By reader AJCien.

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RJC players try to stop their HCI opponent from advancing. (Photo © Tan Huey Ying)

Now that the finals are over, this is the post-match analysis brought to you as a complement to the match reports earlier submitted.

Firstly though, I’d like to apologize to readers that I was way off the mark for most of my predictions in my earlier article.

Girls’ final – HCI vs RJC: This being a big match between both giants in A Division sports, the first half was a cagey affair as I had predicted. The nerves showed as HCI struggled to convert many of their chances. RJC didn’t fare much better with them losing possession sloppily, especially in the second quarter.

The scores were kept low mostly because HCI’s good defence smothered many close-range shots by the Rafflesians, hence restricting them to speculative long-range shots in the first quarter. But when given the chances, RJC did convert them efficiently. This was especially so in the second quarter when their rasping counter-attacks shredded the HCI defence apart. More so when the HCI girls are marooned in the middle of nowhere when they missed their shots at the other end.

The second half, though, was a half of contrasting fortunes. RJC’s physical approach may have garnered a supposedly insurmountable 15-point lead in the third quarter, especially when consecutive 3-pointers seemed to have left HCI for dead. But like their solid defence, HCI played a patient game and bided their time as RJC’s cavalier approach exposed them to injury and foul risks.

Which was precisely what happened in the fourth quarter meltdown of RJC. By utilising their free throw chances, they were able to claw back points more easily, a stark contrast to them struggling to convert their chances for most parts of the game. As for RJC, the loss of key players who could penetrate the tough HCI defence soon proved their downfall. Kudos to HCI for their spirit even when trailing by a large score.

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Chiam Hong Yao (#5, HCI) prepares to shoot while his AJC opponent looks on. (Photo © Tan Huey Ying)

Boys’ final – HCI vs AJC: The first half was a pretty good affair, especially with Anderson JC putting up a great fight against HCI, even when the odds were stacked against them. With their defence first, counter-attacking approach, of which I’ had predicted correctly as well, they were able to counter HCI’s attacking passing-oriented basketball effectively. Long ball tactics, though, necessarily restricted attacking chances. With HCI being tough in counter-attack as well, being able to rapidly blast their way through the AJC defence, AJC had to rely on their 3-pointers, which can be a hit-or-miss affair.

In the second half though, a high tempo game necessitates an even temper as well as a good back-up crew. HCI has both while AJC were forced to concede more fouls as the match went on. While HCI weren’t able to convert their free throws as easily as expected, AJC lost out in winning rebounds, which meant scoring chanced were at a premium for AJC. With a thin bench, AJC were also prone to impacts from loss of key players to fouls. Which is precisely what happened. HCI were then left to romp home as AJC’s game plan was left in disarray.

MVP, Shengyu of HCI stated that HCI were struggling to match AJC’s intensity in the first half, but it was a matter of time before they adapted to their tactics. As Yanming, the captain of AJC summed it up, HCI had the advantage of a squad depth, such that tactics and line-ups can be tinkered to adapt to AJC’s tactics. But the intensity of AJC was also its downfall, as they are also prone to conceding fouls, which Yanming said was the cause why they lost out in rebounds, and subsequently the match.

As it goes, it has been a very good game for all teams involved, and congratulations to HCI for winning a double. Kudos to the guys for disproving my ‘jet-lag’ theory as I’ve written in the pre-match predictions. 😉 (By the way, Shengyu thought the prediction was humorous, pretty much so for an outlandish theory.)

Pre-match report
A Division Girls Final
A Division Boys Final