Story by Colin Tung. Photos by Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports
Premila Hirubalan (GD) attempts to block a shot by Izyan Syazana (GA) of Malaysia. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
OCBC Arena, Saturday, September 13, 2014 — Malaysia provided Singapore their stiffest test of the tournament so far but it was not enough to prevent the hosts and defending champions from winning 46–39 to progress to the final tomorrow, when Singapore will meet Sri Lanka in a re-match of the 2012 Asian Netball Championships final.
Prior to the semi-final, Singapore coach, Ruth Aitken, had highlighted for attention Malaysia’s Goal Attack and Goal Shooter pairing of Izyan Syazana and Norashikin, and Malaysia’s scoring record of 291 goals — second-highest amongst all teams, just 19 behind Group B winners Sri Lanka — in the group stage was one reason to do so. Ruth tasked Lin Qingyi (GK), Premila Hirubalan (GD), and Ang Shi Qi (WD) with shutting down Malaysia’s attack and they performed admirably.
After the match, Ruth gave a glowing assessment of the trio, “I thought some of the balls they got were just inspirational. Their elevation is just incredible. And they created some turn-over balls at really crucial times. I think we’re really blessed with great defensive talent and to be able to turn over the ball in a crucial game like this is fantastic.”
The opening minutes saw Malaysia 6–3 down but Malaysia repeatedly fed the ball to their 1.85 metres-tall Goal Shooter, Norashikin Kamal Zaman, by persisting in their strategy to lob passes over the heads of Premila (1.70m) and Qingyi (1.73m). Norashikin finished off one such move to draw Malaysia level at 6–6.
Singapore, however, had expected those lobs from the Malaysians and were prepared for them despite some success Malaysia had with them. Team captain, Qingyi, said, “We are quite aerial people. We are not as tall as them but we are good with high stuff. Anything that comes too fast, too short, we have no chance at it (so) we get them to promote the long and high ones so we can go for it [sic].”
The tight opening quarter, which ended 15–11 in Singapore’s favour, only fuelled the enthusiastic support from the spectators, including a vocal section of Malaysians.
While Singapore’s defence worked to keep Malaysia at bay, Charmaine Soh (GS) and Chen Huifen (GA) maximised their chances to help the team pull away, missing only four of their combined 30 attempts in the first half. Charmaine converted the last shot of the second quarter for Singapore to head into the half-time interval 26–18 ahead.
A resurgent Malaysia came out of the break to draw as close as five points within Singapore, who persevered with the same seven players from start to finish. They outscored Singapore 14–12 in the third quarter — the first time in the tournament any team has done so — to cut Singapore’s lead down to an uncomfortable six points (38-32) as the teams entered the fourth quarter seeking a victory that would not only afford a chance to be crowned Asian champions but also guarantee qualification — for the top two teams — for next year’s Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
When asked what led to the third quarter malaise, Qingyi explained: “Due to some very basic mistakes and miscommunication, we actually threw the ball away and it’s very costly for a tight game like this. Definitely something we learnt from today to not let it happen tomorrow.”
Defensive partner, Premila, chimed that the third quarter lapse served as a timely jolt. She said, “I think it was a good thing actually because we need practices like this for the final. It’s going to be really close again.
“When we came out from the third quarter, we said we don’t care if we are up by six … [or] by eight, it’s still 0–0. We still need to go there and we need to hunt for all the balls, we need to dive for all the balls, every single person use their bodies and catch whatever you can.”
Singapore needed every bit of that pluck as Malaysia opened the fourth quarter with the first two goals to cut the deficit to 38–34, heightening tension amongst the watching spectators, the Malaysian supporters amongst whom cheered at missed shots by Charmaine and Huifen.
With Malaysia still not totally out of the game, there was pressure on Charmaine and Huifen to make their shots count, especially since chances were hard to come by in the quarter with a game-low 21 goal attempts made by both teams.
Most of the fourth quarter’s action took place outside of the shooting circle as the teams worked to get the ball to their Goal Shooters and Goal Attack. When the ball found its way into Charmaine’s hands in one instance, she tried to make space in the shooting circle for a shot and got into a tangle with Malaysia’s Nur Shamilia (GD).
An amused Charmaine said, “I nearly fought with their Goal Defence. She tripped my leg, I was trying to get up and her leg was still there. She was staring at me. She contacted my ball (while Charmaine was in possession of it) so I was like ‘Excuse me?’ Then, after that, she didn’t get into position … she just stared at me … But I’m [sic] still going to play that shot.”
That fighting spirit was coursing through the Singapore team as the harassing and leaping defenders (Qingyi and Premila swapped positions for the last quarter) restricted the Malaysians to seven goals from just nine attempts in the quarter. Singapore held out for the win and will look forward to a final against Sri Lankan opponents previously denied victory on home soil in 2012 and who would be looking to turn the tables on Singapore tomorrow.
Ruth said, “The girls know they’ve played a game today, but now it’s all about our recovery and sorting out our game plan … and finishing with a flourish. Tomorrow, we’ve just got to give it everything and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Sri Lanka beat Hong Kong 57-42 in the other semi-final, which saw the two teams separated by a mere point (24-23 in Sri Lanka’s favour) at half-time. Sri Lankan captain and Goal Attack, Shashika Samarasinghe, said, “It will be a tight game tomorrow. Last Asian Championships, they (Singapore) won it by one point. My girls will do their best … to win the championship again.”
The final starts at 4pm tomorrow at the OCBC Arena. Tickets are on sale on site.
Scores by Quarter
Singapore vs Malaysia
1st Quarter: 15–12
2nd Quarter: 11–6 (26–18)
3rd Quarter: 12–14 (38–32)
4th Quarter: 8–7 (46–39)
Singapore Roster
Ang Shi Qi (WD), Anna Soo, Charmaine Soh (GS), Chen Huifen (GA), Chen Lili, Kimberly Lim (WA), Lin Qingyi (GK), Melissa Teo, Natalie Long, Nur Aqilah Afiqah Andin, Nurul Baizura (C, co vice-captain), Premila Hirubalan (GD)
Malaysia Roster
Suo Kuen Yap (WD), Fazira Mesnan, Nurul Adha (captain), Siti Nor Farhana (GK), Izyan Syazana (GA), Nur Shamilia (GD), Norashikin (GS), Noramirah Dayana, Pow Mei Foong (C), An Najwa, Shanmugam Shandralelka, Noor Azilah (WA)
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[…] Related Stories Singapore beat Japan 67–13 in opener Singapore beat Vietnam 84–8 for second straight win Singapore ease to 63–28 win over Hong Kong to virtually seal semi-final spot Singapore’s 73–20 win over India sets up semi-final clash with Malaysia Defending champions Singapore through to final with 46–39 win over Malaysia […]