Story and photos by Low Zheng Yu/Red Sports
Pang Cheng Feng (SRJC #4) drives in for two. He had a game-high 21 points. (Photo 1 © Low Zheng Yu/Red Sports)
OCBC Arena, Monday, April 24, 2017 — Serangoon Junior College (SRJC) continued their unbeaten streak with the 55-46 victory over Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) in the National A Division Basketball Championship.
With this win, SRJC currently have a 5-0 win-loss record after defeating Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC), Anglo-Chinese School (International) (ACS Int’l), Saint Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) and Jurong Junior College (JJC) previously. They will advance into the next round as first of group D.
On the other hand, this game hands NYJC their first loss of the season. They have a 4-1 win-loss record after defeating ACJC, ACS Int’l, SAJC and JJC previously. They will advance as second of group D.
Entering the game, both teams were undefeated and vying for the first place of group D. Both teams were giving their all to try to get ahead of each other. Al Khalifa Bin Mazlan (NYJC #14) managed to draw a foul and made one of two free throws to score the first point of the game for NYJC.
However, Pang Cheng Feng (SRJC #4) of SRJC was not going to let NYJC to take the lead easily and answered by driving in on the ensuing play to draw the foul. He made both free throws to give SRJC the one point lead. Both teams continued to answer to the other’s plays but NYJC managed to get the upper hand to lead 12-11 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, SRJC played good defense to stop NYJC and went on a 5-0 run to quickly lead by four points. Wilbur Tan (NYJC #26) quickly answered with a layup to cut SRJC’s lead. However, SRJC continued to play well on both defensive and offensive end of the floor to outscore NYJC 17-6 in the second quarter. SRJC led 28-18 at the half.
NYJC would not give up, they continued to fight hard but faced with the strong defense of SRJC, their shooting rhythm were disrupted. NYJC could not hit their marks when they had the open looks. They were down nine points heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, NYJC started to find their groove and hit the shots they took. However, Pang Cheng Feng (SRJC #4) of SRJC had an answer all game long. He played big minutes throughout the game to score for SRJC. Not letting his height disadvantage affect him, he courageously drove in to where the tall NYJC centers are to score the layups or draw the foul. When left open outside, he knocked down the three point shots outside.
With no answer for Pang Cheng Feng (SRJC #4) and the SRJC defense, NYJC found themselves unable to cut the lead. SRJC eventually took the game 55-46 to stay undefeated while ending NYJC’s unbeaten streak.
Pang Cheng Feng (SRJC #4) said after the game, “The team’s morale kept me going. We have never gotten first in the group before and with both sides undefeated, there was nothing to lose. There was not much pressure so I just went out and play.”
“NYJC knew how to counter our big man hence we took more outside shots. This helped open up the post area for our centers to do their moves or for us to go in for the layups.”
Scoring by Quarter
SRJC vs NYJC
1st Q: 11-12
2nd Q: 17-06 (28-18)
3rd Q: 09-10 (37-28)
4th Q: 18-18 (55-46)
Top Scorers
SRJC
Pang Cheng Feng (#4) – 21 pts
NYJC
Al Khalifa Bin Mazlan (#14) – 12 pts
SRJC Roster
Chew Keng Horng (#1), Martin Chan Jie Kang (#3), Pang Cheng Feng (#4), Ong Chee Shawn Titus (#6), Lim Sheng Xiang (#7), Tan Wei Xuan (#11), Cheng Zheng Ting (#12), Cheng Kai Hooi (#13), Tan Boon Fong Ernest (#14), Edwin Lim Joon An (#19), Wu Shen Chou (Fredy) (#20), Toh Yi Cheng (#21)
NYJC Roster
Zhong Zhu Chen (#3), Jordan Ong (#5), Herng Ee (#6), James Lee (#7), Tan Jin Hui (#8), Dominic Poon (#9), Nicholas Quah (#10), Xu Zi Heng (#11), Leow Zhan Xian (#12), Al Khalifa Bin Mazlan (#14), Wu Can Heng (#20), Wilbur Tan (#26)
More photos next page
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