Story by REDintern Gabriel Goh and Zachary Foo/Red Sports. Photos by Laura Lee/Red Sports
Liau Li Jiang (PHS #11) eyes the basket against Tanjong Katong. (Photo 1 © Laura Lee/Red Sports)
Clementi Sports Hall, Wednesday, March 26, 2014 — Presbyterian High School (PHS) defeated Tanjong Katong Secondary (TKSS) 54-20 in their second match of the National B Division Boys Basketball Championship.
This win puts Presbyterian High joint-top of Group A with a 2–0 win–loss record, along with Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road). Tanjong Katong fall to 0–2 in the group and they are now eliminated from the championship.
Nigel Ng (PHS #5) led all scorers with 11 points, while Muhammad Naqib (TKSS #9) hit two three-pointers to go along with a modest eight team-high points.
Presbyterian High had been administering full-court presses to earn themselves easy baskets in the first half, but waned away during the second half when they did not protect the ball well. This allowed the Tanjong Katong players to regain a foothold in the game to score 10 points by the fourth quarter of the game.
With his lanky frame and agile play, key playmaker Liau Li Jiang (PHS #11) unlocked the Tanjong Katong defence to swarm their area all afternoon. Presbyterian High were able to find the open man in the paint each time, allowing them to make easy baskets.
Tanjong Katong seemed hesitant on offence throughout the game. They were unable to go into their set plays each time they initiated their offence. They only managed to find some success scoring the ball in the final quarter.
“At the end of the day, we lost because we were too nervous. It was our first time in the Nationals, and we didn’t call for passes and protect the ball well. This made us lose turnovers to Presbyterian High,” said Muhammad Naqib (TKSS #9).
Indeed this was evident in the game’s final quarter, with the Tanjong Katong players seeing their good build-up play destroyed by Presbyterian High. Presbyterian High players would get into the passing lanes, easily stealing or deflecting their passes for fast breaks.
“We don’t think we played our best, as our defence was weaker than our offence,” said Nigel Ng (PHS #5).
Presbyterian High player Liau Li Jiang (#11) commented that his team would springboard from this win to further increase their record of a current two wins in the Nationals. Staying behind to observe their next opponents, Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road), in their second Group A win over New Town, he added that “our aim is to win as National Champions”.
Tanjong Katong Secondary will face New Town Secondary while Presbyterian High School will face Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) in their final Group A matches. Both matches will be held concurrently at Clementi Sports Hall on Tuesday, April 1, at 4.30pm.
Scoring by Quarter
Tanjong Katong vs Presbyterian High
1st Q: 7-19
2nd Q: 3–12 (10–31)
3rd Q: 2–13 (12–44)
4th Q: 8–10 (20–54)
Top Scorers
Tanjong Katong
Muhammad Naqib (#9) – 8 points
Presbyterian High
Nigel Ng (#5) – 11 points
Tanjong Katong Roster
Joshua Lim Tsu Oon (#4), Justin Cheu Zhao Yi (#5), Nikos Ho Wei Liang (#6), Chrispin Andereas (#7), Ivan Sng Wei Xiang (#8), Muhammad Naqib Bin Borhan (#9), Jaydon Chong Wei Ler (#10), Kent Lim Zhi Xuan (#11), Nathan Julian Mark Thangamany (#12), Whilce Lorenzo Morales Umandap (#13), Shameer Harjit (#14), Yang Yang (#15)
Presbyterian High Roster
Ryan Tan (#4), Nigel Ng (#5), Ejin Tan (#6), Tng Zhi Cai (#7), Eugene Han (#8), Lin Sheng Xiang (#9), Jeryl Neo (#10), Liau Li Jiang (#11), Joel Kwok (#12), Dylan Lee (#13), Lim Zhi Cong (#14), Sana Adams Lizo (#15)
2014 National B Division Boys Basketball Championship – fixtures and results
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