The Basketball Connection
A low-key but high impact figure in the local basketball scene, entrepreneur and basketball lover Hendi Widodo held his wedding in Singapore on 20 May this year. It was an elaborate black-tie event that even had prominent businessmen, local and international celebrities on the guest list.
International artiste Show Lo at Hendi’s wedding
Staying true to his basketball roots, one of Hendi’s priorities in his wedding planning was to invite his band of brothers, his old basketball teammates who fought alongside him on the WG Sonics team many years ago in Jammers League. He won a championship in the league amidst tough local and international competition back then, sharing the unforgettable experience with some of the top local players in the likes of Slingers Chase Tan, Ng Hanbin, Wong Wei Long and Larry Liew, just to name a few.
Hendi Widodo’s basketball teammates in attendance at his wedding: Ng Hanbin, Derek Aw, Tan Yongsheng, Wong Wei Long, Chase Tan, Pung Jia Wei, Desmond Tan, Larry Liew
“It’s about meeting the right people at the right time,” he quips. Hendi admitted that being a young and high profile businessman had its perks and drawbacks. Many flocked to him for the potential benefits they could get from him. It was not easy to tell who was being real.
On the basketball court, it’s a different story. Hendi found the true connection and friendship he desired from his basketball teammates, who trained and played with him on the Sonics team. Though he admittedly said he was hardly the best player on the squad, he appreciated how his teammates accepted him readily and enjoyed their company on and off the court.
He fondly recalls his connection with his ‘go-to guy’, Pung Jia Wei whom he kept in touch with all this while. Jia Wei is now working in Cambodia but still made it back to Hendi’s wedding. He remembered sharing a close connection with Jia Wei on court, looking forward to playing Jammers league games every Sunday at Evans Road back then.
His basketball buddies aside, Hendi talked about his newly wed wife Charissa who has been supporting him in his basketball passion. One thing Hendi appreciates about Charissa is that she would spend time watching basketball videos on YouTube with him though she was not a basketball fan herself.
Hendi shared, “I just want to say that basketball is a game that really gives me positive vibes and I want to debunk the myth that playing basketball means that you have no future. I learnt many life lessons and found many valuable friendships in the sport and I hope that others will too.”
The ardent basketball fan was intrigued by the increasing amount of interest in the sport during the past few years. Hendi is elated to see his long-time friend PK Ong contributing to the local basketball community even after so many years. In an excited tone, he concluded, “It’s really a wholesome feeling to see so many people contributing their efforts to elevate the standard of Singapore basketball.”