Story by Chan Hua Zheng/Red Sports. Photos by Dylan Chua/ Red Sports.

Jerome Soh (IYJC #24) rises for a lay-up on his way to a game-high 11 points. (Photo 1 © Dylan Chua/Red Sports)

Jerome Soh (IYJC #24) rises for a lay-up on his way to a game-high 11 points. (Photo 1 © Dylan Chua/Red Sports)

Singapore Basketball Centre, Wednesday, April 25, 2018 — Innova-Yishun Junior College (IYJC) cruised past Tampines Junior College (TPJC) to close out the preliminary round with a 62–37 victory in the National A Division Basketball Championship.

Ye Xinyu (IYJC #7) and Jerome Soh (IYJC #24) both led IYJC with 11 points apiece, while Ryan Mok (IYJC #1) added 10 points. TPJC was led by Sie Ker Shin (TPJC #5) and Nigel Yap (TPJC #6), with both scoring 8 points.

It was a tightly contested first quarter as both teams traded baskets with one another, resulting in four lead changes between both teams over the first 10 minutes. IYJC held the upper hand at the end of the first quarter as they held a 17–14 lead.

The second quarter saw both teams playing at an uptempo pace as they looked to score quick baskets. However, the results were contrasting for both sides as IYJC executed well in moving the ball quickly up-court for quick baskets while TPJC struggled with turnovers that cost them offensive possessions.

As a result, IYJC were able to amass a 14–2 scoring run over the entire second quarter that gave them a 31–16 lead over TPJC heading into half-time.

TPJC came out of the half-time break hustling hard on the offensive boards and were able to grab a few offensive boards for second-chance points. On one play, Sie Ker Shin (TPJC #5) was able to grab an offensive board over two defenders and scored the put-back basket plus the foul.

However, TPJC were unable to shake off their struggles with turnovers as they often find themselves swarmed by the IYJC defence. At the end of the third, TPJC found themselves down 21–41 to IYJC.

TPJC had their best offensive output in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 points as they started to find their shooting stroke while also hustling on the offensive boards for second-chance points.

However, they were unable to contain IYJC on the defensive end as they often found themselves a step behind, conceding points in the paint and in transition.

As a result, IYJC were able to outscore 21 points in the final quarter to seal a 62–37 victory at the final buzzer.

IYJC finished their season with a 2–2 win-loss record to finish 3rd in Group D while TPJC finished 4th in Group D with a 1–3 record to end their season.

Scoring by Quarter
IYJC vs TPJC
1st Quarter: 17–14
2nd Quarter: 14–2 (31–16)
3rd Quarter: 10–5 (41–21)
4th Quarter: 21–16 (62–37)

Top Scorers
IYJC
Ye Xinyu (#7) — 11 points
Jerome Soh Zheng Hao (#24) — 11 points
Ryan Mok Zhi Chao (#1) — 10 points

TPJC
Sie Ker Shin (#5) — 8 points
Nigel Yap Wei Ming (#6) — 8 points

IYJC Roster
Ethan Song Wei Yang (#0), Ryan Mok Zhi Chao (#1), Lau Ming Han (#2), Choy Seng En (#3), Wong Chun Hou (#5), Ye Xinyu (#7), Ryan Christopher Lie (#8), James Tuen Ming Gui (#10), Tan Jun Nan (#11), Tan Aik Phan (#14), Jerome Soh Zheng Hao (#24), Vance Chew (#30)

TPJC Roster
Ranen Tan (#4), Sie Ker Shin (#5), Nigel Yap Wei Ming (#6), Kisan Rai (#7), Deon Goh Jer Yit (#8), Liang Jun Kang (#9), Churchill Ho Fenghuai (#10), Ken Tan Hao Ming (#11), Daryl Teo Jun Wei (#12), Eng Chin Long (#13), Alias Tony Chen Kai Che (#14), Reily Lim Wei Yang (#15)

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