By Koh Yizhe/Red Sports. Photos by Joseph Lee/Red Sports
Teh Kai Yuan (Nanyang #7) tries to spin around his Nee Soon opponent. (Photo 1 © Joseph Lee/Red Sports)
Woodlands Sports Hall, Sunday, September 9, 2012 — Nee Soon U Sports brushed Nanyang CSC aside 85-49 in the final of the Singapore National Games men’s basketball competition to take the inaugural title.
Larry Liew (Nee Soon #11) scored 16 of his game-high 27 points in the first quarter as Nee Soon accumulated a huge 33-9 lead after the first 10 minutes. It was never really a contest from there as Nee Soon continued to extend their lead till the end of the match.
“I expected the game to be closer,” commented 19-year-old Larry.
“I guess we’re a younger side so we had a lot of energy when we started the match and they couldn’t keep up. I think my performance wasn’t too bad, but I still have areas to improve on like my stamina.”
Nee Soon, boasting a young squad consisting of a couple of national age-group players, played with an intense pace, quickly going 22-6 up within eight minutes of play. Larry was on fire, scoring the last 11 points, including three three-pointers, in the final two minutes of the first period.
Nanyang had no answer to their younger opponents’ speed and energy and it showed as they found themselves staring at a huge deficit after the first quarter.
After a blistering first quarter, Nee Soon opted to rest starters Russel Low (#5) and Larry at the start of the second period. That allowed Nanyang to mount a mini come-back and they managed to outscore Nee Soon 15-14 in the second quarter. Joe So (#14), assistant coach of the national team, carried Nanyang in this quarter, scoring a three-pointer before driving to the basket for a layup.
With a minute left in the quarter, things got heated up when Yau Jin Quan and Zhou Zhen Qiang were ejected after a scuffled broke out involving Jin Quan and Zhen Jie. It was a short break of play, but fortunately, cool heads prevailed and the match continued with little other disturbances.
Taking a 47-27 lead into the third quarter, Nee Soon were in a very comfortable position. That might have led to a little complacency which resulted in some poor choices with their shots and a few turnovers as well.
However, Nanyang were unable to capitalize and they were punished when Poh Wei Hao (Nee Soon #2) nailed three straight shots from beyond the arc to extend their lead to 63-39.
There was little doubt of the result from that point as Nee Soon maintained the intensity and finished the match on a high note, nailing five three-pointers as a team. They won the last quarter comfortably 22-10 to claim the title 85-49.
“We lost to the better side,” said Joe So, one of the senior members of Nanyang CSC.
“They took away our normal game and our rhythm with their speed early on and we pretty much lost the match in the first quarter. That was the key part of the game. They’re a younger side so they probably recovered fast from their semi-final (the previous day).”
“Still, we’re happy to be here. We upset a couple of strong teams along the way, so we’re just happy to have played in the final,” added Joe.
Scores by Quarter
Nee Soon vs Nanyang
1st Q: 33-9
2nd Q: 14-15 (47-24)
3rd Q: 16-15 (63-39)
4th Q: 22-10
Final score: 85-49
Nee Soon U Sports Roster
Pung Jia Wei (#1), Poh Wei Hao (#2), Zhou Zhen Jie (#3), Russel Low Wen Qiang (#5), Marc Francis J Palero (#7), Edwin Tan Zhi Xiang (#9), Ng Bing Yao (#10), Larry Liew Hua Sen (#11), Wu Qing De (#12), Zhou Zhen Qiang (#13)
Nanyang Roster
Lim Fang Ching (#5), Emgeeyar Gopal (#6), Teh Kai Yuan (#7), Yau Jin Jian (#9), Lee Kendy (#10), Leong Xiu Han (#11), Yau Jin Quan (#13), Joe So Kwang Loong (#14), Cheong Wei Zhun (#15), Goh Pei Zong (#16), Ong Wei Loon Daryl (#17), Yap Chin Poh (#18)
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