By Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports
Yidai (VJC #10) goes up against Bennett (TJC #8). Yidai poured in 19 points to propel his team to victory. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
Clementi Sports Hall, Friday, April 26, 2013 — Victoria Junior College held on in overtime to defeat Temasek Junior College 36–35 in the National A Division Boys’ Basketball Championship.
The game was a low-scoring one that saw multiple tight contests and lead changes. Both teams had difficulties converting their shots and free throw attempts.
With three minutes left in the first quarter, VJC’s Yuan Ning Yidai (#10) sank a layup to put his team up three (4–7) but TJC answered with two successful free throws by Ng Ying Jie (#9) and a jumper by Wang Gan Wei (#13). The quarter with a 8–7 lead.
In the second quarter, both teams were equally matched on the scoreboard with six points apiece. With just under a minute in play, two consecutive baskets from TJC’s Ying Jie (#9) and Gan Wei (#13) helped to extend TJC’s lead to three. VJC did not give up as Yidai (#10) sped up court and sank a buzzer-beating layup to end the half trailing 14–13.
The second half opened with VJC taking a two-point lead (14–16) with Yidai (#10) scoring a free throw and a layup. TJC’s Kuan Jin Tat (#5) responded quickly to tie the game at 16 apiece. VJC eventually outscored TJC, taking a 22–20 lead into the fourth.
Just seconds into the fourth quarter, TJC’s Gan Wei (#13) tied the game at 22–22 with a baseline jumper. After a series of baskets, Ying Jie (#9) sank a tough layup to put TJC up 28–26. With just a minute in play, Yidai (#10) drew a foul and calmly converted two free throws to tie the game. In the remaining seconds, VJC’s Sheng Xuan (#4) and Keith Zhang (#15) had the chance to seal the game, but they missed all six free throw attempts, sending the game into overtime.
In the overtime period, TJC began their offence with a three-pointer from Bennett Tan (#8). This was followed by Joel Chong (#11) converting a steal and a layup, which gave TJC their largest lead of the game at 33–28. VJC responded with Ho Jian Qing (#12) sinking a short jumper, but was quickly met with Lim Zhi Wei (#6)’s shots as he kept the TJC lead at five points.
However, Yidai (#10) kept VJC’s hopes alive. In the final 30 seconds, the speedy Yidai (#10) shouldered the offensive load and made three straight steals and three tough layups. With the quick six points from Yidai, VJC held on to win the game 36–35.
VJC’s captain, Yidai, commented: “It was really tough. We did not secure our free throws and rebounds. But I’m proud of the team because we fought back. We actually faced a similar situation last year against Dunman High and we made sure we did not make the same mistakes this year.”
Score by Quarter
TJC vs VJC
1st Quarter: 8–7
2nd Quarter: 6–6 (14–13)
3rd Quarter: 6–9 (20–22)
4th Quarter: 8–6 (28–28)
Overtime: 7–8 (35–36)
Top Scorers
TJC
Wang Gan Wei (#13) — 10 points
Ng Ying Jie (#9) — 8 points
VJC
Yuan Ning Yidai (#10) — 19 points
TJC Roster
Sheng Xuan (#4), Kuan Jin Tat (#5), Lim Zhi Wei (#6), Eugene Goh Chin Wei (#7), Tan Shixu Bennett (#8), Ng Ying Jie (#9), Seo Kyung Pyo (#10), Joel Chong Kar Ron (#11), Ng Mingxuan (#12), Wang Gan Wei (#13), Shao Shibo (#14), Cheng Meng Yue (#15)
VJC Roster
Poh Wei Tai (#4), Teng Wye Kit (#5), Tan Guan Yu (#6), Keith Yap (#7), Balasubramanian (#8), Cheng Weibin (#9), Yuan Ning Yidai (#10), Chen Yan Kun (#11), Ho Jian Qing (#12), Danny Han (#13), Wesley Woo (#14), Keith Zhang (#15)
2013 National A Division Boys’ Basketball Championship – fixtures and results
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