VJC struggle to beat TPJC while MI fall to SAJC

VJC’s Zhixin (no.9) goes up for an uncontested basket while TPJC’s defenders look on.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

In National ‘A’ Division basketball action this week, Victoria Junior College were made to sweat for their 45-37 win over TPJC while St Andrew’s Junior College comfortably beat Millenia Institute 55-41.

Victoria Junior College, one of the hot favourites tipped for the ‘A’ Division title this year, have had it going good for them thus far in the tournament.  Three easy wins earlier in the first round, averaging a score difference of 25 points, have already secured them a comfortable berth in the second round.  A fourth win was not quite necessary for survival in the tournament, but a loss might put them under possible scrutiny for complacency or worse, dampen some morale within the team.

And in their final group game against Tampines Junior College yesterday afternoon, lose they almost did.  VJC had defeated Pioneer Junior College 62-45 in an earlier game while PJC had in turn beaten TPJC 48-30.  So, in a logical survival-of-the-best chain, one would make a natural conclusion for a VJC-versus-TPJC outing.
But the beauty of a sport where skills, on-court form and luck play can play equal roles, no one can take a sure-win for granted.  There is no free lunch, there is no such thing as a "happy meal".  There is no sure-loser, as much as there isn’t a sure-winner.  And the VJC boys probably learnt that well when they suffered a poor third-quarter in this last match of the group games.

The game had begun to show signs of a surprise that would eventually raise pulses and induce cold sweat early in the first period.  It was a booster to the TPJC side that the VJC shots were not sinking in, their free-throws were being missed, their guards were making unforced errors and turnovers, and their key player, power forward Zhixin (no.9), was just finding no finishing touch to his otherwise credible defensive performance.  On the other hand, it was a real dampener to the VJC camp that the TPJC big guys and their muscle-in moves seemed unstoppable that day, the forwards were making their way to the basket with ease, their fast-breaks were well-converted and so were the jumpers.

VJC’s captain Daniel Soon (no.6) looks for his teammates for a throw-in while TPJC’s Junyi (no.5) tries to hussle.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

By the time the clock had run down to 5:44 in the first period, the score was still a disappointingly low one at 3-6 in VJC’s favor.  VJC’s defensive team made impressive steals and interceptions, particularly with the menacing presence of Zhixin, but nevertheless failed to capitalize on their own defensive efforts with poor fast-break finishes.  VJC’s Zhixin and centre Kenneth (no.13) posed equal threat in the offensive zone but the hard fouls rained on them rendered their offensive threats useless when the free-throws awarded were not converted.  With the clock running down to less than 2:30, TPJC’s Weijie (no.10) made a steal in VJC’s offensive play and made a basket with a fast-break.  Then almost immediately, teammate Gerald (no.9) sunk in a jumper and brought the score to 8-9.  Despite their offensive runs, TPJC however failed to put up a more rounded performance with a defense that allowed too many unnecessary fouls.  In the last 1:30, VJC sunk in three of four free-throws to end the period with a 12-8 lead.

Within the first ten seconds of the second period, TPJC had closed in at 10-12 when Gerald made an interception in VJC’s offensive passes and set up an uncontested fast-break for teammate Weichang (no.12).  Then, VJC’s Zhixin answered with a defensive point of his own, when he rejected a quick shot by TPJC’s Weijie, and set up a fast-break for teammate Wei Deng (no.4).  From then, VJC took over control of the game as they went on relentless attacks.  In a play that took the focus away from the centres, Wei Deng was holding possession of the ball, setting up a play into the paint when he spotted Daniel (no.6) sneaking in baseline toward the basket from cross-court, and he made a quick pass, assisting Daniel for an easy basket.

Then, it was Zhixin’s turn to dominate.  He drove in towards the basket, grabbed a loose-ball-in-the-air, went for second rebounds and made yet another defensive interception. He drew more fouls than anyone else but he managed to score only one point from a free-throw in this period.  VJC executed another baseline cross-court pass, this time with Wei Deng sneaking in toward the basket.  The pass was cut, but Wei Deng picked up the loose ball anyway and put it into the basket, drawing a foul in the process.  He however failed to convert it into a three-point play.  With less than three minutes in the period, VJC’s Nat (no.10) stepped up in the defensive paint, rejected a TPJC shot and set up a fast-break attempt for teammate Shang Yunn (no.5).  The latter failed to make a successful fast-break but scored two out of two free-throws.  By this time, VJC had gone on a 9-0 run, keeping TPJC scoreless since the start of the period.  With 2:28 left, TPJC made good out of an offensive tussle in the paint, when the ball went loose and landed in the hands of Gerald who carefully put it into the basket.  WIth about a minute left, VJC’s Zhixin went on a counter-attack after a defensive block but had the ball stripped off his dribble by TPJC’s Kaiyi (no.7) instead.  In a two-on-one attack, the ball was then sent to Weijie who made the last points for his team.  VJC pulled away to a 21-14 lead, not exactly a very comfortable one, by the end of the second period.

Things took a horrific turn in the beginning of the second half, as TPJC went on a quick 5-0 run within the first three minutes to tail at 19-21.  The rest of the third period continued in TPJC’s favor as they found their scoring form and VJC committed more blunders on both ends.  A defensive rebound by VJC had gone all wrong when the ball was immediately lost and turned over to TPJC’s possession again for another attack.  With another easy shot under the basket by Jiayuan (no.11), TPJC trailed by only 21-24.  VJC went to make another offensive turnover, and this time on a counter-attack, TPJC’s Yeechien (no.6) scored a crisp bank-shot that closed the gap to one point.  In VJC’s ensuing offensive play, Daniel made a hurried three-point attempt.  The ball rebounded into Kenneth’s hands and he made a pass back to Daniel, but the ball got stripped by TPJC’s Yeechien who immediately turned on a fast-break and scored the two to help his team take over the lead for the first time in the game at 25-24. 

VJC’s Zhixin (no.9) makes another move towards the basket.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

VJC continued with their offensive efforts and went on to score four consecutive points to put themselves back in the lead.  A fast-break attempt by Daniel turned awry when he switched tactic and made an around-the-back flick to teammate Wei Deng who was following in his trail down the left flank.  Wei Deng attempted a field-goal, drew a foul but managed to make only one free-throw.  In the next counter-attack, Daniel went on a drive to the basket this time and made a wild reverse hook-shot.  Zhixin took the rebound this time, tried to put the ball back into the basket, drew another foul but also converted only one free-throw.  A following lay-up by Zhixin put VJC up in the lead again at 28-25.

With 2:30 left in the period, TPJC took over the scoring reins again and went on a 7-0 run till time ran out.  Jiayuan made a rare three-point play that levelled the game 28-28 when he drew a foul with an under-basket shot and completed it with a free-throw.  Teammate Weijie then went for an uncontested lay-up and an easy two that gave TPJC the lead at 30-28.  With only 30 seconds left, TPJC’s Weichang made good a field-goal attempt.  TPJC led the game at the end of the third period at 32-28.

Within the first thirty seconds of the fourth period, VJC’s Daniel hit a three-point shot that inched them up to just a point behind TPJC.  But TPJC pulled away again when Yeechien made good another field-goal and kept the scores three points apart at 34-31.  Unfortunately, it was also in this final period that VJC’s Zhixin finally stepped up and scored 8 of his points, after being rendered helpless in the scoring department for the past two periods.  He started with a drive into the lane for an easy lay-up, then he hussled and tussled for a dead ball and regained possession for his team.  A counter-attack at 5:30 when Daniel assisted Shang Yunn to a lay-up saw VJC regain the lead at 35-34, and they never let up from then on. 

VJC’s Zhixin went on a 4-point streak with a lay-up and two free-throws.  Then his guards executed the same team-play for the third time that afternoon when Wanxin (no.7) spotted Daniel sneaking down the baseline again and assisted him for a reverse hook-shot.  VJC had by now pulled away to 41-36.  TPJC continued to be muted in the final two minutes of the game, as VJC strove to keep a cool head and ball possession.  VJC’s Zhixin scored his last two points of the game as he went on a buzzer-beating lay-up.

It might have caused Coach Chen a mild attack, but the VJC boys overcame jitters and blunders to take down their fourth consecutive victory eventually. 

Admitted captain Daniel Soon (no.6), "We didn’t play a good game today.  We made too many mistakes, we created too many turnovers… And no, we weren’t complacent!"

SAJC’s Jian Ming (no.6) goes high up for a basket against a MI defender.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

In the next game that took place between Millennia Institute and St Andrew’s Junior College, the Saints encountered a sluggish start and a tougher resistance from the opponents to finish the first half at 22-19.  Having no strong edge in the paint with the absence of big boys in the centre, the Saints however boasted a team of strong and agile forwards who had no problems outjumping their opponents for rebounds.  They played fast offense, and never slacked in their cohesive defense.  MI, on the other hand, seemd to lack the touch of cohesiveness and tended to rely on a couple of key players in their offense.  Not very defensively sound as well, MI found themselves in foul trouble in the third and last periods which only gave the Saints scoring advantage on free-throws.

Saints pulled away to a 39-28 lead by end of the third period, and eventually finished the game with a 55-41 victory.

MI’s player flies towards the basket amidst the Saints.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

SAJC’s player grabs a pass in mid-air.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

MI’s no.11 leaps for a rebound but the basket is made good.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

A Saints-MI tussle for the ball on the floor.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

Erm… boy, don’t look at the camera-(wo)man while Coach is giving instructions.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

MI’s vice-captain Ho Min Shan (#9) makes a baseline throw-in to his teammate.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

Saints’ Jian Ming (no.6) makes a free-throw awarded on a technical foul by MI.  MI committed many technical fouls in the last period in a last ditch to gain possession for a chance to catch up on the points.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

In the earlier ‘A’ division girls’ games, Victoria Junior College trounced National Junior College 87-14, while Hwa Chong Institution finished off Temasek Junior College with a 73-35 win.

Wow, that looks like the hugest basketball you’re shooting, girl.  VJC’s Felicia (no.10) makes a free-throw.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

VJC’s Elica (no.13) hassles an NJC player with her teammate for the ball.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

HCI’s player makes a free-throw.  © Lee Hwee Cheng.

Editor’s post-note:  We don’t have your names!  So if you do recognize yourselves or your friends in these pictures, kindly leave a note in the comment section and we’ll update the report and captions accordingly.  Thanks!