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.
MIB must a fan from HUBC… haha.. there no need to condemn the coach.. right???
MIB: u seem got prejuried against the coach?? what wrong with him??? i like to know???
I agree with the fact that HOME U is relying too much on their experienced players, not giving much exposure to the youngsters, no deny that they are still putting out the youngsters to play, but they didn’t put in a good performance, usually they played when home U is leading comfortably against other teams, which they playing with no pressure in mind most of the times, these youngsters may be potential good players, but they are still not up to the standard yet against the experienced players…A good example is the final game agaisnt SAFSA, during the dying minutes, home U juz simply played kum hoong, boon heng, sham, meng koon, instead of the youngsters ..
I think this also contribute to one of the factors of why they lose the reign, & slowly other teams in NBL are training their youngsters alot, one good example is minyi, with so many good youngsters inside, players like wei long, wei xiang, min jie, & no doubt mayBe they are considered fresh in this arena, but down the roads in a few years time, u can see their growth & achievement, & if home U still rely too much on those experienced players, i guess next year they still gonna have a tough fight!! but i believe chen zhen hao has foresight to see this, & will surely improve on HOME U nxt year, so they will come back stronger..
Wow.. what a record for HUBC..six years..
passerby: I think the coach from HU have given them a chance..but still no improvement for some of them, player like En ning play how many years for them.. what you see.. no improvement. Hope the younger players can train hard and prove their worth.
The Same batch of people from Sinkee to HUBC took the Champ for 9 yrs…
Kool!
MIB.
i doesn’t think that is the younger kids did not step up. i think they doesn’t have much chance in showing their potential as well.
Sorry MIB ,
Home United got 6 it for the last 6 yrs . Attached are the finalits 4 since 2000.
2009 SAFSA bt HUBC
2008 HUBC bt Tong Whye
2007 HUBC bt Tong Whye
2006 HUBC bt Tong Whye
2005 HUBC bt Eng Tat
2004 HUBC bt Eng Tat
2003 HUBC bt Eng Tat
2002 Jun Lang bt HUBC
2001 Jun Lang bt SAFSA
2000 Sinkee bt Tong Whye
Guys Home Unitedis 6 years straight champion
Finals in since 2000
2000 Sin kee bt Tong Whye
2001 Jun lang by Safsa
2002 Jun Lang bt HUBC
2003 HUBC bt eng tat
2004 HUBC bt Eng TAT
2005 HUBC bt Eng TAT
2006 HUBC bt tong Whye
2007 HUBC bt tong Whye
2008 HUBC bt Tong Whye
2009 SAFSA bt HUBC
Yes. All the players from SAFSA deserve the credits..except the Coach…Credits also must give to the old players (Boon Heng, Kum Hoong, Sham, Meng Koon) from HUBC as this season, they ready play well..just only the younger kids did not set up..I think they will come back very strong as they are still the 5 times Champions for the past few year.
dont have to be a safsa player to see who is actually leading the team on and off the court..credits to jialing and derrick..they really showed up when the team needed them
Neutral: u seem to know a lot .. are you from SAFSA???
Hi Neutral, u seem to know a lot .. are you from SAFSA???
i agree Derrick deserve the credit and everyone in the team deserve too . even those player who are not playing . but that coach did not do anything good???
SAFSA did well because the players fought for every single possession. And Derrick stepped up as a leader. I felt that Derrick was doing everything as a player as well as a coach. That Chua Ping guy was a non-factor. All the timeouts, rotation of players, motivations were all done by Derrick. Chua Ping just happened to be the coach and is taking all the credits. We need to give the due credits to Derrick. Derrick deserved more credit than just the last second buzzer beater.
the what’s bin coach is not good??? what happen??
I’m agree.. his avg per game is 18+ points. If he never join SAFSA I think SAFSA maybe fight for relegate battle. + every players listen to the player cum coach Derrick Lim advice that why the last three games they play well…Forgot is asst coach..the what’s bin is the head coach..heard next year he want to get attend coaching course..
if Tong whye play badly can lose so much, why they called themselve top club?? safsa is leading all the way till last min and that is not luck. against HUBC coming back from 18 pt is luck?? What are the reason why safsa side safsa??
then what make referee to side safsa?? safsa just promoted this year.. Please enlightened Luck can be with the team for all games? then who is the champion now?
That’s day, Tong Whye play badly. But if you see the Siglap match and HUBC lady luck and referee is at SAFSA side…What to do??
Who is the Champion?? Team who play good defense..play good set play..etc..
i believe this yr safsa can win becoz of Jialin joining safsa