Contributed by reader Steven
Singapore Basketball Centre, Sunday, May 17, 2009 – A last-second 3-point buzzer beater by SAFSA ended the reign of local powerhouse Home United Basketball Club.
Widely tipped as the hot favourites again for this season, Home United failed to defend their title and lost 63-64 to SAFSA.
A miraculous shot near half-court by ex-national and Tong Whye player Derrick Lin gave SAFSA a dramatic victory and created history since nobody can remember when they last lifted a trophy in the NBL.
SAFSA were relegated two years ago to the NBL Division 2 due to an ugly fight between them and Home United and they were promoted back into Division after a tough season in Division 2 last year.
SAFSA were newly reformed this year, due to the departure of some good players like Wei Kian and Teo Chun Hoe. Despite the departure of these players, they were injected with experienced players like Derrick Lin, Rudy Tan, Jia Ling and up and coming youngsters Guo Liang (Eng Tat), Jackson (Tagawa) and Steven Khoo. SAFSA were considered as one of the dark horses in Division 1.
Despite trailing in points all the way, they came back from an 18-point deficit to win by a point. They were no match for Home United in terms of skills and some will say they merely won by luck, but overall they put in a fantastic performance worthy of the championship that night.
Home United didn’t lose to SAFSA as much as they lost to themselves. Koh Meng Koon as usual played a great game, but just couldn’t get the important shots in at the crucial moments.
This loss also sends an important signal to Home United that the other teams in the NBL are also improving unlike previous years where beat teams easily.
The SAFSA victory is a sign that the intensity level of the NBL Division 1 will get higher next year.
Most of them were the players from 2001 national team, which won third place in SEABA 2001 and beaten Msia team by 25 Pts
I recall 9 of the players which Max Goh mentioned help Singapore’s basketball win some medal in some tournament right??? Anybody know?? Which tournament?? Who is the Coach who guide them?? Pls advice??
Wow..like that is an all-star team.. Maybe send this team to the coming SEA game??
PG: Wen Xing(Home U), Michael Wong( Eng Tat), Derrick( Safsa)
SG: Jin Hong, Ming Ku( Home U), Jason Goh( Ex National player)
SF: Jia Ling ( Safsa), Junliang ( Tagawa)
PF: Sham( Home U), Junyi(Siglap)
C: Pathman ( Tong Whye), Jia ren( Ex national player)
WenXing, JingHong, Sham, Mike, Derrick… etc…
The national team will have problem beating the veterans…….
Maybe we can select a team from NBL which players who is above 30 and play with the national team??? Any names???
PG – Wen Xing(Home), Rong Lie (Eng Tat)
SG – Desmond(Hornets), Jialin(SAFSA), Number 9 (NUS)
SF – Mich (Home), , Jin Hong(Home)
PF – Steven(SAFSA), Alan(Home),
C – Prasad (Safsa), Sham(Home),Pathman (Tong Whye)
I think this post is by a SAFSA player or their fan. This post is biased
All posts are biased. You send it, we post it. You don’t have to attack the contributor.
I will start the ball rolling.
PG – Wen Xing(Home), Teck How(SAFSA)
SG – Desmond(Hornets), Jialin(SAFSA),
SF – Mingkun(Home), Guofeng(Tong Whye), Jin Hong(Home)
PF – Steven(SAFSA), Alan(Home), Jiewei(Siglap)
C – Pathman(Tong Whye), Sham(Home)
This is my personal view.
i agree…it will be interesting to come out with a vote of the best 12 players in A div according to their positions…and see how many of them are actually in the national team.
It was a great match, Steven played well. Without a Coach, can still get Champion. I think one of the player in the team is coach cum player.
Kidd…i think can blame the coach cos they did not stop the bleeding from -18pts..then vateran player like him shld run down the clock instead of attacking the basket with 5 sec…both are killers of HU’s championship
nope i do not think saf win by luck they won by derrick who is the miracale player of the game. although he do not score much but the assist the defence which he is on court for the second half make the game change coming back with 18 pts diffferengt
Can we nominate top 12 players from BL Div 1?
1st to blame is the coaches…did not stop the bleeding when underdogs came back from -18… bench player sit warm warm…almost can fry eggs
2nd to blame is a veteran player who knows shot clock and game clock running on par…and he shoot at 5s? God….Hold that bloody ball, expire the clock, cup is yours to keep warm warm….swine also not so big…die 10 times also no body pity..
3rd to blame…every player’s head bigger then the thai durian….”SURE EAT”
Lose as a team……
Its not anyone’s fault when HOME lose….
LUCK is really with SAFSA!
SAFSA played well but if jin hong didnt shoot that last ball with only 10s left, safsa wouldnt have the posession to shoot that half court shot
the last shot were so surprising and unbelievable. But seriously that was a good shot. Congrats safsa for winning.
Safsa is a very hardworking team with great teamworks. It’s a fairy tale ending for Safsa. We were beaten by the safsa by 1 points too in the prelim for the semi final berth. Well done to the team and their golden coach( Chua Ping)
Best “Finals” game ever……
Most crowd left after half time…
who will expect SAFSA to come bk.
Well Done SAFSA!