Story and photos by Low Zheng Yu/Red Sports
Xavier Ng (AJC #13) blows past his defender to get to the hoop. He led his team with 21 points. (Photo 1 © Low Zheng Yu/Red Sports)
Jurong East Sports Hall, Friday, May 26, 2017 — Anderson Junior College (AJC) came up clutch down the stretch to secure the 75-67 victory against Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) in the final of the National A Division Basketball Championship.
With this win, AJC have emerged as the champions with a 10-0 win-loss record since their first round games. This is AJC’s first title since 1989.
On the other hand, HCI emerged as the first runners-up with a 7-3 win-loss record. They were in the same group as AJC in the first round and lost to AJC back then.
With the title on the line, both teams came to play. Xavier Ng (AJC #13) knocked down a three to start off the game. But HCI were quick to answer by making use of big man Keith Png (HCI #17) to score the easy under-basket. AJC responded with swift passing to get Edmund Leong (AJC #10) the open basket which he converted. As the play continued, Vernen Lim (HCI #35) of HCI got a steal and made the transition three to tie things up at five.
AJC and HCI continued to trade baskets with neither letting up. AJC were able to get a few defensive stops to pull away to 22-18. With time winding down, hot hands Vernen Lim (HCI #35) of HCI threw up a circus shot from way downtown with a defender in his face to beat the buzzer and cut AJC’s lead to one. AJC led 22-21 after the first quarter.
Travis Thong (HCI #0) converted on a fast-break attempt to start the second for HCI, but Edmund Leong (AJC #10) quickly answered by drawing the foul and knocking down both free-throws to give AJC the lead back. Greg G Tan (HCI #32) made an under-basket on the ensuing play as HCI stepped up defensively to get two steals and convert the baskets. They got another defensive stop once more and converted the basket to jump ahead with the seven-point lead.
Despite that, AJC were unfazed and continued to play on calmly. Xavier Ng (AJC #13) knocked down a wide open three as they went on a 7-0 run to tie things up at 31. Not letting AJC’s offensive surge affect them, Chua Qi Wei (HCI #4) answered with a three as HCI went on a run again to lead 43-35 at the end of the second quarter.
In the third, AJC drove in more for their shots, allowing them to draw fouls to get HCI into the penalty three minutes into the third. AJC were able to claw their way back in as Ram Sunda Putra S/O Sangaran V (AJC #25) went all the way to the rack for two to tie things up again at 43.
Vernen Lim (HCI #35) knocked down a three plus the foul which got the crowd erupting in thunderous cheers. He completed the four-point play and continued his hot shooting, scoring four of his seven three-point shots in that quarter for HCI to pull ahead by 11 points by the end of the third, their biggest lead of the game.
In the fourth, Mohamad Hilman B Mohamad I (AJC #5) and Xavier Ng (AJC (#13) knocked down a three-point shot each to start the fourth. Travis Thong (HCI #0) answered with a jumper but Xavier Ng (AJC #13) responded with a floater to keep things close. AJC went on a run to cut HCI’s lead down to three at 65-62.
However, things took a turn for HCI when Vernen Lim (HCI #35) suffered leg cramps and had to leave the game with six minutes left in the game. AJC were quick to jump on that opportunity as they quickly scored to tie things up at 67. On the ensuing play, Chen Kai Lin (AJC #7) got the offensive rebound and was fouled which sent him to the free-throw line. He went on to make one of two to give AJC their first lead since the beginning of the second quarter.
On AJC’s ensuing possession, Ram (AJC #25) drove all the way in for the floater to give AJC the three-point lead with 36.5 seconds left. While there was still a chance for HCI, they were not able to capitalize as Edmund Leong (AJC #10) of AJC got fouled in the process and knocked down two clutch free-throws to make it a two possession game with limited time left.
While HCI fouled to stop the clock, AJC were able to knock down free throws to increase their lead farther. AJC eventually took the game 75-67 as time expired to claim the title after being down for majority of the game.
Captain of AJC, Chen Kai Lin (AJC #7), commented, “I think we were inspired by our teacher-in-charge Mr Tan. It is his last day today as he is transferring already. We used him as a motivation to make the comeback and win the game. To my teammates, I just want to thank them for their hard work during training and perseverance throughout the game which allowed us to get the win.”
HCI captain, Brandon Wu (HCI #9), said, “I just want to say that I am very proud of everyone for working so hard, for being so committed and even though we didn’t win the championship, this is the best team I’ve ever had all my years of playing basketball.I am just very proud of this team. I also want to thank my coach for leading us through all these months and very thankful to have all our coaches giving us so much support.”
Scoring by Quarter
AJC vs HCI
1st Q: 22-21
2nd Q: 13-22 (35-43)
3rd Q: 15-18 (50-61)
4th Q: 25-06 (75-67)
Top Scorers
AJC
Ng Jun, Xavier (#13) – 21 pts
Edmund Leong En Ming (#10) – 15 pts
Chen Kai Lin (#7) – 14 pts
HCI
Vernen Lim Wei Lun (#35) – 28 pts (7 x three-pointers)
AJC Roster
Venneth Chua Chin Tat (#2), Han Li (#3), Mohamad Hilman B Mohamad I (#5), Chen Kai Lin (#7), Ryan Ignatius De Mello (#8), Ryan Tan Cheng Lee (#9), Edmund Leong En Ming (#10), Ng Jun, Xavier (#13), Yong Jun Wei (#17), Keith Tan Wei Long (#21), Wee Jin Sheng (#23), Ram Sunda Putra S/O Sangaran V (#25)
HCI Roster
Travis Thong Yu Heng (#0), Wei Yongxi (#1), Ng Koon Wei, Lloyd (#2), Chua Qi Wei (#4), Brandon Wu Kai Feng (#9), Ang Jun Xiang, Shaune (#11), Lee Yue Han (#15), Png Boon Kiat Keith (#17), Greg G Tan Jun Kai (#32), Vernen Lim Wei Lun (#35), Koh Jing Jie, Kenneth (#69), Cheah Yan (Xie Yan) (#91)
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