By Abigail Lim (Girls’ Captain) and Kieron Yak (Boys’ Vice Captain)

The Raffles Basketball experience

Looking for a fun, welcoming, and thrilling co-curricular activity? Look no further! Here at Raffles Basketball, we are more than just a team: we are a family that SUPPORTS each other and GROWS together!

Basketball is, at its core, a sport known for its physicality, fast pace and team-oriented nature. As a member of Raffles Basketball, expect to grow not just individually, but as a team. While the sport builds self-discipline, confidence, and physical and mental strength, it also inculcates team spirit built upon communication and trust, such that there is chemistry amongst the members on and off the court! We hope to achieve the goal of not just being a team during the 2 years of Junior College, but lifelong teammates and friends that enrich our life experiences.

Training

Our training comprises both court training and strength and conditioning which takes place three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with one session dedicated to conditioning. Training usually lasts for 2 to 3 hours. 

During court training, the team engages in refining individual skills such as finishing and handling, followed by team drills such as set-plays and scrimmages against each other to simulate game conditions. 

Strength and conditioning training consists of drills that train agility, speed, strength, and endurance. Through our training sessions, we are committed to constantly and consistently improving our skills and becoming a well-rounded team to prepare us for the competition season.

Events

Many tournaments and friendlies are organised over the 2 years to pit ourselves against other teams to test our abilities as one cohesive unit, and to progressively work towards our goals and dreams of achieving top honours at the annual National Schools Games A Division Championships. 

Such examples include the Fire Tourney which is a weekend tourney that includes international school teams, clubs and local school teams to get our competitive juices pumping.

During the March Holidays, our team will go for our annual overseas training trips to countries in Asia, including Thailand, Taiwan or Hong Kong, where we get the opportunity to play against top school teams of the host country. The experience is eye-opening, as we are exposed to our opponents’ high level of intensity and commitment to the sport. It motivates us to compete with that level of passion and encourages us to develop mental toughness in times of hardship. 

We also have the annual Gryhon’s Cup where our alumni ballers come back to participate in a 5v5 and 3×3 tournament against current students and other alumni. The Gryphon’s Cup allows the current team to get to know their predecessors and see the rich and vibrant history of Raffles Basketball over the years through sharing stories and playing basketball together. 

This year, our A Div Boys team had the privilege of participating in a basketball clinic by the NBA team LA LAKERS assistant coach, Phil Handy. Coach Handy has coached many NBA legends like Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Kyrie Irving to name a few. We have benefited from the many tips that he shared during the clinic, and we have learnt the importance of treasuring each and every training session to further hone our skills.

Coach Phil Handy Clinic

Team Bonding

A sport built on teamwork and collaboration; team bonding is a vital aspect of basketball. To build a team spirit, foster deep friendships and develop great camaraderie, the team proactively finds opportunities to organise team lunches or dinners after training sessions, as well as plan team bonding activities such as Captains’ Ball. That said, team bonding not only allows us to work towards our common goal of winning on court, but also fosters our team chemistry off the court.

During CNY celebrations, the boys typically make a bigger mess from their Lo Hei but we make sure to clean up the area and return it back as it was.

RI200 Celebrations

Raffles Basketball is a unique and once in a lifetime opportunity for you to learn more about the game of basketball where you will push your physical and mental limits through hours of dedicated training and competition and most importantly, to experience what it means to be part of our Raffles Basketball family where strong bonds of friendship and camaraderie forged will last long beyond your two years here in Raffles Institution.   

So, what are you waiting for?

See you at our Home Courts for our CCA trials and have a Ball of a time!