Story by REDintern Alan Chiang. Photos by Vanessa Lim/Red Sports
As Yen Lin (RI, #15) catches a rebound, Hwa Chong’s Jiying (#5) and Cindy (#10) come to intercept. (Photo 1 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Jurong East Sports Hall, Friday, May 22, 2009 - Defending champions Hwa Chong Institution retained the A Division Girls’ Basketball Championship title but were made to sweat as Raffles Institution sprang to life in the final quarter, outscoring the mighty giants by 10 points.
But their efforts were fruitless as Hwa Chong managed to hang on and claim the championship decider 61-58. The combined 19-point force of Liew Si Hui (RI #7), Jamie Chow (#8) and Joelynn Ng (#9) in the last quarter was not enough to salvage the deficit that hit them earlier in the game.
On the back of a 100 per cent winning record, HCI looked like the team who would rule the court early in the game. However, RI roared to life in the beginning of the game after the first tip-off. They took a 5-0 lead through Jamie (RI #8) and Joelynn (#9) and displayed one of the best defensive work on the Hwa Chong forwards.
But the points started rolling in Hwa Chong's favour as they went on a 12-0 run courtesy of Sara Choong (#4) and Tan Seow Hwee (#15). With 4:50 remaining, RI called for a time-out to prevent the defending champions from running away with the match.
Nevertheless, the call was not effective as RI luck at the free throw line ran out. They missed all their attempts and could not narrow the deficit.
Hwa Chong's lead soon increased to 10 points as Seow Hwee (#15) continued to dominate the offensive paint and scored successive points. In the dying minutes of the quarter, RI bucked up and went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead down to four points to trail 11-15 at the end of the first quarter.
RI began the second quarter with a chance to reduce the deficit, but both teams failed to make their chances count. However, it was Jamie (RI #8) who was focused in front of the basket. She helped to cut the lead to three points before a time-out call was signaled from the Hwa Chong bench.
Cindy Chan (HCI #10) turned on the heat and hit her first 3-pointer of the game to extend the lead to six points at 21-15. But two quick shots from Si Hui (RI #7) and Jamie (#8) got RI back to within 2.
This was to be the closest they would get to Hwa Chong as within a space of two minutes, Cindy (HCI #10) then converted back-to-back 3-pointers and another two points from Tsang Wei Yi (#6) added to the tally of an 8-0 run by Hwa Chong.
With 1:50 remaining, RI called a time-out as Hwa Chong led by as many as 10 points at 29-19. Both sides exchanged points within the final minutes and Hwa Chong took a 32-21 lead at half-time.
RI began the second half on a wrong note as they missed their first attempt. Hwa Chong took advantage and immediately broke into a 15-point lead. But Chong Jieying (HCI #5) picked up her third foul and had to sit out for the remainder of the quarter. Her replacement, Mok Ying Ming (#11), made an instant impact as she contributed two points right after coming off the bench. With the combined team effort, Hwa Chong held a massive 21-point lead with 3:30 left to play.
A time-out was called by RI as the coach could not bear to witness the dismal performance. She was spot on this time as she witnessed a 10-2 run from RI for the remaining minutes of the third quarter. The impressive comeback late in the quarter helped to reduce the lead to 13 points to trail 37-50, an improvement after they were down by as many as 21.
The revival spilled over to the final quarter as Si Hui (RI #7) and Joelynn (#9) managed to cut the lead to nine points. But Seow Hwee (HCI #15) and Cindy (#10) had their way to the basket and increased Hwa Chong's lead to 13.
With 5:51 left, the referees had to stop the game play after Seow Hwee (HCI #15) appeared to suffer a serious injury. Things got worse for Hwa Chong as their top performer Cindy (HCI #10) suffered a twisted ankle.
RI took full advantage and cut the lead down to eight points at 58-50. With 1:06 remaining, Sara (HCI #4) fouled out after she collected her fifth foul on Joelynn (RI #9). Soon after, the lead was further reduced to six when Si Hui (RI #7) drained a 3-pointer. Joelynn (RI #9) also got into the fray with her 3-pointer as she capitalized on a steal and that brought her team to 58-61. But with 1.9 seconds left, there was not much RI could do as Hwa Chong held on to their final possession of the game and clinched the girls' title.
Michael Wong, Hwa Chong Institution's teacher-in-charge explained the breakdown late in the game.
He said, "We were out of focus, not hitting shots and I think it's about desperation. They (Raffles Institution) were more serious in the final quarter."
He added, "We had a few injury worries before the game and not everybody had gone through the full season training."
But he was happy with the current batch of players who also won the title last year.
Most Valuable Player (MVP) Cindy Chan's (HCI #10) contribution was vital in the victory as she added 19 points, including four 3-pointers for the game.
She said, "I think I played better than usual today. It's about hard work and the support from the team too."
Match Statistics
Starting line-up
HCI - Sara Choong (#4), Chong Jieying (#5), Athena Raewyn Tan (#9), Cindy Chan (#10), Tan Seow Hwee (#15)
RI - Olivia Ng (#4), Liew Si Hui (#7), Jamie Chow (#8), Joelynn Ng (#9), Tan Yen Lin (#15)
Scores by quarter:
1st Q: HCI 15 RI 11
2nd Q: HCI 17 RI 10
3rd Q: HCI 18 RI 16
4th Q: HCI 11 RI 21
Top Scorer
HCI:
Cindy Chan (#10) - 19 points (4 x 3-pointers)
Sara Choong (#4) - 15 points
Tan Seow Hwee (#15) - 13 points
RI:
Jamie Chow (#8) - 21 points
Joelynn Ng (#9) - 15 points
Liew Si Hui (#7) - 10 points
Seow Hwee (HCI, #15) jumps past the Raffles defenders and heads towards the net. (Photo 2 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Seow Hwee (HCI, #15) tries to aim and shoot as Olivia (RI, #4) jumps in front to block. (Photo 3 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
A Hwa Chong player ducks and goes around the Raffles defender. (Photo 4 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Ying Xin (RI, #10) rushes to intercept against Jieying (HCI, #5). (Photo 5 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
A Hwa Chong Player looking for an open team mate. (Photo 6 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Nicole (RI, #13) fails to stop a Hwa Chong player from going past. (Photo 7 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Jamie (RI, #8) intercepts a rebound. (Photo 8 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
A Hwa Chong reaches over to intercept the ball. (Photo 9 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
A Hwa Chong player tries to intercept the ball as Si Hui (RI, #7) goes for the net. (Photo 10 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
It’s a mad rush to get the ball. (Photo 11 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Natasha (RI, #12) goes past a Hwa Chong player. (Photo 12 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
A Raffles player goes for the layup after passing Hwa Chong’s defenders. (Photo 13 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
A Raffles player attempts a layup, while being surround by Hwa Chong defenders. (Photo 14 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Jieying (HCI, #5) tries to block a Raffles player. (Photo 15 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Jamie (RI, #8) gets blocked by Seow Hwee (HCI, #15). (Photo 16 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Hwa Chong players trying to prevent the Raffles player from getting the ball. (Photo 17 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Raffles bench cheering. (Photo 18 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Smiles all round as Hwa Chong succesfully defends their title. (Photo 19 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
Raffles team thanking their supporters. (Photo 20 © Vanessa Lim/Red Sports)
may i know what basketball size do they use? 6 or 7?
Last time I checked MVP stands for Most Valuable Player. It has nothing to do with who is technically the best player but who contributed the most to the team. Ultimately Cindy’s 19 points was crucial to HCI’s win. Jamie may have the fancy footwork and all, and a 20 point game, but it wasn’t good enough. Cindy performed when she had to, if Jamie knew that her team needed her THAT MUCH (clearly RJ relies on her a lot), to be the MVP she would have to step up by, oh I don’t know, 3 more points maybe? There’s a reason why the MVP usually comes from the winning team. Because someone on that team probably made a real difference to clinching the victory. As amazing as Jamie is… all I can say is, not enough.
Xiaohui is 179. Not 182. And she’s definitely not 100 kg. Try being battered by about 3 people at any one time and STILL making that basket. Yeah, I don’t think so. It takes more than size to dominate, it takes skill, timing, and Xiaohui’s footwork may not be as fancy as Jamie’s but it is still well-executed and accurate. Judging by your reply you aren’t even a player in this season, so you would have no way of knowing just how good Xiaohui is on court.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is that HCI won, not RJ. Jamie winning the MVP wouldn’t have changed that final outcome.
Honestly, it was a shock to me when Cindy (out of all people), was given the MVP award. She honestly doesn’t deserve it! And just like so many people have said, Jamie truly does. She was the best player on court on finals day, most efficient and great skills, and I think anyone who watches basketball can understand why. It is evident that Jamie is A division’s MVP. I wish that the judges could make a much more sound judgement in future matches, because this has been such a disappointment to many.
jamie should have been the MVP. As for Cindy, i don’t know how you can airball several 3-point attempts (although she scored 4) and be the MVP, and suffered from cramps?? Well.. Xiao hui dominates the boards but then she is so tall and big size at 182cm and 100 kg? If i was a girl having her size i just need to know how to convert under baskets and i can be the MVP. Jamie has fantastic footsteps, and i would dare to say that her footsteps are better, in fact much better than some guys in the A division, and with her performance throughout the season ( also scored around 20 points against HCI in the second round.. come to think of that where was cindy in that match? ), Jamie should have been the outright MVP.
thought the mvp’s decided based on the pre-final performances also. if so then jamie chow > cindy chan. no offense.
if so, seow hwee would be the undisputed MVP.
i think Jamie played awesomely too. but Cindy’s 3pointers were really onform. deserved it.
An ying graduated from hci already?
@ volunteer-driven: Not trying to be biased given that I’m Cindy’s teammate, but if I’m not wrong, the MVP is chosen from the final performance only. (As it was last year, when given to our then captain, Phua Kai Yi). Ultimately, the MVP goes to the player who helped the team clinch the championship and I think we can safely say that without Cindy and her 19 points, it would have been much harder for us. Even though it was indeed an “on-form” day, Cindy has been a valuable contributor in all previous matches, with about 2 three pointers a game.
Jamie IS a fantastic player, but she failed to perform as well as she had before on the day of the finals itself. If we’re going to consider pre-final games then Tan Xiao Hui (HCI, #15), would have been up for consideration too given how she scores about 20 points a game. (around the same as Jamie)
Photo 4 & Photo 7- Tsang Wei Yi, #6
On another note, I beg to differ. The photos are good! It’s not easy taking shots of fast-moving, action-packed sports.
Thanks, redsports! (:
don’t understand why jamie is not the mvp when cindy just had a random on-form day, thought the mvp’s decided based on the pre-final performances also. if so then jamie chow > cindy chan. no offense.
wah redsports photos really damn unglam