Fook Yee has eyes for just one thing - the hoop
PETALING JAYA: National women’s cager Yap Fook Yee has one important role at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games from April 4-15 – shoot the lights out.
The 24-year-old Fook Yee has earned a reputation as one of the deadliest shooters in the team.
Her accuracy from downtown has helped Malaysia to back-to-back gold medals at the 2015 and 2017 SEA Games.
The Selangor-born also took her talents to the international stage where she helped Malaysia to a silver medal at the Fiba 3x3 Asia Cup last year, while also winning the shootout contest along the way.
Now Malaysia will be counting on Fook Yee to qualify for the semi-finals from a Group B featuring a trio of taller teams – New Zealand, India and Jamaica.
And Fook Yee is certainly relishing the challenge.
“I think we had a good preparation, especially in our 11-day trip to Japan last month,” said Fook Yee.
“We had a long break from serious competition after last year’s SEA Games. And we were averaging two matches a day during our stint in Japan.
“That has gotten us into the mood and we’re all pumped up, and ready to get going for the Commonwealth Games.
“I know the team have expectations on me because I usually have a good feel of the ball and the coaches always put more emphasis on me to shoot.
“But I do feel that our team are ready to compete with anyone. We’re usually always 50-50 against any opponent and our weakness is perhaps just lacking a little aggression.”
Fook Yee, however, will not have to do it alone as national head coach Yoong Sze Yuin has also included a healthy Chong Yin Yin, who is also a reliable scoring option, in the squad.
“Yin Yin had some injuries prior to this and didn’t travel with us to Japan. But she has recovered and I included her because she’s a huge-scoring contributor, especially off the bench,” said Sze Yuin.
The women’s team departed for Brisbane on Friday. They will then proceed to Cairns where they are based for the preliminary stages.
Their first match is against the Kiwis on April 5.