She emphasized the commitment to uncovering more basketball talent in Asia, elevating the region's competitive level and empowering players to excel. She added that the NBA's aim is to motivate young athletes to pursue opportunities beyond their home countries.

For Kartika Hatta Mahanani, an 18-yearold player from Indonesia, meeting Yao Ming was one of the highlights of her trip to Singapore. Through interactions with NBA pros, she learned how to react more quickly and be more aggressive on the court, while still enjoying the game.

This wasn't her first time competing overseas — last June, she represented her country in the FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup 2024 held in Shenzhen, China.

"But this is the first time I've represented my school, SMAK Penabur Cirebon, at an international event, which is very exciting," she said. Her goal is to wear the national jersey and win a championship for her country in any international tournament.

Her teammate, Fransisca Cleopatra Setiawan, was competing abroad for the first time, and admitted that even sitting on the bench made her so nervous, she was drenched in sweat.

"The games here are super intense. They always push themselves hard throughout the game," she said.

Unlike Mahanani, who wants to make basketball her life, Setiawan doesn't see basketball as her future career, but believes playing the sport is a great way to unwind.

"When life gets hard, just playing basketball for a moment helps clear my mind and refresh my thoughts," she added.

Australia sent the boys' team from Berwick College and the girls' team from Flinders Christian Community College to the invitational tournament. Both teams secured their place on the international stage after winning the Under-17 Division 1 Championship titles at the 2024 Australian School Championships on the Gold Coast.

"It's a dream opportunity that reflects not just their ability, but their commitment to growth, teamwork and leadership. They're honored to represent Australia on the world stage," said Natalie Chatfield, basketball academy team manager at Flinders Christian Community College.

The team fought its way to the semifinals but lost to Onyang Girls' High School from the Republic of Korea.

"It's a really cool experience. I'm really grateful to be involved," said Flinders' Georgia Baensch.