in Singapore in July.
Goh Chye Hin remained closely associated with the association till he passed away in 1984. The Singapore Amateur Basketball Federation became a member of the International Basketball Federation of Asia in 1961, and the national team also started participating in events organised in the regions, particularly the FIBA Asia Cup. In 1967 Singapore Amateur Basketball Federation was renamed to Basketball Association of Singapore.
Singapore National Basketball Teams
The Basketball Association of Singapore manages the national basketball teams for men and women. The men’s team gained massive recognition in the 1970s and continued its upward trajectory when it qualified for a straight 12 times for the Asian Basketball Championship till the 1990s.
The team has been taking part in Olympics since 1956. In 2001, the men’s team played for the first time in the Southeast Asian Basketball Championship. To date, the team has won three bronze medals in 2001, 2013, and 2015 respectively. It has also won bronze twice at the ASEAN Basketball Championship in 2001 and 2013, respectively.
The Basketball Association of Singapore also manages the men’s national under18 and under-16 basketball teams.
Singapore Slingers
A review of basketball in Singapore cannot be complete without a mention of Singapore Slingers, a professional basketball team that takes part in the ASEAN Basketball League. The team was founded in 2006 and was formerly a part of the National Basketball League in Australia in 2006-07, making it the only Asian team to be a part of the NBL. However, it withdrew from the NBL IN 2008 due to financial constraints and later took part in Singapore Challenge Series.
Singapore Slingers have been associated with the ASEAN Basketball League since its inauguration in 2009. The team has been among the top three teams consistently. It secured the second position in the competition in 2009, 2015, and 2016 respectively.
Currently, the Singapore Slingers play at the OCBC Arena. It has been their venue since it was formed in 2014. From 2006-2014, the team played at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Who is the best basketball player in Singapore?
Lim Shengyu is the most competent basketball player in Singapore. He is part of the Singapore Slingers and plays as a forward. Lim is a regular at the ASEAN Basketball League and has been awarded the Most Valuable Player title twice when he played for Hwa Chong Institution. He was also part of the National Basketball Camp in Shengai and was the only Singaporean player to participate in the NBA without Borders Camp, held in New Deli in 2008.
Lim Shengyu was part of the national basketball team when it won two bronze medals in 2013 and 2015, respectively, at the Southeast Asian Basketball Championship.
Is Singapore good at basketball?
Basketball not only ranks among the top five favourite sports in Singapore but the country’s basketball teams are also regarded as one of the strongest in the region.
The men’s national basketball team won three bronze medals in 2001, 2013, and 2015 respectively, at the Southeast Asian Basketball Championship. It has also won bronze twice at the ASEAN Basketball Championship in 2001 and 2013, respectively.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s professional basketball team Singapore Slingers is one of the top contenders in the ASEAN Basketball League.
Who regulates basketball in Singapore?
The Basketball Association of Singapore is the governing body responsible for regulating basketball in Singapore. It was formerly known as the Singapore Amateur Basketball Federation, which was established after the Second World War and was renamed in 1961.
