MANAMA (Bahrain) - The first two games of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers have been a bit rough for Sri Lanka. They are still winless heading into the upcoming games of the Manama bubble and the competition will get tougher as the stakes rise.

Nonetheless, the prospects of Sri Lanka basketball have enjoyed being a part of this experience so far.

“It has been a great journey so far representing Sri Lanka at the Qualifiers where we had the opportunity to play against big teams like Jordan, Palestine and Kazakhstan,” said Sri Lanka forward Arnold Brent. “I also feeling very proud to play for my country and show the world what Sri Lanka is capable of in Basketball.”

For Brent, playing on the national team in the upcoming Asia Cup Qualifiers will also has little more meaning. He’ll be playing with his big brother, Clinton Stallone Thevakumar, who has always been an inspiration growing up.

“The reason for me to play basketball is my brother,” said Brent of his sibling, who is 7 years his elder. “I grew up watching him play and that made me start my basketball career. I’ve always had a dream that I will represent my country with my brother and in 2017, my dream came true where I was selected to the national team and I had the opportunity to play with my brother in bigger events. It’s been a great experience and I’ve been enjoying the game every single day.”

“Hopefully this will continue and we will give our best throughout every competition for our country.”

At just 21-years-old, Brent is the youngest of a young Sri Lanka squad that will be playing in the upcoming games of the Manama bubble. He’s had a head start of playing at the senior national team level and it can only be beneficial that he gets to experience this high-level action.

This goes for all of the other hopeful youths on the squad that are expected to develop together and continue to build chemistry moving forward.

“I have been playing for the national team since I was 17-years-old,” said Brent. “I have learnt a lot and I’m still learning the game and nothing will ever stop me from learning.”

“I know as a young player what sort of an experience can be gained from these big events. Our team has so many young players and with an average age of [25], so if we can continue to work with this group we can go a long way. It is exciting to play along with this bunch of player who only care about playing their best game at all times.”

“We are looking forward to play some good basketball with intense pace. Our team is filled with a lot of talent and I hope the Qualifiers will help us youngsters gain experience and get exposure to get us prepared for the future.”

The exposure so far might be a bit tough to watch for Sri Lanka. They’ve lost the past two games by an average of 48.5 points per content. However, these are games where they are playing against teams who have had recent high-level experience playing at the World Cup level (Jordan) and the Asia Cup level (Palestine).

As the saying goes, to be the best, you have to play against the best.

“To me the most memorable moment in the Qualifiers is none other than playing the big teams and showcasing our talent. It’s also is an opportunity to show the basketball world that Sri Lanka basketball has the potential to play at bigger platforms. I'm sure I will cherish every minute on the court and make more memories that I can take back with me.”

Aside from the experiences of playing in the games itself, getting to watch and scout his opponents in the Asia Cup Qualifiers has been valuable lessons to learn from for Brent.

“The Qualifiers has so far taught me that nothing is easy and also nothing is impossible. Watching all the other nations play has pushed me to level up my game to contest some of the big names in the Asia Cup.”

“Not only for myself but as a team, we have done a lot within this little period to make sure we prepare ourselves well for the Qualifiers. This has taught us to plan, organize, and manage our trainings to ensure we achieve the best during our preparation. This is a good learning for me to understand how to prepare for big tournaments.”

As of this moment, Sri Lanka are a young team. They might have moments in the game which displays their youth and relative lack of experience.

But as a team of players that are only in their early 20s, Sri Lanka are looking a bit further down the road.

“The future of Sri Lanka Basketball looks promising with all new young players in the pool. They bring so much talent which increases the competition to each and every position in the team. I can see, as a group, if we can develop and grow together, we can go a long way. As a country, we also have done very well in the 3x3 format. Those achievements coupled with the ambitious minds, motivates us to learn and train hard.”

“We are looking to make a big impact in the [Asia Cup] and I'm sure Sri Lanka Basketball will be a notable brand in Asia soon.”

The confidence in the future of Sri Lanka basketball from the team and their players comes from their faithful fans. Even though they are still a growing “brand” right now, the fans are sure to shower them with support to give them an extra push.

“Sri Lanka is a small country and within the basketball community we almost know each and everyone. The beauty about us is we respect each other and cheer whenever anyone plays. We already have received so many messages wishing us luck via social media and personal messages. So, regardless of the outcome, I'm sure as players we will always have the support of our nation.”

FIBA