“Love all, serve all.”
Those were the words of Datuk Yeoh Choo Hock, who dedicated his life to basketball in Malaysia and beyond.
Fondly known as Mr Basketball, Yeoh passed away this morning. He was 79 – just weeks short of his 80th birthday on Dec 20.
Former national athlete Anto Keney Martin, who is married to Yeoh’s niece, Ang Mei Lin, confirmed Yeoh passed away at 1.51am.
“He lived his life with a passion to uplift the game and fought a good fight till the end. He ran a good race,” said Martin.
SportsUnite Sports Club founder, Datuk Dina Rizal, paid tribute to Yeoh.
“I have known him for many, many years. He was dedicated to basketball and was a keen proponent of grassroots development,” said Dina.
“Before Covid-19, we organised a three-on-three basketball tournament named after him for the Under-12 and Under-16 age groups.
“He never failed to attend the tournaments. His death is a huge loss for sports in Malaysia, especially basketball,” added Dina.
A legendary figure in Malaysian basketball and a towering influence in the global basketball community, Yeoh leaves behind a legacy of unparalleled dedication to the game.
Yeoh was born in Kangar, Perlis – a small town in northern peninsular Malaysia – on Dec 20, 1944. He grew up with eight siblings, six of whom were boys, and all were active basketball players.
Having gone through hardship, Yeoh’s father, Kean Leong, was not too pleased with his son’s involvement in the sport. Not wanting to upset his father, Yeoh used to hide his basketball shoes in a Cream Cracker box under the verandah.
“One day, the river overflowed, and the box was swept away by the water! I was lucky to find the box near our shophouse, and Dad eventually found out my secret,” Yeoh said in his memoir ‘Dato’ Yeoh Choo Hock: My Life, My Journey’’ which he launched in 2020.
“I received an earful from him, but my shoes were dry, and I was thankful for that.”
Yeoh went on to play basketball in school and represented Perlis in the 1969 Agong’s Cup.
While his playing career stopped there, he pursued a career in teaching, becoming a lecturer at the Teachers’ Training College in Ipoh and later an Inspectorate of Schools in 1981.
However, he remained active in basketball as a coach. In 1970, he was the head coach for his home state team and later became national coach between 1975 and 1989.
He served as the Malaysia Basketball Association (MABA) secretary-general for 17 years (1990-2007) and was MABA vice-president in 2008-2009. Beyond Malaysia, he was the secretary-general of the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) from 1994 to 2006 and the secretary-general of FIBA Asia from 1998 to 2012.
He was honoured with the title of secretary-general emeritus of FIBA Asia in 2012 – a title he held until today.
Yeoh’s outstanding achievements include leading Malaysia’s national basketball team to a gold medal at the 1989 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games and promoting international basketball by organising tournaments such as the Women’s Basketball World Championship in Malaysia.
His contribution to the sport extended globally, having served as a FIBA Commissioner at four Olympic Games and several FIBA World Championships. His efforts were also recognised with numerous awards, including the 1997 Best CEO Award by the USA Basketball Association and the 2001 John Wooden Lifetime Service Award.
Last month, MABA nominated Yeoh for induction into the FIBA Basketball Hall of Fame.
In his memoir, ‘Dato’ Yeoh Choo Hock: My Life, My Journey’, which was conceptualised, written, and designed by Professional Storytellers, Yeoh shared stories of his early life, his love for basketball, the celebrities he met, the lives he touched, his family, and his spiritual devotion.
“I wanted it to be a celebration not just of my love for basketball, but also my family and the other important parts of my life,” said Yeoh in the book.
“My life in basketball has been an interesting journey, and I hope that this coffee table book will inspire others to be part of the sport.”
He was also quoted in the book as saying: “Give people a chance to learn. And they will surely learn.”
Yeoh leaves behind his wife, Datin Eu Thee, daughters Ee Leen and Ee Von, and their families.
