NUS will stick to winning formula for IVP final

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

The National University of Singapore men's basketball team is proving to be the surprise package of the 2007 IVP Games.

Looking more like a rugby player, Darrel Chua of NUS maintains control of the ball after getting tripped moments earlier. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

Having never won the title in recent history, they now go into the final against Temasek Polytechnic tomorrow unbeaten in the men's IVP basketball championship. That is no mean feat when you consider the fact that they have no current national players while perennial rivals Nanyang Technological University and finalist Temasek Polytechnic have a national player each.

Coach Jim Goode gives the team talk. © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

Led by American coach Jim Goode, who was just appointed this year, the team have managed to combine an in-your-face harrying physical defense with scoring from key players like Bandar Tjetty and Joshua Koh.

"We have a team where the players are of roughly similar standards, which is why I can rotate the players constantly throughout the game," explained coach Jim during a post match interview of the team's unique strategy of changing five players at a time.

"We also deploy a high intensity zonal defense where I demand that my players give their one hundred per cent effort when they are on court. It is not realistic to expect them to keep that up for more than a few minutes and I encourage them to signal their tiredness to me so that I can substitute another player for him."

The recent semi-final win over Nanyang Polytechnic was a case in point.

Trailing by 16 points going into the final quarter, the NUS players proved to be fitter and more determined, going on a 28-4 run to win the game 72-64.

Bandar was especially impressive during that period, top scoring with 24 points and sinking the crucial three-pointer with a minute left to deflate the morale of the NYP team.

Coach Jim Goode paid special tribute to the contributions of his key player.

"Bandar is a guy that inspires confidence among his teammates just by playing on the team. I basically just told Bandar to pick the team that he thinks can win the game in the fourth quarter. It's something I've never done before. And the players responded to his leadership."

The NUS team acknowledging the support of home fans. Will they have enough support in the stands for tomorrow’s final at Temasek Polytechnic? © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

Yet Jim emphasized that the NUS team is not just about one player.

"We need the centres and forwards to provide an inside presence so that shooters like Bandar can release the ball. We also need the team to play superior defense and tire the other team out so that we can then pick and execute the shots we want in the fourth quarter."

As sweet as the victory was, captain Darrel Chua of the NUS team was still looking at areas to improve.

"We could have replicated the defense we executed in the fourth quarter of the game during the first three quarters. Then we would have given ourselves more breathing space."

The much-anticipated final will be played in Temasek Polytechnic at 8.15pm on Friday 19 October.

Will Temasek Polytechnic be warmed up enough to take the title tomorrow night? © Leslie Tan/Red Sports

More IVP basketball pictures in the gallery.