Nanyang Polytechnic edge out Ngee Ann in POL-ITE basketball championship

Story by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports. Photos by Vanessa Lim/Red Sports.

Republic Polytechnic Competition Hall, Thursday, July 31, 2009 - Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) lost their first match to Temasek Polytechnic 86-52 but bounced back to record their first win of the boys’ 2009 Polytechnic-Institute of Technical Education (POL-ITE) Basketball Championship with a nail-biting 78-76 victory over Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP).

The graduation of star player Wong Wei Long from NYP left a big hole to fill for the current squad, but things looked good early on with Ng Wee Kim (NYP, #1) giving them an early lead.

NP, however, remained within touching distance of their opponents. Li Zhemin (NP, #32) starred for his side with his size playing a big part in his ability to control the paint, and his two free throws also gave NP a surprising lead at 13-12. NYP didn't help their own cause as they made turnovers, allowing Zhemin to score 10 points in the first quarter for NP to take a slim 21-19 lead into the second quarter.

Cheong Wei Zhun (NP, #5) continued where his side left off in the first quarter as he score four points to give his side a quick seven-point lead at 29-22, their largest lead of the game. Larry Liauw, however, reduced the deficit and kept his team within touching distance of their opponents with a three-pointer and a layup.

Clarence Leong (NYP, #11) then gave NYP a brief lead with a layup at 33-32. Both sides traded points and with 1.22 minutes remaining, a three-point play from Toh Ying Sheng tied the score at 38-38.

Only one point separated the teams at the half with Clarence Leong pulling NYP to within one as NP took a 43-42 lead at halftime.

Ng Wee Kim gave NYP the perfect start in the third quarter as he made a layup to give them the lead. Much of the same continued in the third quarter with both teams tussling for the lead. Cheong Wei Zhun (NP, #25) starred for NP, posting 10 points on the boards for NP while NYP depended on their perimeter shooters Larry Liauw (NYP, #32) and Ng Wee Kim for their points.

A pair of free throws from Cheong Wei Zhun gave NP a slim one-point lead heading into the final quarter, setting the stage for the last 10 minutes.

NYP that jumped to a quick lead with Captain Zhou Zhen Jie leading by example, making a three-pointer and followed it with a layup. This seemed to inspire NYP as they began to run away with the match, easily stealing the ball from NP and hitting them on the break.

With two minutes remaining, NYP established their largest lead of the game - an eight point lead at 74-66. NP tried to catch up, with Eddie Huang landing two free throws to narrow the gap at 76-72, but their efforts were not enough as Clarence Leong restored NYP's six-point cushion with 34.1 seconds remaining.

Lim Qi Xiang, however, gave NP a lifeline. His elbow on a NP player left him seeking medical attention with a bleeding nose while Qi Xiang was called a double technical foul. With the four free throws alone, NP could have tied the game, but Pow Xun Ping missed the first two, allowing the NYP bench to breathe again. Although he made the next two, possession was wasted as NYP hung on. Even Li Zhemin's layup at the end was too little too late for NP as NYP won 78-76.

"It was a great match and our team played well," said Zhou Zhen Jie after the match. "We had a height disadvantage so we depended on our speed and three-point shooting to win us the match. I wouldn't consider NYP favourite anymore after Wong Wei Long left, so we will take each game as it comes."

In the other match, a three-pointer from Hu Kai Wei with 19.6 seconds to go gave Republic Polytechnic (RP) a shock 46-43 victory over Singapore Polytechnic. Despite trailing for much of the match, RP kept within striking distance and eventually took the lead in the fourth quarter.

Both sides tussled for control before Kai Wei's heroics at the death.

In another match, defending champions Temasek Polytechnic defeated the Institute of Technical Education 77-66.