Hwa Chong remain the unbeatable kings as they trounce Innova 99-60 in final

Story by Lee Hwee Cheng

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, Friday, May 25, 2007 – "One hundred points!  One hundred points! …"

In the final minutes of the National ‘A’ Division Boys Basketball Finals, these were the only cheers you could hear from the Hwa Chong crowds in the gallery as they egged on their schoolmates on the court to make history.  With a comfortable lead of over 30 points, this was yet another runaway victory for the Hwachongians.

It had been a rather predictable finals, with all due respect to the teams.  But what had been unexpected was a triple-digit score in the making from the undisputed reigning Kings in the Final.  However, the boys stopped short at just one mere point away from the 100-point mark as the final buzzer sounded.

To say that the Hwa Chong boys did not need to put in as much as effort as the surprise underdogs of the season, Innova Junior College, would not have been a fair statement.  The beauty of the Hwa Chong game lies in the no-frills efficiency of an excellent team play.  Even with kings, every shot has to count and there is no such thing as "cutting slack".  In the Final this day, Hwa Chong showed appreciation to their supporters by putting up one of their finest on-court performances and proved to all in Toa Payoh Sports Hall why they deserve to keep the crown.

Innova Junior College started the season with a realistic goal in mind, and especially came to the finals this day with an even more realistic view.  Without ever resorting to foul tricks, they played their best tactics against the kings.  Launching threes after threes to close in the scores at a faster rate, running hard at the mid-court defense to harry the Hwa Chong forwards, the boys were just happy enough that they had a first-hand, first-time-ever taste of how playing in a final really felt like.

Beamed a contented-looking captain Mitchell Yuen of Innova, "We are just happy enough to be here today.  This is just so unexpected!  We had to face Raffles and Hwa Chong in the first round, both of which were touted powerhouses.  But we got past Raffles, got past the first rounds, and we never thought we would get to the semifinals, much less the final!  For many of us in the team, this is our first final experience.  For this year’s achievement, I really think a lot of credit has to go to our teamwork, and especially our coach’s motivation."

Editor:  Due to on-site technical malfunctioning on Friday afternoon, this following play-by-play account of the match is brought to you as a "delayed webcast".  Apologies for any inconvenience, and hope you will still enjoy this. 
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Quarter 4
00:00  The final buzzer beeps and HCI retain their title as the unbeatable kings in convincing style.
00:17  This is amazing!  HCI #15 Yong Kang marks his return to the court with a three-point play.  He grabs an offensive rebound, pops the ball into the basket and makes his free throw on the shooting foul.  With just 17 seconds left in the game, HCI are only one mere point away from history!
00:45  HCI #6 Jeremy attempts his second three-point shot but it finds nothing but air!
01:00  The crowds are really getting exhilarated.  Can the HCI boys really make history by being the first to score a triple-digit in a final?
01:10  HCI #6 Jeremy makes his first shot attempt with just seconds in the game when he sinks in a three-pointer!  HCI now lead by 36 at 96-60.
01:16  HCI put captain #15 Yong Kang back into the game, along with a fresh pair of legs in #6 Jeremy Chee.
02:34  HCI #4 goes to the free throw line and makes one of two 93-60.
02:53  IJC #6 Tan Wei Xing scores a bank shot from the field 92-60.
03:17  HCI #13 Shengyu continues to amaze with his moves.  He gets the ball down in the low post, spins around over two defenders and finds himself under the basket for an open shot.  HCI now lead 92-58.
03:45  The HCI crowd has already gone wild by this time, chanting “One hundred points! One hundred points!”
03:45  HCI #13 Shengyu grabs a loose ball under the offensive basket, pops the ball in and draws a shooting foul.  He makes it a three-point play with a free throw well-taken.  And HCI are just ten points away from the century mark! 
04:20  HCI #14 Billy sinks in a floater on a fadeaway.  HCI lead 87-58.
04:34  IJC #7 Yisheng sinks in his sixth three-pointer of the game!  IJC trail by 27 at 85-58.
05:07  IJC #15 Daryl Chung sinks in a baseline jumper for his team 85-55.
05:24  HCI #4 Calvin intercepts another IJC pass, goes on a fast break and draws a foul instead.  He misses both free throws.
05:48  In the meantime, HCI continue with their relentless runs on the offense.  #7 Yeow Lin drives along the baseline, then dishes the ball to teammate #13 Shengyu well-positioned under the basket and assists him to another easy score 85-53.
05:59  After being silenced thus far in the fourth quarter, IJC #7 Yisheng breaks the spell with his fifth three-pointer 83-53.
06:20  HCI continue to pressurize IJC on the defense, and intercept another ball to set up a fast break for #12 Chonglin.  HCI lead by 33 at 83-50.

06:42  HCI launch into yet another fast break, with #7 Yeow Lin driving down the right flank towards the basket.  He draws the defenders towards him, then flicks the ball back to #13 Shengyu who is trailing him down the lane, and sets up an easy basket for the tall one.  HCI lead by 31 at 81-50.
07:04  IJC #9 Jin Long goes to the free throw line and makes one of two 79-50.
07:30  HCI #13 Shengyu grabs a loose ball in the offensive paint and executes another turnaround move to the basket and scores another two 79-49.
07:38  IJC #9 Jin Long scores on a lay-up 77-49.
07:53  HCI #7 Yeow Lin goes to the free throw line nad makes one of two, and the lead is now 30 at 77-47.
08:38  HCI continue to deny IJC of any offensive opportunity and launch into another fast break.  #4 Calvin spots #14 Billy sprinting down the left flank and sends a long cross-court pass to him just in time as he cuts into the lane.  But Billy misses the open lay-up!
09:07  HCI #14 Billy misses a jumper from the baseline but teammate #13 Shengyu grabs an uncontested rebound and puts it back in the basket on the second try.  HCI now lead again by 29 at 76-47.
09:45  HCI #7 Yeow Lin starts the final quarter with a missed jumper, but teammate #14 Billy pops into the paint unguarded and puts in a mid-air rebound under the basket.  HCI lead 74-47.

Quarter 3
00:00  HCI lead by 25 again at the end of the third quarter with 72-47.
00:07  HCI #7 Yeow Lin spurts ahead on a fast break in the final seconds of the quarter.
00:33  HCI #13 Shengyu is up to his tricks again.  He receives a pass at the free throw line, fakes a few turns around his double-teaming defenders, before finally making a turnaround off-balance shot 70-47.
01:20  IJC #9 Jin Long drives into the centre for a right-handed hook shot, and makes the basket over two defenders.  IJC have gone on a 7-0 run in the past two minutes.  HCI now lead by 21 at 68-47.
01:38  HCI launch a fast break, but #9 Xu Sheng misses an open left-handed lay-up!
02:09  IJC #5 Kah Kiat drives into the centre lane and makes the basket on the lay-up 68-45.
02:24  IJC #7 Yisheng ends his team’s three-minute scoring slump with his fourth three-pointer 68-43.
03:00  IJC find themselves in foul trouble.  HCI #13 Shengyu goes to the free throw line on a non-shooting foul and makes one of two.  HCI lead by 28 at 68-40. 
03:37  HCI #15 Yong Kang goes down with a calf cramp and leaves the game.
03:38  In a simple classic play, HCI #10 Naizeng sends a pass from the top of the key to teammate #15 Yong Kang at the baseline, and then with a body-fake, steps past his defender and cuts into the left lane.  Yong Kang passes the ball back to him for an open lay-up but he misses the easy basket! 
04:14  HCI #14 Billy Lang dribbles down to the baseline on the left flank, spots teammate #13 Shengyu gaining a post-up advantage against his defender in the paint, and sends a sharp bounce-pass to Shengyu who immediately pops the ball in with a hook shot.  HCI lead by 27 now at 67-40.
05:15  HCI #15 Yong Kang goes to the free throw line again as he draws a foul on a left-hand lay-up.  He makes both free throws count 65-40.
05:26  IJC #5 Kah Kiat sinks in his second three-pointer of the game 63-40.
05:37  HCI #13 Shengyu draws a hard foul under the basket and goes to the free throw line.  He makes both free throws and HCI lead by 26 at 63-37.
06:00  HCI #12 Chonglin drives into the left lane and makes the basket on the lay-up, drawing a foul at the same time.  He fails to convert it into a three-point play, and HCI lead 61-37.
06:10  IJC #7 Yisheng overcomes a shooting drought for the past eight minutes and sinks in his third three-pointer in the game 59-37.
06:30  HCI #15 Yong Kang puts in a basket for his team and pulls the lead back to 25 points at 59-34.
07:11  HCI intercept an IJC pass and attempt to counter with a fast attack, but turn over the possession back to IJC with a mispass.
07:22  HCI #15 Yong Kang goes to the free throw line this time, and converts both free throws 57-34.
07:36  HCI break IJC’s mid-court defense and send the ball quickly down to the paint area.  #12 Chonglin goes to the free throw line with a shooting foul but fails to convert both free throws.
07:49  HCI turn over another immediate ball possession when IJC #5 Kah Kiat intercepts yet another pass at mid-court and goes on a fast break on his own for an easy basket 55-34.
08:00  IJC #11 Mitchell intercepts an HCI pass at mid-court and launches on an uncontested fast break on his own 55-32.
08:27  In a display of excellent teamwork, HCI #13 Shengyu receives a pass at the high post, and spots teammate #15 Yong Kang cutting into the paint from the cross-court baseline.  He makes a quick straight pass to Yong Kang who finishes the play with an easy lay-up.  HCI lead 55-30.
08:45  IJC #13 Prabbu pops in a rare easy basket in the paint 53-30.
09:03  HCI #15 Yong Kang takes the lead in a fast break, and attempt a lob pass to teammate #12 Poon Chonglin at the baseline, but the pass is misjudged and the ball flies out of bounds.
09:33  IJC #9 Jin Long launches into a fast break down the left flank and makes the basket on the lay-up 53-28.
09:53  Within just second from the start of the second half, HCI #13 Shengyu goes to the free throw line and makes one of two.  HCI lead 53-26.

Quarter 2
00:00  HCI lead at the end of the first half by exactly two-fold at 52-26.
00:01  It is IJC who complete the last play of the quarter with amazing flair.  Against a tight defence at the three-point area, the three forwards take it patiently as they dribble and dish off to one another to shake up the defense.  The minute he spots an empty lane into the centre, #10 Jody picks up his speed and drives in, drawing the defense in the paint towards himself.  At this point, he deftly flicks a dish to teammate #13 Prabbu on his left for an open basket.
00:15  HCI #15 Yong Kang goes to the free throw line with 15 seconds left on the clock and makes one of two free throws 52-24.
00:36  IJC #13 Prabbu intercepts yet another HCI pass in an offensive play, and goes on a two-on-two fast break with teammate #11 Mitchell .  Mitchell completes the play with a lay-up 51-24.
00:58  HCI #10 Naizeng misses a jumper from the baseline but an unguarded #15 Yong Kang ‘flies’ into the paint to grab an unexpected rebound and pops in an easy basket 51-22.
01:39  IJC #10 Jody Ong puts in a jumper for his team 49-22.
02:03  HCI #7 Yeow Lin is on fire as he intercepts an IJC offensive play at mid-court, and launch on a solo fast break.  HCI now pull away to a 29-point lead at 49-20.
02:18  HCI charge ahead on a three-on-two fast break – with #15 Yong Kang driving down the left lane, dishing the ball to #11 Marcus Chew in the centre lane, who then dishes it to #7 Yeow Lin who finishes the smooth play with a short jumper.  HCI lead 47-20.
02:52  IJC #13 Prabbu foils an HCI fast break, sends a long pass to teammate #5 Kah Kiat who drives down the left lane for a fast break against two HCI defenders.  He makes the basket on the lay-up count and draws a foul as well.  He fails to make a three-point play, and IJC trail by 25 at 45-20.
03:24  HCI #7 Yeow Lin takes a dribble to his left, pulls a pump-fake on his defender and sinks in a jumper from the top of the key and HCI now lead by 27 at 45-18.
03:55  HCI #13 Shengyu executes a beautiful move when he gets the pass at the baseline right beneath the basket, flanked by defenders, and he takes one long step onto the left with his right foot to find open space and completes his move with a reverse hook 43-18.
04:17  IJC #7 Yisheng misses another three-point attempt but grabs the rebound and makes a pass to teammate #5 Kah Kiat for another three-point attempt, who misses the shot as well.
04:52  IJC #11 Mitchell pulls a pump-fake from the field on HCI #13 Shengyu, who jumps in an attempt to block the shot.  Mitchell proceeds to sink in the jumpshot 41-18.
05:11  HCI #15 Yong Kang draws a foul on a lay-up move and goes to the free throw line, converting only one of two free throws 41-16.
05:21  IJC #7 Yisheng moves away from the three-point line this time, grabs a long rebound and pops in a jumper 40-16.
05:48  HCI #10 Fang Naizeng drives into the left lane, but unable to complete a lay-up, he stops and pops an off-balance jumper instead.  HCI continue 26-point lead at 40-14.
06:59  IJC #9 Jin Long finds a rare opportunity for an open shot under the basket, and makes it 38-14.
07:19  IJC commit another defensive boo-boo when they unwittingly create an open space under the basket for HCI #7 Yeow Lin to cut stealthily into the lane.  An assist and an open shot move HCI ahead by 26 points at 38-12.
07:43  IJC #7 Yisheng fires another three-point attempt, but the ball rebounds right into the hands of HCI #15 Yong Kang, who sends a long assist to teammate #13 Shengyu for an easy lay-up 36-12.
08:05  IJC #7 Yisheng fires his second three-pointer, and the first points of the quarter for his team, from the baseline 34-12.
08:20  HCI continue with their defensive pressure upon IJC, who yet again turn over the possession with a mispass.  HCI #15 Yong Kang grabs the loose ball and heads another fast break, but IJC foil the counter attack this time by making a steal on the ball.
08:27  HCI retain the ball possession and create another play where #7 Yeow Lin makes up for his earlier blunder by sinking in a three-pointer.  HCI lead by 25 at 34-9.
08:43  HCI #15 Yong Kang intercepts an IJC pass in the defensive paint and leads a fast break, sending an assist to #7 Yeow Lin who misses the open lay-up. 
09:04  HCI #7 Yeow Lin picks up a loose ball as a result of IJC’s poorly executed offense and sprints the other way for a fast break on his own, making the basket on the lay-up and drawing a foul at the same time.  He fails to convert it into a three-point play, but teammate #13 Shengyu picks the rebound off his missed free throw and pops in a basket to make it a four-point play instead.  Within the first minute of the quarter, HCI have pulled away to an astounding 22-point lead at 31-9.
09:21  HCI #7 Yeow Lin pips the opponent to the first points of the quarter instead with a baseline jumper and draws the gap further apart at 27-9.
09:43  IJC look to have a promising start in the second quarter as they launch into a quick fast break but captain #11 Mitchell Yuen misses the lay-up!

Quarter 1
00:00  HCI have gone on a 12-0 run in the last four minutes of the quarter, and #15 Yong Kang has contributed eight of those points.  In a startling end to the first quarter, HCI has kept IJC to a single-digit score and now lead by 16 at 25-9.
00:10  Just barely ten seconds left in the first quarter, HCI #4 Calvin takes the ball pensively up the offensive court while IJC slow down and fail to bring their line of defense back in their paint.  Perhaps not quite expecting HCI to execute another, they fail also to notice #15 Yong Kang who has sneaked to the baseline, totally unguarded.  Calvin’s quick eye and faster hands send the ball right to Yong Kang under the basket who pops it in for an easy two just as the buzzer beeped. 
01:26  It is HCI’s #15 Yong Kang again terrorizing in the offensive paint.  He takes one step into the key upon taking a cross-court pass in the low post and pops in an easy basket 23-9.
01:56  HCI #15 Yong Kang pops in a quick jumper from the baseline 21-9.
02:09  IJC #9 Jin Long misses a three-point shot.
02:35  HCI #15 Yong Kang intercepts an IJC throw-in from the sideline and launches a fast break, assisting teammate #7 Yeow Lin to a field goal.  HCI continue widening the gap 19-9.
03:26  HCI #15 Yong Kang sinks in a jumper from the free throw line 17-9.
03:39  IJC #7 Yisheng launches another three-point attempt, but falls completely short of the basket.
04:04  HCI #13 Shengyu drives down the centre lane again, misses the lay-up this time, but grabs his own rebound and still makes the basket 15-9.
04:16  IJC #7 Yisheng goes to the free throw line with a shooting foul, but makes only one of two.  IJC close the gap at four points 13-9.
04:24  HCI #13 Shengyu puts an end to IJC’s 6-0 run in the past two minutes when he drives down the left lane, crosses two defenders with a spin move, and pops in the basket, complete with a shooting foul!  He misses the free throw and the three-point play, but HCI lead by five at 13-8.
04:43  IJC charge back the other end for a counter attack, and it is #7 Yisheng who sinks in the second three-pointer from the baseline for his team and IJC close in on HCI by three at 11-8.
04:59  HCI grab the defensive rebound and launch into their trademark fast break, but this time, #4 Calvin Chia misses a left-handed lay-up.
05:05  IJC grab the rebound from the missed free throw and retain ball possession for another play.  #5 Kah Kiat launches another three, but the ball goes in and out!
05:12  IJC #13 Prabbu goes to the free throw line after drawing a shooting foul, but he fails to convert both.
05:59  IJC #5 Kah Kiat sinks in the first three-pointer of the game 11-5.
06:16  HCI #7 Yeow Lin’s three-point shot hits nothing but air.
06:35  IJC #6 Tan Wei Xing misses a baseline jumper.
06:55  In barely a quarter of a minute, HCI #13 grabs an easy offensive rebound and pops in the basket 11-2.
07:08  IJC #9 Seah Jin Long breaks the silence from his team and pops in easy first points under the basket 9-2.
07:16  HCI #7 Yeow Lin misses his first jumper.
07:37  HCI #7 Leong Yeow Lin pulls away for an uncontested fast break 9-0.
07:50  IJC #5 Lee Kah Kiat drives into the paint from the right baseline but finds HCI #13 Shengyu instead, who promptly rejects his basket.
08:15  IJC #7 Ong Yisheng misses his first jumper.
08:38  HCI #4 Calvin Chia goes to the free throw line after drawing a foul on a drive.  He makes the first, misses the second but teammate #15 Wong Yong Kang grabs the rebounds and pops the ball in.  HCI lead 7-0.
08:56  A quick counter attack is finished by HCI #13 Lim Shengyu when a quick pass is sent to him under the basket.
09:14  IJC #13 Prabbu misses easy shot under the basket.
09:45  HCI #12 Poon Chonglin scores first jumper 2-0.
00:00  Game tips off in HCI possession.

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These are the boys who were in the line-up for the Final.  I might not have mentioned everyone of you in my report, but you deserve all the kudos in your whole journey this season.

Hwa Chong Institution
4:  Calvin Chia
5:  Ooi Shan Chin
6:  Jeremy Chee
7:  Leong Yeow Lin
8:  Li Lingchen
9:  Xu Sheng
10:  Fang Naizeng
11:  Marcus Chew
12:  Poon Chonglin
13:  Lim Sheng Yu
14:  Billy Lang
15:  Wong Yong Kang (Captain)

Innova Junior College
4:  Liu Yi Zong
5:  Lee Kah Kiat
6:  Tan Wei Xing
7:  Ong Yisheng
8:  Adam Chew
9:  Seah Jin Long
10:  Jody Ong
11:  Mitchell Yuen (Captain)
12:  Ong Junxiong
13:  Prabbu
14:  Bryan Wong
15:  Daryl Chung

Editor’s note:  I might have gotten some names wrong in the pictures, so if you do recognize yourselves or any of your friends in these pictures, do drop us a note in the "Comments" section and we’ll update the captions accordingly.  Thanks!