TP overcome fierce NUS challenge to retain title

Story by Red Sports reader Ian Chew. Pictures by Red Sports reader Ng Cheng Cong and Leslie Tan. © Red Sports

A talented Temasek Polytechnic (TP) team eventually prevailed against a spirited comeback by National University of Singapore (NUS) to win 65-55 at the men's IVP basketball final played last night at Temasek Polytechnic.

Key to their win was coping with the aggressive full-court zonal defense employed by the NUS team, according to TP's coach Tan Jing Yang.

"We knew they would rotate their players in a bid to tire us out in the first half by their aggressive defending. I countered this by rotating my players as well to keep them fit and fresh for the second half."

"In the fourth quarter I also reminded my players to pass the ball instead of trying to dribble past their defense. That opened up the play and enabled our team to make easy baskets."

Indeed, the famed scrambling NUS defense failed to disrupt the smooth passing of the TP team in the fourth quarter. Key to the composure shown by the TP team under NUS' unrelenting pressure defense was the ball control skills of national player Mitchell Folkoff (#16, TP).

Keeping smart possession of the ball, it seemed almost impossible for any NUS player to take the ball of him. He top scored with 12 points for his team, including a three-pointer and a key steal for a breakaway fast break layup in the fourth quarter back to back. He scored five points in a crucial 10-0 run with four minutes to go that eventually broke the resistance of the NUS team.

It helped TP’s cause that NUS' inspirational scorer Bandar Tjetty (#9, NUS) was also having an off-day.

"I rotated my players to mark Bandar in the first half and fortunately they succeeded. In the second half, Ong Seng Huat (#91, TP) did an excellent job of closing him down and preventing him from having open looks at the basket."

TP had started the game brightly, leading by 20-8 at the end of the first quarter and 34-19 at the end of the first half. Their ball movement was much better and quite a few of the players were accurate from the three-point line.

NUS, on the other hand, seemed overawed by the occasion and committed numerous uncharacteristic turnovers in the first half. TP's good defensive pressure also caused NUS to miss quite a few easy baskets.

The game truly lit up in the third quarter as NUS embarked on a scoring spree led by Joshua Koh (#13, NUS). His back to back three-pointers pulled NUS back to within a 6-point deficit while Bandar's steal and subsequent lay-up reduced the gap to two points!

TP had gone cold in their shooting this period and failed to score for an incredible five and a half minutes. NUS used a 22-8 run in the third quarter to pull back to within two by the end, trailing a mere 41-43.

The famed comeback and fighting spirit of the NUS was well and truly displayed when they took the lead for the first time in the game in the fourth quarter. Joshua scored from downtown to put his team up 44-43. The scores were kept close by both teams till Mitchell's late heroics.

When interviewed after the game, Mitchell was unruffled when reminded of the close game.

"I was always confident and felt that we would win even though NUS seemed to catch up at one stage."

He graciously paid tribute to the NUS team, however.

"This NUS team deserved to be playing in the final. They have displayed tremendous fighting spirit and desire throughout the tournament, as well as in today's match. We only won the final only because we had more talented players."

More pictures in the gallery.

TP
Lin Cheng Yu (#2)
Richard Teng Ngee Heng (#3)
Tan Kian Loong (#9)
Lim Min Jie (#10)
Brian Tan Xing Yu (#11)
Ong Si Hui (#12)
Mitchell Folkoff (#16)
Wang Jianwen (#17)
Jeryl Yee (#24)
Yeo Yu Song (#33)
Ng Hanbin (#45)
Yeo Zhi Kuang (#77)
Leonard Ong Guang Shan (#89)
Ong Seng Huat (#91)
Wu Zong Xuan (#99)

Coach: Tan Jing Yang

NUS
Fabien Apheceix (#2)
Lee Rongtzuu (#3)
Wong Huijie (#5)
Bandar Tjetty (#9)
Lee Zeyan (#11)
Chua Xian Yi Darrel (#12)
Joshua Koh (#13)
Lai Wai Kit (#15)
Huang Zhongwei (#21)
Darren Chua (#23)
Joshua Lim Hao Zheng (#31)
Naveen L.P (#32)
Cheok Liangwei (#91)

Coach : Jim Goode