Story by Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports.
Zoel Lee (#7) of Republic Polytechnic shoots the ball against Ronald Yip (#11) of Nanyang Technological University. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
Singapore Polytechnic, Tuesday, January 30, 2018 — Thanks to a clutch trey by Zoel Lee (#7) with 26 seconds remaining in overtime, Republic Polytechnic (RP) defeated defending champions Nanyang Technological University (NTU) 81-75 and are on their way to their first Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Basketball Championship final appearance since 2013.
In a match that was only decided in the overtime period, team-mates Lavin Raj (#23) and Tng Zhi Cai (#2) paced the team with 27 and 16 points respectively. Lee finished with 19 points, including five three-pointers, but none mattered more than the last.
“It was a bit scary when I released the ball, but when I made the shot, the feeling was very good,” said Lee, who is in his final year at RP.
“This is the first time that we managed to beat NTU, in all of my three years at RP, and it feels good to bring the school back to the IVP final.”
NTU, who lost centre Russel Low, due to his Singapore Slingers’ commitment, and guard Jabez Su to injury, were led by 27 points from Lyon Chia (#4). Chia’s sharp shooting kept them in the game throughout, but costly turnovers by NTU in the overtime period threw the game away.
In the other semi-final, a balanced National University of Singapore (NUS) team breezed by Temasek Polytechnic (TP), beating the latter 76-62 to secure a berth in the final.
While Lester Ng (#6) and Johrathon Cheok (#2) paved the way offensively for NUS, contributing 21 and 14 points respectively, it was the defensive effort of the bigs that set the tone for the match.
“It definitely feels great to win the semi-final,” said Cheok. “Last year, we just missed out on the final, and this year, we’re finally back.”
On the team’s plans heading into the final, Cheok said: “We’ll just stick to our routine and do what we’re doing.”
The third place playoff will pit NTU and TP against each other, while RP and NUS will face off in the final. Both matches will be played at Singapore Polytechnic on Friday, February 2, and will commence at 7.15pm.
Scoring by quarters
TP vs NUS
1st Q: 11–17
2nd Q: 15–19 (26–36)
3rd Q: 22–24 (48–60)
4th Q: 14–16 (62–76)
RP vs NTU
1st Q: 20–16
2nd Q: 12–21 (32–37)
3rd Q: 20–17 (52–54)
4th Q: 17–15 (69–69)
OT: 12–06 (81–75)
Top scorers
TP
Muhammad Naqib (#20) — 21 points
Terry Peter Lua (#2) — 12 points
NUS
Lester Ng (#6) — 21 points
Johrathon Cheok (#2) — 14 points
RP
Lavin Raj (#23) — 27 points
Zoel Lee (#7) — 19 points
Tng Zhi Cai (#2) — 16 points
NTU
Lyon Chia (#4) — 27 points
Tok Jian Sheng (#0) — 15 points
Liau Ming Shun (#17) — 10 points
TP Roster
Mohamed Shukri (#0), Dinesh Rajandhran (#2), Christian Pepito (#4), Terry Peter Lua (#9), Zhai Si Ming (#10), Sherman Seet (#11), Danon Chien (#15), Muhammad Naqib (#20), Clement Sim (#21), Jordan Lee (#23), Toh Jing Jie (#24), Eugene Chua (#25), Chaw Ji Keong (#77)
NUS Roster
Terry Tan (#1), Johrathon Cheok (#2), Chan Chun Cheong (#4), Han Jun Seo (#5), Lester Ng (#6), Clement Chan (#8), Auston Quek (#9), Chan Wai Hon (#10), Raymond Loo (#13), Leong Kai Yuan (#15), Mohd Danish Han (#17), Dillon Low (#27), Goh Kong Tat (#66), Rola Oyekanmi (#88)
RP Roster
Andrew Tang (#0), Andy Yeow (#1), Tng Zhi Cai (#2), Ling Yoke Ming (#6), Zoel Lee (#7), Marco Kok (#8), Chan Jia Yuan (#9), Hiew Zi Jie (#10), Daniel Poh (#12), Hiew Zi Wei (#13), Abdul Rahman (#16), Goh Jun Xian (#20), Lavin Raj (#23), Eddy Chew (#29), Desmond Loh (#32)
NTU Roster
Tok Jian Sheng (#0), Jabez Su (#3), Lyon Chia (#4), Rymond Neo (#5), Chun Wang Xuan (#6), Kan Wei Huat (#8), Brian Wong (#9), Ronald Yip (#11), Pek Yong Kang (#13), Tan Zhi Sen (#14), Liau Ming Shun (#17), Seah Chin Seng (#24), Justin Lim (#25), Yiew Zhi Heng (#27), Sean Hoo (#30)
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