JAKARTA (Indonesia) - Being tall makes you stand out.

Hong Kong Eastern Basketball Teams' "Simba" Pok Yuet Yeung knows well as the 2.06M (6'9") center generally towers over most people in Hong Kong, China, making him an easy target to spot in a crowd.

But it has its advantages.

The 23-year-old knows how to take advantage of his height, as evident by his play in Round 1 of the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) Qualifiers. Pok extended and elevated to punch in a few highlight-worthy dunks on his way to averaging 7.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

One might assume that because of his height, Pok has always played basketball. And they would be wrong. While Pok has always been tall ever since he was young, he's took up the game late in his youth - almost denying to play the game altogether.

He was drawn to sports, as any young boy. Just not the one he's playing right now.

"When I was young, I played badminton, swimming, fencing, but not basketball. Everyone asked me to play, but I didn't want to. I was a bit rebellious, " he told on.cc.

"People around me often asked me if I played basketball… the more people asked me, the more resistant I became. In addition, there was no basketball team in elementary school, so I never had any contact with it," he also told Sportsroad Junior in Issue #50.

But life will find ways to throw you curveballs and sometimes you have to make adjustments, especially when you are tall. Just as Pok did when he started playing musical instruments.

"Actually, I wanted to learn the violin at first, but the band happened to be short of a cellist at that time. My height happened to be suitable, so I switched to cello," he told Liberty Times Net.

After rebelling against hitting the hardwood for the longest of time, Pok could no longer avoid the inevitable of taking interest in the game of basketball through a medium many East Asian basketball fans can relate with - the "Slam Dunk" anime.

"I watched 'Slam Dunk' during a holiday and saw that their story was very interesting," said Pok of the famous Japanese animated series, as told to Sportsroad Junior. "The passion made me feel that basketball is a very interesting sport, so I tried to train with the school team."

And so, his basketball journey began. Moreover, he quickly hit a milestone, getting selected to the Hong Kong, China U16 national team just merely three weeks after he started playing basketball.

He told Sportsroad Junior, "I had just started playing basketball at that time. I was still using my right hand when dribbling to the left. It's really amazing that I was selected in the end. I don't understand why I was selected."

He played sparingly in his first-ever FIBA competition at the U16 Asia Cup in 2015, appearing in only five minutes across three games. But it was enough to light a fire in him by knowing where he stood. He knew he needed to go the extra mile if he wanted to thrive on the court.

So he took the extra mile - and just over 440 miles more (or 711 kilometers) - to study and play in the high school basketball scene in Chinese Taipei.

"I knew that my start in basketball was slower than others and the level of basketball in Chinese Taipei was high. In order to catch up, I finally decided to go to there for a year of training."

Pok admitted to struggling in his time abroad, adjusting to the differences in culture on and off the court. The level of play was intense, all the way down to each practice session. He was even able to travel with the team to play in the Philippines, getting even more exposure to international play at the Asian level.

"Competing with [Asian players], I felt very shocked," he told on.cc in 2021. "I thought I should be able to do as well as them, but my current basketball level still had many shortcomings, so I was determined to pursue improvement."

"Before I went to Taipei, I only regarded basketball as a hobby." He told Sportsroad Junior. "I played it simply because I liked it. I have seen the hard work and initiative of high school students in Chinese Taipei, and I felt how serious they are about basketball, and the feeling of being fully involved in the whole process. This made my attitude toward basketball more than just an interest."

Even with his full dedication towards basketball, Pok is an easy target to be doubted.

After all, being tall makes you stand out. And it's easy for someone to say "he's just tall".

However, Pok is confident he can prove the doubters wrong.

"I can't convince everyone, so I don't mind other people's comments. The most important thing is to be yourself. Prove your ability on the court, not just your height," he said, per Sportsroad Junior.

He's done well so far. Pok followed through in his professional debut with Hong Kong Eastern Basketball Team in the HKA1 league back in 2021 with a solid performance. He's already made his senior national team debut throughout the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Pre-Qualifiers, going for 3.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

Now, he's a key piece of this Hong Kong Eastern team that are trying to qualify through to BCL Asia. It's clear to see why he's viewed by national team assistant coach and Hong Kong, China basketball great, Lee Ki, as someone who can take up the torch for Hong Kong, China basketball in the future.

"I believe it. They have expectations for me because they think I am capable, so I think it is a good thing," said Pok. "Although there will be a certain amount of pressure, it can also be regarded as motivation."

"As long as you have the ability and a stage for others to see your performance, opportunities will naturally find you. As a player, the most important thing at this stage is to equip yourself and perform your best on the court. If you have the ability, you will not lack opportunities.”

He also added as per on.cc, "Now I don't have to think about anything, I just need to do my best to be myself and keep improving."

FIBA