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Qatar Tribune
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Abdullah Yassin wins top place at Basketball Without Borders Asia Camp
Tribune News Network Doha Abdullah Yassin Ismail Musa, a prominent Qatar national team player and of Al Rayyan Basketball Club, etched his name in the golden pages of Asian and Arab basketball history by securing first place at the Basketball Without Borders Asia Camp, held in Singapore from June 19 to 22. The camp was organized by FIBA and the NBA, with oversight from players and coaches affiliated with both organizations. This event, recognized as the leading platform for identifying emerging talent in Asia and Oceania, drew 60 male and female athletes under the age of 17 from 17 different countries, showcasing the finest young talents who were meticulously selected through ongoing evaluation throughout the year. Abdullah Yassin distinguished himself not only as Qatar's representative but also as the sole Arab participant in this edition. He embraced the responsibility of representing Arab basketball and emerged victorious, achieving a huge milestone. From the outset of the camp, Abdullah captured attention with his exceptional skills, natural ability to read the game, and tenacity, which were evident during both training sessions and practice matches. The Qatari star demonstrated his capabilities when he took part in the three-point shooting competition, a key highlight of the camp. Praise from NBA stars The presence of NBA stars and their participation in supervising the players added dimensions of competition and excellence to the camp. Abdullah caught the attention of these stars and was widely praised by prominent figures. Tyrese Maxey, star of the Philadelphia 76ers, said, 'Abdullah Musa possesses rare confidence, and his movements reflect a high level of tactical awareness. I believe he can play at a higher level if he continues with this level of commitment and development.' As Derrick White, star of the Boston Celtics, added, 'It was no surprise that Abdullah Al-Arabi was the only player here. He is the type of player who is not easily forgotten. His professional path is open if he continues to work with this spirit.' Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaiseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation, said, 'What Abdullah Yassin Ismail Musa has achieved is an unprecedented accomplishment for Qatari and Arab basketball, and it is living proof that the talent development project we began years ago is beginning to bear fruit. His participation in the 'Basketball Without Borders Asia' camp in Singapore, followed by his first-place finish, was not a coincidence, but rather the natural result of meticulous planning and a collective effort involving the association, clubs, coaches, the player's family, and everyone who supported this rising talent.' Captain Yassin Ismail, Director of the Qatari 3x3 Basketball Teams, praised this achievement, saying, 'Abdullah is not an ordinary talent; he is a potential professional player by all standards. I have followed him closely since he was in the early youth stages at Al Rayyan Club, and we have witnessed his discipline, constant desire to learn, and high fighting spirit. These are the qualities that distinguish a player of the future.' Abdullah Yassin Ismail Musa said, 'I can't describe how I feel. To be the only Arab and then emerge a champion is a great honor and a huge responsibility. My thanks to everyone who supported me, from the Qatar Football Association, my family, and my coaches in the Qatari national team and Al Rayyan Club. This experience has taught me a lot. Now I return to Doha more determined and more eager to reach further than I ever dreamed.' He added, 'It was an unforgettable experience. The training was intense, and the competition was fierce, but I believed in myself and in representing my country and the entire Arab world.' He explained: 'I am very happy to have won first place in the Basketball Without Borders Asia camp, and also to have won first place in the three-point shooting competition, especially in the presence of coaches and players from the NBA. The competition was not easy, but focus and self-confidence were my weapons. 'I thank the Qatar Basketball Federation, Al Rayyan Club, and everyone who supported me, especially my family and coaches, for their continuous support. I also thank my teammates on the national team, who share this with me.'
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
NBA Finals an ‘amazing' showcase for basketball, says stars Tyrese Maxey and Derrick White
Philadelphia 76ers' All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey (right) at the Basketball Without Borders Asia camp in Singapore on June 22. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY SINGAPORE – As the tension builds ahead of the decider for the National Basketball Association title, the drama of the Finals has left little doubt that the game is in a good place, said NBA stars Derrick White and Tyrese Maxey. The duo are gushing with pride as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers battle for glory on June 22 (June 23, Singapore time) at the Paycom Centre after a close battle in the best-of-seven series. Philadelphia 76ers' All-Star guard Maxey said: 'I feel like the play-offs this year has been amazing, honestly, second to none. This Finals series has been amazing for basketball. 'I think Oklahoma City and Indiana have really showed the world a different way of basketball, a different way how things can go. So I'm very appreciative of them for that, and I'm excited to see who wins the game.' White, who helped the Boston Celtics win the 2024 title, added: 'For the Finals, it's been great. I don't know what's going to happen in Game 7. Anything can happen, and these are two teams that play hard and play the right way. And so it's definitely been a good Finals.' The pair are in town alongside Portland Trail Blazers centre Duop Reath, and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) legend Ticha Penicheiro, for the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia camp, which is part of the global basketball development and community outreach programme of International Basketball Federation (Fiba) and the NBA. Both Maxey and White agreed with the assessment of NBA icon and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who said at the Fanatics Fest in New York on June 21 that 'the game of basketball is the best it's ever been'. White, 30, said: 'Obviously the league, the talent, all the players, are having a lot of fun. It's in a good spot, and it's a lot of fun to be a part of it.' The Boston Celtics' Derrick White (right) at the Basketball Without Borders Asia camp on June 22. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Maxey, 24, noted how the play-offs have seen several players step up, with the Pacers' offensive depth a big factor in their run to the Finals. 'There are a lot of different players that can do a lot of different things. I read a stat about Indiana, that they have seven or eight players who had 15 or more (points) in the play-offs. That's amazing. That means (on) any given night, somebody could go off and somebody could score the ball, and somebody can impact the game. So I feel like that's where the game is going. 'The teams that are going to go out there and try to find depth are going to be very successful.' In the Game 6 win over the Thunder on June 19, the Pacers had six players score in double figures, and in the six games in the Finals, the Pacers have had four players lead the team in scoring – Pascal Siakam in Games 1, 4 and 5, Tyrese Haliburton in Game 2, Bennedict Mathurin in Game 3 and Obi Toppin in Game 6. The Pacers are also the first team in NBA history to have eight players score over 200 points each in a single postseason run. Besides Maxey and White, a group of assistant coaches, including Jared Dudley from Dallas Mavericks, Ronald Nored (Atlanta Hawks), Vinay Bhavnani (Toronto Raptors), and Khalid Robinson (Golden State Warriors) are in Singapore for the four-day basketball camp from June 19 to 22 at the Singapore Basketball Centre. The camp, featuring 30 boys and 30 girls aged 17 and under from 17 countries and territories, is part of a festival that will culminate with the NBA Rising Stars Invitational from June 25 to 29. One of the Singaporean participants, Tricia Lau, 17, cited the eye-opening experience of playing with the best players and learning from them. She said: 'I learnt that we have a lot to work on – like energy levels are super important. And every single person has their own role on the court and everyone cannot be stagnant and everyone has to do something. 'On court, I learnt we need to be more confident in ourselves. We have to have the confidence to take players on one-on-one and be more selfish with the ball. I also learnt that although I'm not able to contribute much on the offensive side, as long as I play my role defensively, I can contribute a lot to the team. ' BWB graduates who eventually found their way to the NBA include the current Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City, and Maxey's teammate Joel Embiid. Centre Embiid, who struggled with multiple injuries as the 76ers missed the postseason for the first time since the 2016-17 season, played in only 19 games while forward Paul George, only featured in 41 games in an injury-riddled debut season with the Sixers. So it is no wonder that Maxey's answer to what his team need next season is short and sweet. 'I think we got to be healthy, really healthy, (then) we have a chance,' he said. The Celtics also have injury issues to contend with for next season as they are likely to be without leading scorer Jayson Tatum, who had surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon during the Eastern Conference semi-finals before the team were eliminated by the New York Knicks. When asked how big a blow Tatum's absence would be to their title ambitions, White said: 'Honestly, losing JT, it's tough, but he's going to do everything he can to get better, get back playing with us whenever he's able to... but that's the expectation (to compete for the title) every time you put on that uniform.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
