By REDintern Emmanuel Phua
Hong Wei Jian (#5) of Nee Soon Central comes up against Seran Lim (#11) of Bukit Panjang. (Photo 1 © Joseph Lee/Red Sports)
Singapore Basketball Centre, Thursday, September 6, 2012 – Nee Soon Central beat Bukit Panjang 71-65 to book a semi-final place in the Singapore National Games basketball tournament.
The men’s open tournament began with the round of 32 on Saturday, September 1st. The main draw runs on a straight knockout format and Nee Soon Central’s next opponent will be Nanyang CSC who beat Jurong Green @ Jurong Central CSC 76-53.
This hotly contested match saw ex-Singapore Slingers Hong Wei Jian (#5) and Lim Wai Sian (#16) suiting up for Nee Soon Central. If anyone thought Nee Soon Central would win by a comfortable margin, it was not to be.
In the first quarter, Bukit Panjang proved that they were a force to be reckoned with as they managed to find gaps in the Nee Soon Central’s defence. However, Nee Soon Central hung on to close the first quarter 14-12 in the lead.
In the second quarter, Nee Soon Central tried hard to extend the lead but Bukit Panjang were able to take their chances and defend well. Subhas Nair (#12) in particular, was able to convert and guard the Nee Soon Central players along with his teammates. By the end of the second quarter, Bukit Panjang had established a four-point, 32-28 lead.
After the break, a 3-pointer by Edwin Low (Nee Soon Central #13) made it a one-point game to set the tone. With 5:50 remaining, Nee Soon Central finally managed to even the score at 33-33 after Lim Wai Sian (#16) managed to sink a pair of free throws.
With 2:35 left, Nee Soon Central took a one-point lead at 39-38 before closing out the quarter 47-42 in the lead.
In the fourth quarter, a decisive 3-pointer by Edwin Low (Nee Soon Central #13), who also drew a foul at the same time, with 5:51 remaining proved to the crucial turning point in the game. Edwin Low (#13) managed to sink the free throw to complete the four-point play and Nee Soon Central were up by six points at 57-51.
Once again, Bukit Panjang refused to back down and Subhas Nair (#12) was seen encouraging his teammates and scoring crucial points by sinking a pair of free throws to bring them to within two with 2:39 remaining.
With less than 20 seconds to go, Cheng Da (Bukit Panjang #5) scored a 3-pointer despite being heavily guarded for his team to trail by four (65-69). Bukit Panjang tried their best to close the gap but time ran out and Nee Soon Central hung on to win 71-65.
When asked how he felt about his team’s performance today, Nee Soon Central’s Hong Wei Jian (#5), a former Singapore Slingers and national basketball player, said: “It was definitely a tough fight, but overall we did well and emerged winners.
“We switched from zone defending to man-to-man defending as it was more effective against Bukit Panjang after the second quarter. We felt that zone defending was not working against them in the first two quarters. As the saying goes, ‘proper defense leads to offense.’”
When asked about the crucial 4-point play by Edwin Low (#13), he said: “Definitely it was a crucial shot as a 4-point play is not very common and moreover, he is more of a passer than a shooter but he managed to sink three 3-pointers today.”
Wei Jian added that their next opponents in the semi-finals, Nanyang CSC, are very experienced, and it will be a game of fitness to determine who will win.
“I’m proud of my team, really proud of them. It’s nice to represent where you come from. I’m really happy, just to be able to have fun,” said Subhas Nair (#12) of Bukit Panjang.
The semi-final match between Nee Soon Central and Jurong Green will be on Saturday, September 8th, 6.30pm, at the Singapore Basketball Centre.
Score by Quarter
Nee Soon Central vs Bukit Panjang
1st Q: 14-12
2nd Q: 14-20 (28-32)
3rd Q: 33-22 (47-42)
4th Q: 38-43
Final score: 71-65
Top Scorers
Nee Soon Central
Edwin Low Kwok Keng (#13) – 18 points (3 x 3-pointers)
Lim Wai Sian (#16) – 17 points
Bukit Panjang
Lim Chieh Seran (#11) – 13 points
Subhas Nair (#12) – 12 points
Nee Soon Central Roster
Joeson Kunju (#7), Hong Wei Jian (#5), Lim Wai Sian (#16), Chua Soon Hua (#14), Liao Shiming (#9), Edwin Low Kwok Keng (#13), Ng Kok Yong (#4), Zheng Xiao Wei (#8), Ron Yeo Rong Tian (#11), Choo Wei Tiong (#15)
Bukit Panjang Roster
Edric Shee Zhi Ping (#4), Ke Cheng Da (#5), Kenneth (#15), Chong Wei Jian Kenny (#8), Gordon Ong Shiyang (#9), Tan Wei Keong (#6), Seran Lim Chieh (#11), Lim Yee Song (#10), Subhas Nair (#12), Alvin Tan Xing Yu (#14), Kho Zhi Cheng (#17)
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