The Macau Mamba Sports Association held a basketball event on Sunday at the Studio City Event Centre Basketball Court, with the group’s Executive Director Cheang Man Kit and Consultant Luis Wong (黃志輝) telling The Macau Post Daily that its purpose was to gather the city’s basketball lovers for a “happy weekend”.
The event, called the “Mamba Membership Basketball Weekend”, was the first to be organised by the association. With around 70 participants, the event comprised a three-point contest and a competition.
“All our members are in love with basketball”, Wong said, adding that the event aimed not only to promote the sport but also to have a “happy event” in the city as well as help introduce other like-minded lovers of basketball to each other, increase interaction and expand their social circle by playing basketball or in life.
According to a statement from the association, the contest had over 10 participants, while the competition had 40 participants who were split into four teams in a single round-robin tournament (all-play-all tournament).
Wikipedia defines this as “a competition in which each contestant meets every other participant, usually in turn”.
On the association and event’s name, Cheang was quoted in the statement as saying that “Mamba” is pronounced as the same way as “Slower Daddy” (慢爸) in Cantonese. Mamba is also inspired by basketball legend Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality, the statement added.
“Mamba Mentality is about 4 a.m. workouts, doing more than the next guy and then trusting in the work you’ve put in when it’s time to perform. Without studying, preparation and practice, you’re leaving the outcome to fate. I don’t do fate,” a statement on the Nevada Sports Net says about Bryant’s mentality.
Cheang also said that Kobe did not just influence generations of basketball lovers and sportsmen, but also reminded those who grew up watching him and have now become fathers to not give up on playing despite parenthood and instead “live with [the] Mamba Mentality”. Taking the time to exercise, the statement pointed out, can aid in having a work-life balance, reduce stress and improve one’s sense of well-being.
Kobe, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter were killed in a helicopter crash in California in 2020.
Meanwhile, The Macau Post Daily also asked Cheang and Wong about their thoughts on the future of basketball in the city. Both said they hope that the association can further promote the sport among local youngsters to show that it can be pursued as a dream and career in Macau, as well as to have a range of basketball-related events. “We will do our best to promote it more and more” in Macau, Wong said. Moreover, as an association that is all about sports, both also hope to do future events for other sports such as football or swimming.
The statement also quoted the association’s chairman, Ieng Chi Ieng, as saying that the number of participants in the event was restricted due to COVID-19 prevention measures, but that more activities will be launched gradually.
Participants in the “Mamba Membership Basketball Weekend” on Sunday play a single round-robin tournament. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
