By Rachel Yip/Red Sports

bukit panjang vs ahmad ibrahim c div bball

Choo Yi Zhao (#9) of Ahmad Ibrahim lays up for two against Bukit Panjang. He had a game-high 35 points in the win. (Photo © Les Tan/Red Sports)

 

Clementi Sports Hall, Thursday, August 2, 2012 – Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary beat Bukit Panjang Government High School 67-52 to claim the final quarter-final spot of Group B in the National C Division Boys’ Basketball Championship.

With the win, Ahmad Ibrahim join Dunman Secondary in moving on to the second round, while Bukit Panjang bow out of the competition after finishing third in their group with a 1-2 win-loss record.

Both teams came into the match with the same 1-1 record, with both having defeated Pei Cai Secondary and losing to Dunman Secondary.

With a second round spot at stake, the game started as a fairly close affair. Ahmad Ibrahim edged Bukit Panjang and took the first quarter 19-12.

Ahmad Ibrahim’s Lakksman was a thorn in Bukit Panjang’s side. His size and strength made it difficult to defend his drives, and he was also strong in defence, especially rebounds.

An effective game-play Ahmad Ibrahim used involved Choo Yi Zhao (#9) camping in their attacking side. When Lakksman caught rebounds, he would hurl a long pass across the court to Yi Zhao, who would then run to the basket unguarded, putting in two for his team. Bukit Panjang caught on and tried to watch their back, but Yi Zhao’s height and physique made it difficult for Bukit Panjang to guard him.

Bukit Panjang just could not cope with Yi Zhao and Lakksman and as a result, gave away many free throws to Ahmad Ibrahim, of which Yi Zhao and Lakksman converted seven each.

Yi Zhao emerged with an impressive 35 points to be the top scorer of the game while Lakksman contributed a total of 19.

Ahmad Ibrahim led the match all the way but Bukit Panjang were constantly breathing down their necks and were no pushovers. At one point in the second quarter, Ahmad Ibrahim just led by three points (23-20).

Bukit Panjang’s Vignesh (#15) was fast and accurate and managed to put in 21 points to be the top scorer for his team. Ang Zi Yang (#9) showed great ability to sink three-pointers and sunk a total of six to emerge with 18 points.

In the end, Bukit Panjang were no match for a physical Ahmad Ibrahim side and lost 52-67 to exit the competition.

Despite the loss, Bukit Panjang’s Ang Zi Yang was pleased with the team’s performance.

“We played better than usual. The centres had a hard time defending #13 [Lakksman] because he makes full use of his size, but we did well.”

Ahmad Ibrahim captain Wong Chee Kian (#15) was impressed with Zi Yang.

“He was Bukit Panjang’s best player because of his three-pointers,” Chee Kian said.

On his team’s performance, Chee Kian said: “We played all right – not up to standard though.”

Ahmad Ibrahim will hope to make it to Nationals Top 4, but they would first have to get through the second round. They will only know who their second round opponents are Monday, August 6th when the draw is held.

Score by Quarter
Ahmad Ibrahim vs Bukit Panjang
1st Q: 19-12
2nd Q: 18-16 (37-28)
3rd Q: 9-9 (46-37)
4th Q: 21-15
Final score: 67-52

Top scorers
Ahmad Ibrahim
Choo Yi Zhao (#9) – 35 points
Lakksman A/L Ganapathy (#13) – 19 points
Wong Chee Kian (#15) – 8 points

Bukit Panjang
Vignesh (#15) – 21 points
Ang Zi Yang (#9) – 18 points
Shawn Ee (#7) – 8 points

Ahmad Ibrahim Roster
Wayne Ng Joon Heng (#4), Benedict Oh Sheng Yang (#5), Daeson Tang Zhi Yi (#6), Wee Zhi Ming (#7), Dylan Chia Wei Wen (#8), Choo Yi Zhao (#9), Javier Chew Jun Hao (#10), Eugene Koh Lian Qun (#11), Soh Ming Wee (#12), Lakksman A/L Ganapathy (#13), Lau Beng Yew (#14), Wong Chee Kian (#15)

Bukit Panjang Roster
Dini Matin (#4), Yeo Fu Xiang (#5), Low Jun Qian (#6), Shawn Ee (#7), Edmund Leong (#8), Ang Zi Yang (#9), Tan Jia You (#10), Tee Zhi Zhang (#11), Yong Jun Wei (#12), Kelvin Cho (#13), Lim Xin Wei (#14), Vignesh (#15)

National C Division Boys’ Basketball Championship – full fixtures and results

More photos in gallery next page