Interview
Hoops And Ideals
>> Michael Wong tops the basketball quotient with commitment and ingenuity. He’s a talented young man with the winning combination of basketball skills and attitude. The 26 year old national player exudes an easygoing charm that belies his intensity and passion for basketball. Joy-Anne Tan gets him to share his views in a D&D exclusive.
ALTHOUGH clad simply in casual attire during the interview, Wong Shun Yu, Michael exudes an easygoing confidence that is carried well by his demeanour and athletic physique. Given his commitment to the game and disciplined attitude, his confidence on court is unmistakable. Spectators and opponents have often assumed the off court Michael Wong to be the same as his on court persona. Nothing could be further from the truth as his resilience on court and humility off court places him a cut above many. On his way to training, Michael was more than willing to share about the true love of his life. Basketball! Michael wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth when it came to basketball. Much of what he has achieved so far is the result of sheer hard work, commitment and a laser-like focus on one goal.
Overcoming Limitations “I started playing when I was in secondary one. The reason was because I was very
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Interview short when I was young and I wanted to grow taller,” he says. However, height isn’t everything in basketball. Being tall certainly has its advantages but Michael compensates with his mental toughness. “My strength is my mental toughness and I’m basically limited by my physical self. I’m not physically gifted to play basketball in the sense that I don’t have superb jumping abilities, strength or speed. But I make up for it by having this mental toughness and through hard work; I am able to improve on my physical limitations.” With the demands of regular training and commitment to the sport, how does he strike that delicate balance between work and play? “Basketball takes up a lot of my personal time and it is almost impossible to have dinners with friends except during weekends. It takes a lot of commitment to play for the national team and that’s why I don’t have much time for myself,” he admits. However, it was worth it as his passion for the game still burns strong after 13 years of playing.
Human After All
It doesn’t matter how well you
In today’s basketball matches where spectators watch the games looking for fancy plays, Michael brings a much broader perspective to this whole exhilarating sport. When it comes to basketball, Michael has the intense focus of a fighter. Being in the national team is something to be proud of but not something to feel stressed about, he feels. “We are still human after all and as long as you don’t think you are above anyone just because you are in the national team and give it your all for every game, there will be no pressure on yourself,” he says. Ever the opportunist, he adds, “I enjoyed the training and the experience of learning from different coaches. Every international tournament played brings with it different experiences and game situations where I can pick up invaluable knowledge on how to handle them.”
PLAY INDIVIDUALLY, what matters is
THE TEAM FARES
how well
at the end of the game.
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Interview them as my team mates. I cherished the experience. They had great basketball IQ and willpower to overcome whatever obstacles that came in the way.”
A Foodie At Heart Besides being inspired by basketball, Michael shares about his passion for food. “I like to eat. I’m a very experimental eater so I like to eat a wide variety of food. Basically I enjoy all the normal things like hanging out with friends or going to the movies etc. I don’t like people who are not sincere in their words,” he reveals. However, when it comes to basketball, he reveals a serious side to his nature: “I can never tolerate lacklustre effort during training and game time. I believe in leaving it all out there on the court no matter who you are playing against.”
Born To Be Tough
Memorable Achievements Sharing memories of his playing career in the national team, he recalls fondly, “I think it was in the year 2001 when the national team won the bronze medal in the SEABA championship held in the Philippines. It was a total team effort and the team we had then was full of players who were willing to sacrifice and play supporting roles to accommodate the needs of the whole.” Another memorable event was during one of the ‘A’ Division basketball tournaments where he scored 57 points in a single game. “In the game alone, I hit 13 three pointers. It was kind of like my own personal achievement but on a bad 4 draw&dish Jan’06
note, I lost the game by one point so that taught me something as well. It doesn’t matter how well you play individually, what matters is how well the team fares at the end of the game.”
Mental toughness is vital to basketball and Michael considers it to be the single most important component in his life as well. At just 26 years old, this young man seems to have achieved much more than many young people out there. He was awarded the Sports Boy of the year award when he was in Hwa Chong Junior College and Sports Man of the year award during his days at the Nanyang Technological University. The bronze medal he received for the SEABA championship and the 57 point personal achievement in a single game with 13 three pointers are memories he holds dear to his heart. Michael credits the mentors, friends and team mates who are constantly by his side for helping him realise his achievements. He says, “I couldn’t have gotten so far with the help of all these people.”
Positive Influences
What Really Is Basketball To Michael?
When it comes to positive influences in his playing career, Michael reveals two people who have inspired him throughout his basketball life. Current Men’s National Team Coach, Neo Beng Xiang and exnational captain Chua Boon Heng. “I was impressed by their on court and off court actions. They showed great commitment and dedication to the sport and I had the pleasure of having
“It is my life, my everything, and it has gotten me to where I am now.” Michael encourages his supporters and fans of the game to remain true to their ideals. “Keep supporting Singapore basketball. Work hard for what you believe in. Never give up no matter how hard you try. You will never know what will happen unless you try.”