Story and photos by Low Zheng Yu/Red Sports
Vernen Lim (HCI #35) goes in for the tough basket. He tied for a game-high 15 points with Danny Goh (#18) of RI. (Photo 1 © Low Zheng Yu/Red Sports)
OCBC Arena, Monday, May 8, 2017 — Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) came up clutch on both ends of the floor to get the 52-47 victory over Raffles Institution (RI) in the National A Division Basketball Championship.
With this win, HCI improve to a 5-1 win-loss record since their first round games. They will be up against Pioneer Junior College next.
On the other hand, this loss dropped RI to a 5-1 record and they will play against Nanyang Junior College next.
As soon as the ball was tipped, both sides got to work. Both sides played defense with high intensity to prevent any easy scoring, but HCI were able to get ahead and lead by two with a score of 9-7 after the first quarter.
Despite that, the defending champions were unfazed and came out to play in the second. Led by Danny Goh (RI #18), the skillful big man, RI were able to make use of his height advantage to score on several occasions.
Krison Sum (RI #12), despite being one of the smallest on court, was unafraid of playing among giants. He skillfully maneuvered through the HCI defense to set up his teammates for easy baskets. With that, RI were able to jump ahead with the lead.
HCI were not in the least intimidated and continued to play ball. Vernen Lim (HCI #35) heated up and knocked down two three-point shots in the second quarter to keep things close for HCI. Lee Yue Han (HCI #15) of HCI also played big defensively to restrain Danny Goh (RI #18) from scoring at will.
Going into the fourth, RI were up five points. Both sides continued to fight hard to get the possession to score. However Krison Sum (RI #12), the key play-maker for RI, fouled out. This was a blow as he was the one who coordinated the RI offense. Despite that, RI continued to play on calmly.
Without Krison Sum (RI #12), HCI took advantage and upped their defensive intensity to force turnovers and prevent easy shots from RI. They capitalised on their offense to try and cut the lead. HCI finally got a breakthrough after a good team defense led to a jumper from Chua Qiwei (HCI #4) to cut the lead to one. He went on to draw a foul and tied things up after making one of two free-throws.
On the ensuing play, after another good defense which got them the turnover, Vernen Lim (HCI #35) was able to streak ahead for the fast-break. However RI were able to get back on the transition defense. Despite that, Vernen Lim (HCI #35) was unafraid and drove in to challenge his defender. It was good defense by RI to make it a tough shot for Vernen Lim (HCI #35) without fouling but even better offense by Vernen Lim (HCI #35) to make the tough floater over his defender.
With that, HCI got the lead and momentum on their side and did not give up the hard-fought lead easily. They held their own on the defensive end to stop RI from scoring and were able to draw fouls and make free throws to increase their lead.
With time expiring, RI were not able to find an answer on their offensive end. HCI eventually outlasted RI to take the game 52-47.
Vernen Lim, (HCI #35) who made the shot that gave HCI the lead in crunch time, commented, “It was a tie game and there was about 40 seconds left. Coach wanted us to take a quick shot. During that fast-break, when I realised there was only a defender, I went in and pulled up for the floater and was able to make the shot.”
“I feel we were able to make the come back due to our defense. It was the team effort that got us back into the game. RI put up a very good fight and I wish them all the best for their future matches.”
Scoring by Quarter
HCI vs RI
1st Q: 09-07
2nd Q: 13-17 (22-24)
3rd Q: 13-16 (35-40)
4th Q: 17-07 (52-47)
Top Scorers
HCI
Vernen Lim (#35) – 15 pts
RI
Danny Goh (#18) – 15 pts
HCI Roster
Travis Thong (#0), Wei Yongxi (#1), Lloyd Ng (#2), Chua Qiwei (#4), Brandon Wu (#9), Sheng Kiat (#10), Shaune Ang (#11), Shengwei (#13), Lee Yue Han (#15), Keith Png (#17), Greg G Tan (#32), Vernen Lim (#35), Ray (#54), Kenneth Koh (#69), Cheah Yan (#91)
RI Roster
Jethro Kwong (#0), Denzel Tan (#5), Leonard Tay (#6), Yu Fan Neo (#7), Marcus Soon (#9), Qirong Wang (#10), Krison Sum (#12), Jaedon Tan (#14), Xin Zhe (#16), Danny Goh (#18), Jiawei Liu (#22), Ejin Tan (#23)
More photos next page
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