Story and photos by Low Zheng Yu/Red Sports
Priscilla Wong (RP #5) shoots the three over her defender. She made seven three-point shots during the game. (Photo 1 © Low Zheng Yu/Red Sports)
RP Sports Complex, Friday, June 24, 2017 — A Three-point barrage by Republic Polytechnic (RP) gave them the 77-40 victory against Singapore Management University (SMU) in the National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) Basketball League.
This win gives RP a 2-1 win-loss record. They defeated Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) but lost to Nanyang Technological University (NTU) previously. They will be up against Singapore Polytechnic (SP) next.
On the other hand, SMU drop
To a 0-2 win-loss record. They lost to SP previously and will play against NTU next.
Both sides got off to a good start and traded baskets. However, Au Li Jun (SMU #14) knocked down a jumper before the first quarter ended to give SMU the two-point edge.
However, RP were not in the least affected. The first quarter was just a warm up as they took their game to another level in the second quarter. Priscilla Wong (RP #5) and Chia Siu Wei (RP #10) took turns scoring three-pointers. They scored four consecutive threes to pull ahead. RP also upped their full court defensive pressure, forcing many turnovers off SMU.
RP capitalized on these turnovers to increase their lead farther with transition baskets. RP outscored SMU 30-4 in the second quarter and were up 42-18 at the half.
SMU took the half-time break to compose themselves and put up a fight in the second half. Lee Si Yi (SMU #1) and Au Li Jun (SMU #14) led the offensive charge with 14 points each. Despite that, SMU were unable to contain RP’s scoring streak.
RP were raining threes all game long, knocking down 11 three-point shots in total during the game. Priscilla Wong (RP #5) contributed seven threes while Chia Siu Wei (RP #10) and Avaline Teng (RP #28) knocked down three and one respectively. Priscilla (RP #5) also had a game-high 21 points from her seven three-point shots.
With no solution for RP’s sharp shooting, RP eventually cruised past SMU 77-40.
Captain Eng Mun Ling (RP #11) commented, “Actually in the first quarter, we weren’t really ready for the game yet. But as the game goes by, we actually communicated more. In our first quarter, our defense wasn’t really well done even though we looked like we were running a lot and putting in effort. But there was still something lacking. So in the second quarter, we communicated more and touched up on our defense.”
“For our team, we are quite small sized, we don’t have a big center to get our rebounds and all. But we actually have a few good shooters, so our strategy was to make sure they have at least one or two seconds to follow through with their shots and not rush their shots. We dish out a lot to them so that they can get their points which one of our teammates Priscilla (RP #5) managed to do. She made a lot of three-pointers for us.
“SMU have a few key players who are very experienced and can carry the team very well. Their offense actually scares us. However for RP, as we don’t really do half court defense, we actually push it up to full court defense to give them the pressure earlier so that they cannot really set their plays in the first place and I think we did well in that today.”
Scoring by Quarter
RP vs SMU
1st Q: 12-14
2nd Q: 30-04 (42-18)
3rd Q: 17-14 (59-32)
4th Q: 18-08 (77-40)
Top Scorers
RP
Priscilla Wong Ting Hui (#5) – 21 pts
Chia Siu Wei (#10) – 15 pts
SMU
Lee Si Yi (#1) – 14 pts
Au Li Jun (#14) – 14 pts
RP Roster
Ng Xin Yi (#2), Chang Xuan Zhen (#3), Priscilla Wong Ting Hui (#5), Nur Illimahira Bte Noryazid (#6), Goh Sai Kin Alvina (#7), Chng Ying Jie Carinne (#8), Chua Wen Fang (#9), Chia Siu Wei (#10), Eng Mun Ling (#11), Sheryl Koh Huiqi (#12), Sharmaine Low (#13), Teng Hui Yi Sarry (#15), Loh Yun Xuan (#21), Tan Jun Xiu (#23), Desiree Lee Si Qi (#24), Siti Nur Fatin Bte Mohd Fazli (#25), Paulina Gracia B Baliwag (#27), Avaline Teng Wei Shi (#28), Mariah Franzciel V Nalzaro (#30)
SMU Roster
Lee Si Yi (#1), Tan Hui Si (#5), Centaine Alexandra (#6), Soh Jia Xuan (#6), Bella Tan Jia Le (#7), Joey Tan (#8), Zhu Rui Jie (#9), Tan Wan Mei Sara (#10), Chong Yong Ching Rachel (#11), Au Li Jun (#14), Lui Si Xuan (#18), Ong Jia Hui (#22)
NYSI Basketball League – fixtures and results
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