By REDintern Emmanuel Phua
Gavin Goh (NUS #6) draws a foul from Patrick Lim (SMU #21) while going up to the basket. Gavin finished with a game-high 12 points. (Photo 1 © Joseph Lee/Red Sports)
National University Of Singapore Multi-Purpose Sports Hall 5, Tuesday, 18th September 2012 — The National University of Singapore (NUS) beat the Singapore Management University (SMU) 58-30 in their opening game of the Singapore University Games (SUniG) men’s basketball tournament.
A 3-point play by Kenneth Low (NUS #13) and a 3-pointer by Shawn (#20) gave NUS a 15-4 lead with 4:00 remaining in the first quarter. Leonard Ong (SMU #24) showed his skills with a quick spin and turn to score a layup but NUS pulled away to lead 19-8 after the first 10 minutes.
NUS went on an 8-0 run in the second quarter, which included two successive 3-point plays by Gavin Goh (#6) and Soh De Ren (#21) which extended their lead to 19 points (27-8). A defense-splitting pass by Tan Tien Wei (#9) gave Soh De Ren (#21) an easy lay-up as NUS outscored their opponents 16-4 in the second quarter to take a 35-12 lead at half time.
In the third quarter,NUS put together a 5-0 run with Tan Chaw Meng (#5) scoring two free throws and Shawn (#20) putting in a 3-pointer.
SMU responded with a floater by Wee Huixiang (#14) but Shawn (NUS #20) was left unguarded and once again scored to bring the scoreline to 42-19.
SMU played more aggressively in the third quarter and outscored NUS 11-7 but the latter still led by 19 (42-23) at the end of the third quarter.
NUS put together an 11-5 run in the final quarter. An offensive rebound by Kenneth Low (#13), leading to an unselfish pass by Tan Tien Wei (#9) for Gavin Goh (#6) to score on the fast break; as well as a a superb cross-court pass by Fang Nai Zeng (#10) to Samuel Chng (#22) to finish off, helped NUS to pull ahead comfortably.
With 18.6 seconds to go, SMU’s Nigel Lim (#18) was going for a layup when he suddenly went down holding his right knee. When play resumed, SMU managed to get in a final two points as they went down 30-58.
When asked if he was satisfied with his team’s performance today, NUS captain Loh Wan Xin (#4) said: “Yes, but there are improvements to be made. We played as a team and this contributed to our win today.”
“I tell them not to get injured, as the season is only 3 games long. It is not worth it, as once you are injured, you are almost certain to be out of the season,” said Wan Xin, when asked how his team managed to control their emotions and handle SMU’s playing style.
Looking forward to the next few games, he added: “We need to catch our rebounds and cover the space. We must cover the space and not let our opponents have easy baskets. We must grab our rebounds; both defensively and offensively.”
“Well, I’m disappointed. We are capable of performing much better,” said SMU’s Philipp Englisch (#16). “We must take our chances and the fouls committed were bad and it certainly affected our team today. We have to play better defense and hustle more. They were the better team today.”
Scores by Quarter
NUS vs SMU
1Q: 19-8
2Q: 16-4 (35-12)
3Q: 7-11 (42-23)
4Q: 16-7
Final Score: 58-30
Scorers
NUS
Gavin Goh (#6) — 12 pts
Kenneth Low (#13) — 12 pts
Soh De Ren (#21) — 9 pts
Shawn (#20) — 8 pts (2 x 3-pts)
Alvin Cheo (#29) — 4 pts
Danny Chua (#23) — 4 pts
Samuel Chng (#22) — 3 pts (1 x 3-pts)
Tan Chaw Meng (#5) — 2 pts
Fang Nai Zeng (#10) — 2 pts
Tan Tien Wei (#9) — 1 pt
SMU
Wee Huixiang (#14) — 8 pts
Lee Zhi Shu (#11) — 6 pts
Lim Changcun (#18) — 5 pts
Philipp Englisch (#16) — 3 pts
Leonard Ong (#24) — 2 pts
Sim Wei Zhang (#9) — 2 pts
Nathanael Goh (#20) – 2 pts
Kee Eng Sen (#7) — 1 pt
NUS Roster
Loh Wan Xin (#4), Tan Chaw Meng (#5), Gavin Goh (#6), Tan Tien Wei VC (#9), Fang Nai Zeng (#10), Gerrard Lai (#12), Kenneth Low (#13), Eddie Ng (#15), Shawn (#20), Soh De Ren (#21), Samuel Chng (#22), Danny Chua (#23), Liu Zhong Chi (#27), Alvin Cheo (#29)
SMU Roster
Kee Eng Sen (#1), Liang Jun Hao (#3), Ho Ann Sheng (#4), Tan Siong Kai (#6), Goh Jian Liang (#7), Sim Wei Zhang (#9), Lee Zhi Shu (#11), Wee Huixiang (#14), Calvin Lim Wei Quan (#15), Philipp Englisch (#16), Nigel Lim Changcun (#18), Nathanael Goh Zhihui (#20), Patrick John Lim Long-Yan (#21), Chan Yong Guang (#23), Leonard Ong Guang Shan (#24)
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