HONG KONG (22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship): Hong Kong are back in the FIBA Asia U18 Championship having missed the previous edition the 21st FIBA Asia Championship at Sana’A (Yemen), one of the three times they missed participation in the 21 editions of the event.

Inspite of their long standing participation – only China, Japan, Korea and Philippines have appeared on more occasions – the best the Hong Kong boys achieved is a sixth place on three occasions – – Manila 1987, Kuala Lumpur 2000, Bangalore 2004.

Therefore when the team prepares under the watchful eyes of On Hing King, in his fifth year as the coach of the team, the first aim is to finish higher than No 6 at the 22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship.

“We are working very hard and raising a lot of sweat towards achieving that,” said Wilfred Wu, Senior Development Officer of the HKBA.

“The preliminary squad with 25 players was selected last November and we have been training at least once a week since January this year,” Wu said.

“The final squad 14 players has just been selected and a highly concentrated training will started now till the Championship with 2-3 sessions a week,” he added.

“We have a well worked-out plan to increase the intensity as we near the event. We’ll also re-work our strategy depending on whom we draw (in the Preliminary Round). I am confident that the boys will give their best effort,” Wu said.

FIBA Asia

Photo courtesy: HKBA