Story and pictures contributed by reader Ian Chew

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Chua Chu Kang Pri’s Tay Wee (#6) played an excellent game, top scoring with 16 points to lead his team to a 79-37 thumping victory!

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Thursday, 24 April, 2008 – A highly-anticipated match-up between powerhouse Chua Chu Kang Primary and rising star Holy Innocents’ Primary turned out to be a one-sided match instead. A superior Chua Chu Kang team completely overran the Holy Innocents’ defense 79-37 to clinch the Senior Boys’ (Pri 6) basketball title!

The tone for the match was set early when Chua Chu Kang went on a 24-0 run to lead by a massive 26-3 by the end of the first quarter. The CCK players displayed telepathic understanding and passing to stun the Holy Innocents’ team. The level of their team play was incredibly mature for a primary school team!

The second quarter continued in the same vein as Holy Innocents’ struggled to find any offensive rhythm against the aggressive CCK full-court defense. They ended the half down 5-47.

Although Holy Innocents’ managed to mount a semblance of a comeback with their preferred team in the third quarter of guards Darryl (#7) and centres Jerome Tan (#13) and Myron Lim (#14), it was still mission impossible to overcome the huge first half deficit.

Chua Chu Kang’s guards on the other hand, consisting of Tui Xi Beng (#5), Tay Wee (#6) and Alvin Yuen (#7), scored vitrtually at will to extend their team’s lead. Centres Yves Remorca (#14) and Danny Kew (#15) also had outstanding performances for their team.

The runaway score may seem an easy match for observers, but Chua Chu Kang’s teacher-cum-basketball coach insisted otherwise.

“We played Holy Innocents’ three times previously in friendlies, and won two games but lost the final one by 20 points. Therefore we were wary of our opponent’s threat coming into the final,” said Mr Victor Yeo.

On the other hand, Mr Yeo Ying Wei teacher-in-charge of the Holy Innocents’ team praised the winning team.

“Myron was not feeling well the last couple of days, which resulted in a below-par performance for him. However, that’s not an excuse as we were beaten by a hugely impressive Chua Chu Kang team today. They deserved to be winners!”

The earlier senior girls’ final match proved to be a thriller instead, with Kranji Pri pipping Telok Kurau Pri 35-33 to win the title. This is a fantastic achievement by the Kranji Pri girls, having won the title for 3 consecutive years from 2006 to 2008! Yet Telok Kurau Pri must still be feeling proud, with both senior boys’ and girls’ teams making it into the top 4 positions!

Catch highlights of the senior boys’ final here!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmHo04maYWw

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Fellow Chua Chu Kang Pri’s guard Alvin Yuen (#7) also had not too bad a game, contributing 14 points.
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Holy Innocents’ Darryl (#7) had a good game too. He scored 2 points.
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A sick Myron Lim (#14) failed to play to his usual high standards. He scored 15 points.
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Chua Chu Kang Pri’s Ler Puay Him (#12) tried hard but failed to score when playing in the second quarter for his team.
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Can you believe the half-time score?