Team Air Hawk hope to clinch championship
Team Air Hawk captain So Yi-chun hopes to make up for last year's disappointment by leading his team to victory in the 2005 Nike Youth Basketball League championship match tomorrow.
Yi-chun, a Form Five student at Jockey Club Ti-I College, was a member of Team Air Flight which lost last summer's under-19 title match in the dying moments.
'It was a hard result to take last year, and this is my last chance to win the championship,' said Yi-chun, who lines up with fellow-Hong Kong junior team members Au Kai-ming and Tsang Siu-hei for Air Hawk this year.
Their coach, Chu Ka-chun, was on the winning side in last year's final. This time Yi-chun hopes Chu will lead his side to glory against Team Turbulence at Southorn Stadium.
'He has given us important tips on defence and makes a lot of effort to communicate with everyone on the team. He makes us feel very confident of winning. I think we have a good chance,' Yi-chun said.
'We have been playing well and beat a good team in the semi-finals in both legs [Team Air Zoom]. The best two teams are in the final. I think it will be a close and physical match, but I believe we have the best team spirit and will win.'
Air Hawk will look to experienced point guard Kai-ming to lead the way. Siu-hei is expected to provide the power plays and rebounds, while Poon Ching-hei is known for his three-point shooting.
'My job is to tie the team together,' said Yi-chun. 'I may be double teamed [draw two opponents] and will look to find my teammates in that case.'
Turbulence has three Hong Kong junior team members in their line-up - captain Ip Ka-ho, Chan Cheung-man and Szeto Wai-kit. Turbulence will look to three-point specialist Ka-ho for inspiration. In the women's competition, Lady Flight and Lady Uptempo clash for the title today. In the boys' under-16 category, Junior Air Zoom and Junior Air Max will battle it out for the honours.
Finals schedule for today: 2.30pm Junior Uptempo v Junior Turbulence; 4pm Team Force v Team Air Zoom; 5.30pm Lady Uptempo v Lady Flight; 7pm Junior Air Zoom v Junior Air Max; 8.30pm Prize presentation
Tomorrow: 1pm Team Air Hawk v Team Turbulence
