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With 22 years of experience under her belt, national 3×3 cager Tang Choy Ting’s secret to longevity as a competitive athlete lies not in her skills but in her mind.
“Mental wellness and character development… You need to know what you want and put in effort and work hard for it,” the 31-year-old said.
As she leads her charges ahead of the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup, the women’s national team captain still yearns for a taste of success as she approaches what most consider the twilight of an athlete’s career.
Finding The Right Balance
Having played at multiple SEA Games (2015 and 2017) in the 5v5 team and clinching bronze in the 2016 SEABA Championship for Women in Malacca City, Tang is no stranger to top-level competitive basketball but has had to go the extra mile to sustain her athletic pursuits as she juggles it with work.
Often having morning and night trainings that bookend her regular work as a civil engineer, Tang is used to sleeping four hours on average daily.
“There are times when I want to give up. But, I ask myself, ‘Why did I choose this?’… It’s because I really wanted it and I want to put in the effort and go through with it.”
Motivation is far from scarce for the seasoned veteran who often finds her inner competitive streak showing up on court, even during her training sessions.
A Role Model For The Next Generation
Her work ethic and ever-competitive spirit has rubbed off on her younger teammates who look to her as a source of inspiration.
Jermaine Lim, who plies her trade for Siglap Basketball Club in the Women’s National Basketball League, has felt the positive impact of her captain’s dedication to the sport.
Lim only transitioned to 3v3 in 2023 and had her first foray in the national fold after making the trials in August that year.
Dubbing Tang as her role model, the 24-year-old said: “It’s very inspiring to see that at their age, they can juggle work and still come for training and stay committed. She’s also one of the reasons why I want to push myself to be the best I can.”
Leading On & Off The Court
Citing Tang’s work ethic as admirable, Lim shared that Tang has been a constant presence for the team, turning up to training on off days and even when unwell to give advice and feedback to the younger players.
For Tang, she wants her teammates to see her as a “friend”, adding that she would want to be able to guide them through their mistakes.
Having played in the last two editions of the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup on home soil, Tang’s advice to her team is to keep their cool and steel their nerves.
And Lim has heeded this piece of advice to great effect.
“Up until last year, I think I was a bit too focused on whether I would play well or not. And then it didn’t really work well for me, because all my life, every single competition, no matter how small or how big, I would be super nervous, and then I could never really predict how I’m going to play for the competition,” Lim shared.
The self-inflicted pressure took a toll on the youngster who would struggle to eat or sleep weeks before a competition.
She now carries with her around a note saved in her message application that helps her relieve the pressure of performance — “Just play”.
More Milestones Ahead
For Lim, it serves as a handy reminder.
“Whatever happens, happens. I just need to not let myself down by giving my 101 per cent,” she said.
If she were to make the final roster for the Asia Cup, it would mark a debut in the prestigious continental showpiece for Lim, who will also have an eye on a place in the SEA Games squad.
“The FIBA Asia Cup will be more diverse than the SEA Games… we have (teams like) China and Australia. So definitely, this competition will be a good wake up call and toughen us up for the SEA Games. Hopefully we can play well, build our confidence and enter the SEA Games on a good note.”
Podium Hopes
With the regional multisport tournament looming ahead in December, both Lim and Tang fancy their chances of a deep run, with hopes of a podium spot firmly in their sights.
“We have played with a lot of (the Southeast Asian teams) before so I feel like we stand a very good fighting chance… With the new strategic improvements that we have been making and the constant adjustments and the specific feedback from our coach… we definitely stand a good chance. I think top three is definitely achievable,” Lim said.
And to get there, opportunities like the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup are key to provide exposure for the team.
“All these games will help us build our chemistry, our team and make us a stronger and better team… Playing against different opponents and different scenarios will help us learn how to solve problems and become a better team,” Tang added.
Going All In
As the Asia Cup competition draws closer, Lim is chomping at the bit and ready to “hustle for every ball”.
And as national team Coach Lazar Razic puts it, “You can see the players who are fighting well, who are giving everything for the country, for the flag, and for the team. That’s something that we are insisting on. We are trying to build up a culture that we are representing the nation and that we are ready to show that.”
The FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup will take place from March 26 to 30 (Wed to Sun) at the OCBC Square at the Singapore Sports Hub with tickets still available on sale here, with free entry for the public for the first session of the first two days of the tournament.
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