Story and photos by Les Tan/Red Sports
Alden Toh of Anti-John drives to the basket. His team beat AJOJ 17-10 to win the U-17 final. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Anglican High School, Sunday, June 19, 2016 — Three days of competition saw 3-on-3 basketball champions emerge in the Singapore Youth Olympic Festival (SYOF).
A total of 71 boys’ teams took part in the under-17 and u-15 categories.
3-on-3 Basketball is one of 11 sports making up the SYOF. The other sports are athletics, fencing, badminton, football 7s, rugby 7s, sailing, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, and volleyball.
The U-17 boys final saw Anti-John beat AJOJ 17-10 to finish the tournament with a perfect 7-0 win-loss record.
Anti-John, made up of Darren Ng, Alden Toh, Zhikang Lim, Roshan Ahmad, and Eugene Han, led from start to finish in the final.
They jumped out to a 6-1 lead and although they saw their lead trimmed to three at one point (10-7), they put together a 7-0 run to wrap up a 17-10 win.
Said Roshan Ahmad, “The most fun I had in the tournament is just playing with these guys. I think our best game was in the semis – it was the toughest because there was a lot of physical play. It was a two-point win (17-15) and the game went to OT (against Team DBHJ).”
Team DBHJ, made up of Lin Bak Hin, Dion Tan Jian Xiang, and Jovan Teo Zhi Chao, held off Twork 12-10 to win the playoff for third place.
The trio, who also play for Siglap Basketball Club, amassed a 7-1 win-loss record with only three players.
Said Jovan, “The tournament is quite competitive and good fun.”
In the U-15 boys’ final, Bukit Panjang CSC were comfortable 21-8 winners over Rainclouds. It was the only final where the winning team hit 21 points to bring the game to an end before regulation time.
The team was made up of Joshua Lim, Chua Kai Xuan, both of Catholic High, and Shaun Ong of Jurong Secondary.
Said Shaun, “It was fun playing together with my teammates. People take this tournament seriously.”
The three players, who got to know each through the National Schools championships, intend to sign up for 3-on-3 Basketball at the upcoming Singapore National Games.
The playoff for third place in the U-15 category was a much closer affair.
NAS, made up of Ho Guan Hui, Ryan Chan, Maran Markus, and Ambrose Quek, eked out a come-from-behind 11-10 win over Char Kway Teow (CKT), made up of Ulric Tan, Josiah Ong, Soh Zhenyu, and Javan Ong.
CKT built an early 6-2 lead but NAS, whose players all come from Ngee Ann Secondary, tied it up at 6-6 off a 2-pointer by Ambrose Quek.
CKT pulled away again to lead 8-6 but Ambrose again tied it up at 8-8. NAS then pulled away, with Markus getting an and-1 to put his team up by two points at 10-8. A late surge from CKT could not stop NAS winning 11-10 at the final buzzer.
NAS, who were all 14 year olds, finished the tournament with a 4-2 win-loss record.
Said Markus regarding the 3rd/4th playoff game, “It was a tough fight. They were good opponents. We were losing but we didn’t give up.”
Said Zhenyu of CKT, whose players first met each other while playing basketball at Ayer Rajah CC, “Everyone has been really competitive. It’s a whole new experience playing with different people round Singapore. We gained a lot experience and I believe it can help us in our season.”
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