By REDintern Fiona Lee
The Ahmad Ibrahim B Division basketball team. Front row (left to right): Samuel Ang (#4), Choo Yi Zhao (#5), Lau Beng Yew (#6), Benedict Oh (#7), Akhigbe Ikhide (#8), Leong Jun Yuan (#9). Back row (left to right): Cohen Chong (#10), Wee Zhi Ming (#11), Nikos Go (#12), Lakksman s/o Ganapathy (#13), Cuison Diaz (#14), Wong Chee Kian (#15), Choo Hoo Sen (coach), Alvin Toh (asst coach), Desmond Lim (teacher-in-charge). (Photo © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Singapore Basketball Centre, Monday, February 18, 2013 – Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary beat Woodlands Ring Secondary 31-27 in their opening Round 2 game of the North Zone B Division Basketball Championship.
Wong Chee Kian (#15) of Ahmad Ibrahim had a game-high nine points while Johnson Tan (#7) of Woodlands Ring was the top scorer for his team with seven.
It was a game that both Ahmad Ibrahim captains, Nikos Go and Choo Yi Zhao, agreed was their most intense and exciting game yet in the North Zone.
The first two quarters saw Ahmad Ibrahim dominating as they pulled ahead of Woodlands Ring, leading 6-3 in the first quarter, followed by 18-9 in the second. The nine-point Ahmad Ibrahim lead at half time was the largest of the match.
Woodlands Ring stepped up their game in the third quarter as they tightened their defense to prevent their opponents from making shots.
However, Woodlands Ring were unable to convert their turnovers, allowing Ahmad Ibrahim to continue to lead at 22-16 as both teams struggled to make their shots count.
Eager to move the game forward, Ahmad Ibrahim began making long passes in the fourth quarter to widen their lead but to no avail. The Woodlands Ring defense also tightened up to force their opponents to shoot from beyond the 3-point arc.
Their tactics seemed to pay off as Woodlands Ring narrowed the deficit to just two points (27-29) with two minutes left in the final quarter.
Unfortunately, Woodlands Ring could not convert a couple of free throws and time was not on their side, and Ahmad Ibrahim eventually won the game 31-27.
The Ahmad Ibrahim captains unanimously agreed that their team’s determination allowed them to pull through till the end.
“We call it the Ahmad Ibrahim flame,” Nikos Go said.
“(The) ball is round. Anything can happen so we’ll keep trying to improve,” added Nikos.
Score by Quarter
Ahmad Ibrahim vs Woodlands Ring
1st Q: 6-3
2nd Q: 12-6 (18-9)
3rd Q: 4-7 (22-16)
4th Q: 9-11 (31-27)
Top scorers
Ahmad Ibrahim
Wong Chee Kian (#15) — 9 points
Lakksman s/o Ganapathy (#13) — 8 points
Woodlands Ring
Johnson Tan (#7) — 7 points
Lim Kian Sheng (#9), Ng Jing Hao (#15) — 4 points
Ahmad Ibrahim roster
Samuel Ang Wee Teck (#4), Choo Yi Zhao (#5), Lau Beng Yew (#6), Benedict Oh Sheng Yang (#7), Akhigbe Aigbokhaivbho Ikhide (#8), Leong Jun Yuan (#9), Cohen Chong (#10), Wee Zhi Ming (#11), Go Yun Liang Nikos (#12), Lakksman s/o Ganapathy (#13), Cuison John Michael Diaz (#14), Wong Chee Kian (#15)
Woodlands Ring roster
Tan Yih Jing (#14), Wong Sheng Wei (#11), Andy Yeow Jun Hui (#12), Teng Jia Jie (#4), Ng Han Ming (#5), Alfred Toh You Sheng (#8), Iyan Chan Kian Hao (#13), Ng Jing Hao (#15), Koh Wen Guan (#6), Pyae Thuta (#10), Lim Kian Sheng (#9), Johnson Tan Jia Yao (#7)
2013 North Zone B Division Basketball Championship — full fixtures and results
