NUS come back from 16 points down to stun NYP

Story by Red Sports reader Ian Chew. Pictures by Leslie Tan. © Red Sports

The National University of Singapore (NUS) went on an astonishing 28-4 run in the final quarter to overcome Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) 72-64 in their semi-final match last night at NUS. The NUS team rallied from a 16-point deficit at the end of the third quarter to complete a famous victory that left NYP stunned.

Once again, Bandar Tjetty (#9, NUS) pulled all the strings in the NUS victory. Roared on by a partisan home crowd, he top-scored for the team with 24 points, including a mind-boggling six 3-pointers.

Earlier on, NYP had looked to be cruising towards an upset win over NUS on their home ground. NYP led 36-30 at the half-time break, extending the lead to a massive 16 points by the end of the third.

Point guard and national player Wong Wei Long (#71, NYP) was impeccable in his vision and ball control throughout the game, scoring vital points as well as initiating numerous plays for his team. Forwards Ng Wee Kim (#70, NYP), Low Khai Kit (#80, NYP) and Zhou Zhen Jie (#82, NYP) were also spot on from beyond the arc, contributing points towards the 60-44 lead by the end of the third.

That set the stage for the fourth quarter heroics by NUS.

Joshua Koh (#13, NUS) started the ball rolling with a three-pointer for his team almost immediately after the start. Lee Zeyan (#11, NUS) quickly followed that up with a layup to cut the lead to 11 points. They contributed 11 of 28 points for their team during this quarter.

Reeling from the sudden pressure defense of NUS, NYP never recovered from the poor start. They eventually scored a miserly four points for the entire quarter.

On the other hand, Bandar was unstoppable in the fourth. With NYP's Ng Wee Kim defending closely, he still managed to put up back to back three-pointers, including one off a beautiful fake which had Wee Kim jumping off in the opposite direction.

Another long range three-pointer from near the halfway line by Bandar with 1 minute and 30 seconds left sealed the game for NUS. At that point, NYP had threatened briefly to catch up, closing the gap to 63-66 with a tip in by Khai Kit (#80, NYP). But Bandar's incredible three-pointer, which drew gasps from the appreciative crowd, enabled NUS to take a winning 69-63 lead.

NYP's woes were compounded when a last second turnaround jumper by Tan Zhen Yan (#78, NYP) was ruled out by the officials. NUS eventually won the game 72-64.

Asked about the game afterwards, Bandar was not flustered by his team's 16-point deficit at the end of the third quarter.

"I was confident that our team would be able to close the gap and that my shooting would improve in the fourth quarter."

NUS coach Jim Goode also paid tribute to his team's mental strength and tenacity.

"I'm seeing a toughness and physicality develop in this team since the start of the IVP games where they simply refuse to lose. I'm very proud of their performance tonight, especially how they managed to fight back from a big deficit in the third quarter to win!"

NYP player Tan Zhen Yan bemoaned his team's performance on the other hand.

"We were over-confident and too complacent in the fourth quarter. We thought that the win was already in the bag. That resulted in our poor showing."

NUS will now face Temasek Polytechnic in the final on Friday, 19 October 07, 8:15pm, at Temasek Polytechnic. It promises to be a mouth watering clash for the championship title. NYP will take on NTU in the third and fourth placing at 7pm.

In the women’s semi-finals, ITE edged SMU 46-45 while NUS beat TP 53-38. The women’s final will be played on Friday, 19 October, 8:15pm at NUS. The third and fourth placing game between SMU and TP will be played at 7pm. (uncle Les says: “After staying for the first men’s bball semi-finals, I went to catch the netball semi-finals but just missed the women’s bball semi-finals. Now someone please tell me – why do six semi-finals all have to be played at the same time on the same day?)

More pictures in the gallery.

NUS
Fabien Apheceix (#2)
Lee Rongtzuu (#3)
Wong Huijie (#5)
Bandar Tjetty (#9)
Lee Zeyan (#11)
Chua Xian Yi Darrel (#12)
Joshua Koh (#13)
Lai Wai Kit (#15)
Huang Zhongwei (#21)
Darren Chua (#23)
Joshua Lim Hao Zheng (#31)
Naveen L.P (#32)
Cheok Liangwei (#91)

Coach : Jim Goode

NYP
Ng Wee Kim (#70)
Wong Wei Long (#71)
Ng Kok Yong (#72)
Vincent Aw (#73)
Alan Yeo (#74)
Teo Sze Tuan (#75)
Neo Wen Bin (#76)
Thomson Liu Jun Xin (#77)
Tan Zhen Yan (#78)
Tay Zewei (#79)
Low Khai Kit (#80)
Lim Jun Kai (#81)
Zhou Zhen Jie (#82)
Sherwin Lee Wee Yang (#83)
Desmond Foo (#84)

Coach: Kwang Fu