Latest news with #NBARisingStarsInvitational
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Former footballer Madelin Lock shoots for honours at NBA Rising Stars Invitational
SINGAPORE – Madelin Lock is as good with her feet as she is with her hands – as a student-athlete she has proved her prowess on both the football field and basketball court. A former Lion City Sailors academy player, the midfielder scored a hat-trick in her final game for the club's under-16 team in 2023. And on May 23, the Hwa Chong Institution basketball captain, 18, led her team to the National School Games A Division girls' title. Football and basketball are her favourite sports, but in 2023 the Singaporean quit football to focus on the latter as she wants to 'pave the way' for the next generation. 'I realised that in football, a lot of my teammates want to go pro, and there are a lot of opportunities given to footballers, such as the Unleash The Roar! (scholarship), and people like Danelle Tan have already paved the way,' said Lock, on the sidelines of a clinic held by the National Basketball Association (NBA) at Spectra Secondary School on May 30. 'So I was hoping that, since I had the option, that I could do either one… I wanted to try and pave the way for basketball, because basketball has a very special place in my heart, I just love training by myself, and I feel I could train for hours. 'I feel that since I am fortunate enough to try, I might as well just try and pave the way for future generations.' The 1.60m point guard will be part of the Hwa Chong team who will compete in the NBA Rising Stars Invitational, the league's first regional basketball tournament for youths aged 18 and under, from June 25 to 29 at the Kallang Alive precinct. Spectra Secondary School students participated in a basketball clinic conducted by Natalia Andre (centre) from the NBA Asia's basketball operations department. PHOTO: NBA The event will feature high school teams from 11 countries and territories across the Asia-Pacific, with Singapore's A Division boys' champions Anglo-Chinese Junior College and United World College South-east Asia Dover joining the mix. Sheila Rasu, NBA Asia's head of marketing communications, said: 'Doing events in Singapore was just part of our commitment to be entrenched in the community here. 'There have been discussions over many years about what we can do here, and that was the genesis for us to create this high school tournament. It's a first of its kind. Our ambition for this particular tournament is that it becomes the premier tournament for high school kids.' The Karim Family Foundation (KFF), which also sponsors the Singapore Badminton Open, have also come on board as a community partner for the tournament. KFF principal Cindy Karim said: 'My family and I have always believed in the power of sport to inspire ambition, build character and unite communities. 'Through Karim Family Foundation's support of the sporting community, we hope to encourage young athletes in Singapore to pursue their dreams professionally and to see sports as a meaningful and fulfilling career path.' Noting that the NBA event is a 'great opportunity' for her, Lock is also looking ahead to her basketball future. She added: 'I do have the option to play in America right now, but this year, I will focus on my A levels and focus on getting better, and then next year I might go overseas, go to America and attend camps and try to find the most suitable option for me. 'I want to make sure that I'm very comfortable with the school I'm going to, at the same time, I'm also open to playing in other countries like in Europe. At the end of the day for me, the goal is to play professionally, be it in the WNBA or the Euro League.' Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Q&A: Spurs' Jeremy Sochan has 'something to prove' next season
Q&A: Spurs' Jeremy Sochan has 'something to prove' next season San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan could play a significant role in the development of his team as it looks to make a stride next season. While San Antonio's roster is built around superstar big man Victor Wembanyama, it could contend as a serious threat in the Western Conference sooner rather than later if Sochan continues to improve as well. Now loaded with De'Aaron Fox and 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year winner Stephon Castle, a step forward for Sochan would go a long way under new Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson. Sochan, who plays for the Polish national team in FIBA and was raised in the United Kingdom, traveled to the Philippines earlier this month in May. He attended the NBA Rising Stars Invitational Philippines Qualifiers in Metro Manila. During this trip, in addition to a meet-and-greet with the Rising Stars teams, he also had availability to speak to one outlet in the United States about the experience. For The Win caught up with the Spurs forward to discuss his travels and various other topics in his world. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. You are a global citizen of basketball. What defines hoops in the Philippines? Sochan: I'm out here for the NBA Rising Stars Invitational. It's been crazy: The culture here, the energy, the fans, the basketball players. It's unbelievable. I didn't realize how big Manila is, there are so many millions of people. When you come here, you can see the investment and the heart. Whether it's the players, the coaches, or the fans: You can feel the warm energy. I didn't post about where I'm staying and every time I'm in the lobby, there are fans waiting to come talk to me and take photos with me and sign stuff for them. The basketball court has people waiting at the café. You can tell by the excitement and how they react: It's really genuine. It's been really impressive. The weather is great. I'm trying new foods. I had adobo and gising-gising. It's fire. It's good food. The dried mango here is elite. I'm blessed. I'm taking it all in and doing some good work. What is something the public does not yet grasp about Victor Wembanyama? Sochan: For me, day in and day out, he is doing all these little things like playing chess and working on his mental health. He is doing yoga. That all plays a part in who he is and what he can do on the court. I think a lot of people just think about his talent. Vic can do extraordinary things. But it's all the other things that he does that really open everything up on the court. That may happen behind closed doors, but I think that's really important. He's really consistent about it. He wants to be the greatest. More: The Spurs are reportedly 'optimistic' Victor Wembanyama will return next season after blood clot scare What was your biggest takeaway from playing for Gregg Popovich? Sochan: My biggest takeaway is definitely that he is the greatest. He's respected by everyone. For me, I saw him as a coach but also as a father figure. He gave such an education on justice and different things going on in the world, I think he made me and everyone else realize that it's bigger than basketball. There are more important things in life that also need attention. At the end of day, we are all humans. We're not always going to be perfect. It's all about learning and experiencing the ups and downs and becoming a better person and a better basketball player. When you are going out to eat with him, you let him pick the wine. He is an enthusiast. He knows everything about wine. His collection is crazy. You don't touch that menu. I'm worldly, but he is too. He's all about trying different things, eating good food, and good conversation about life and basketball. It's about being in the present moment and having a good conversation. More: Gregg Popovich shared amazing new nickname in his first address since coaching retirement What are you most excited about playing under new coach Mitch Johnson? Sochan: His growth. He is young for a young head coach. That's impressive. He's so passionate about it. He wants to be perfect. This season, there's going to be ups and downs. But I know who he is as a person and as a coach. He wants the best for all of us and for himself. He wants to create a winning culture. We have to help him as a team. It's going to be a process. I'm super excited. I've been able to be with him not only on the court but at Basketball Without Borders in Poland. That relationship is there. I think over time, Pop gave him a lot of freedom to coach and take the leading role in practice and timeouts. He drew ATOs. He's made for it. He's ready for it. I'm super happy for him and his family. We started really well when he was the interim and the 'Spurs way' is to keep it in-house. It's the smart way. Pop really wanted that, too. I never had any doubts. More: 4 things to know about Mitch Johnson, who will replace Gregg Popovich as Spurs' head coach Where do you think the Spurs are headed with the growth you saw last year? Sochan: I think it's super exciting. When you look at it, there are a lot of stars and a lot of potential on both sides of the court. There is no one that does not want to play on both sides of the court. In the playoffs, if you want to be a winning team, you need that. It's not just about scoring. Defense is really important and just staying together as a team. I think players are going to have to sacrifice some of their roles when everyone is healthy. I think everyone wants to win. This is a big summer for me. I'm excited for EuroBasket. I want to improve my whole game. I'm working on my shot. I'm working on improving my finishing even more and my ball handling, different reads, attacking different types of big men depending how we'll get guarded because of how unique Victor is as a player. I'm super motivated. I have something to prove. I'm working on my body and conditioning. More: Will the Spurs use the No. 2 overall pick or trade it for Giannis Antetokounmpo? When you watch the playoffs, how much do you want to play? Sochan: It definitely makes you thirsty when you watch all the games. You can really see what kind of teams thrive in the playoffs. I think we have all the talent and the heart on our team to make that push finally. I think last year was a year of progress and adding a few pieces. I think we were right there. We had a few injuries, which didn't help. But no one is satisfied. We are all really hungry to make it to the playoffs. How do you think your game translates to the postseason intensity? Sochan: I think my game will thrive in those moments. When you look at the playoffs right now, the game is very physical. You can see a lot of players that, in the regular-season, they impact the game. But the utility guys and the energy guys really make the team that wins really stand up. I look at players like Mikal Bridges. I think he is a great offensive player. But he really impacts the game on the defensive side. He has won the game for New York multiple times. Of course, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler are the ultimate guys who have had so many winning positions for a lot of years. Those are the guys who really thrive and make a difference in the postseason and I'm one of those guys. Do you find the Spurs are one of the most worldly-recognized NBA teams? Sochan: A thousand percent! I think being here, from what I've heard, the Spurs are one of the most followed teams by Filipinos. The team that we have now has quite a bit of international players, too. Vic is one-of-one. I've come from Poland where I'm really the only NBA player right now. Sandro Mamukelashvili is from Georgia. There are only two Georgian NBA players right now. Across franchise history, there are so many international players from the Spurs. It's impressive that it's not only from Europe but elsewhere like South America, too. Does that international identity manifest as a team on the basketball court? Sochan: I think it definitely does. We can be honest: There are two different styles of play. I think, growing up in Europe, you have to play in a team-oriented system. You communicate, make the extra pass. That is the main emphasis. Whereas places like AAU are more based on the individual and scoring. You have flashing cameras. You get all the gear. That is not a bad thing. I think both have cons and benefits but I do think that our game with the Spurs is worldwide and there are so many different perspectives.
