TEENAGER Adli Najdat Azwanddin has been offered a basketball scholarship in Taiwan, an opportunity which he hopes will lead to the door of the national team.
The 18-year-old hoopster has earned a scholarship with a university in Taoyuan.
As part of a four-year degree programme, Adli will also have a chance to suit up in the University Basketball Association (UBA) league in Taiwan.
He will be the third Malaysian in recent times to take a leap of faith to Taiwan following V. Dhayalan, who played high school basketball in 2019, and Yap Zhi Wei who was scouted by Vanung University last year.
Adli, who has been playing basketball since he was 14, is excited with the opportunity to take his game to the next level.
"I was always the tall kid and I started basketball after my friends asked me to join them for pickup games in the park," said the KL lad who stands at 1.93m.
"I was also asked to go for the school team tryouts and I made the team and started to give basketball a more serious thought.
"I definitely want to turn professional one day and play at a high level, and this is a really good opportunity as the level of basketball in Taiwan is a lot higher and they have a lot of international exposure as well.
"I am both excited and nervous at the same time but I'm ready to work hard for the opportunity to play in the UBA and hopefully one day make it to the professional leagues there.
"And I hope to play for Malaysia one day."
Adli, who is also setting the trend for non-Chinese basketballers, believes the basketball culture in Malaysia is gradually changing with more opportunities in a sport that has not seen much non-Chinese involvement.
"I think the basketball culture here is changing as there is a big community of non-Chinese players. And we also have the National Community Basketball League," said Adli.
"I'm also really thankful to the Putrajaya Basketball Association for grooming me and giving me an opportunity like this.
"The coaches there have pushed me hard and it's also thanks to them and the GoStrong basketball club that I have the opportunity to go to Taiwan," added Adli who will head to Taiwan on Oct 26 where he will be based for four years.
