Story by Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports. Photos by Lim Yong Teck and Stefanus Ian/Red Sports.
Chin Wan Qing (#2) of Singapore Institute of Management is fouled on the drive by May Lim (#99) of Singapore Polytechnic. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
Singapore Polytechnic, Tuesday, January 30, 2018 — Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) got the best of their respective semi-final opponents to set up a second clash, this time in the final of the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic Women’s Basketball Championship.
Both SIM and NTU had met in the group stage, where SIM walked away with the 64-61 victory. But the story however, would be different for the final, as NTU were missing the presence of forward Amanda Lim (#9), who is away on an overseas exchange programme.
In the first semi-final, SIM defeated a gutsy Singapore Polytechnic (SP) team 83-59. After brushing off a slow start in the opening quarter, SIM, led by Chin Wan Qing (#2) and Pauline Ang (#15), stifled the hosts’ offensive plans from the second quarter on. Chin and Ang finished the game with 29 and 19 points respectively, while SP’s Tiana Ng (#35) scored a team-high 25 points.
“We woke up in the second quarter because we needed to push,” said Ang, crediting the team’s drive to their bonds and balanced player rotation.
“At the end of the day, it boils down to a matter of whether we want to win or not, and we play like it.”
The ball remained in NTU’s control for most of the second semi-final match, as the defending champions had their way around National University of Singapore (NUS), holding them to just 15 points going into the half. Sparked by Tang Choy Ting (#11), NUS made a push in the second half, but NTU had enough of a cushion to hold on to the 70-47 victory.
“A few of the younger players really stepped up and played very well, such as Wei Jing (#12) and Zi Yu (#18),” said Amelia Lee (#10).
“Seeing the rest of the team stepping up today, I don’t think it would be that much of a worry against SIM,” added Lee. “We’ll just go out there to play and have fun.”
The final and third place playoff will be held on Friday, February 2, at Singapore Polytechnic, with the latter commencing first at 7.15pm.
“There’s a fire in us to get back the title, and that’s what we want this year,” said SIM’s Ang. “Both teams played with a full squad in our opening game, so we’re just going to go out and give it our best.”
Scoring by quarters
SIM vs SP
1st Q: 19–20
2nd Q: 26–14 (45–34)
3rd Q: 19–15 (64–49)
4th Q: 19–10 (83–59)
NUS vs NTU
1st Q: 9–20
2nd Q: 6–15 (15–35)
3rd Q: 10–18 (25–53)
4th Q: 22–17 (47–70)
Top scorers
SIM
Chin Wan Qing (#2) — 29 points
Pauline Ang (#15) — 19 points
SP
Tiana Ng (#35) — 25 points
Mabel Koh (#7) — 12 points
NUS
Tang Choy Ting (#11) — 22 points
Michelle Chew (#12) — 11 points
NTU
Amelia Lee (#10) — 11 points
Shermaine See (#5) — 10 points
SIM Roster
Loo Qiao Yun (#1), Chin Wan Qing (#2), Vinnie Koh (#3), Jacqueline Tan (#4), Melissa Lim (#5), Panmeline Liew (#7), Jowilly Siew (#8), Cherry Tan (#11), Debbie Ngo (#12), Pauline Ang (#15), Janice Ong (#18), Juliana Ang (#19), Ngai Hui Min (#21), Tung Kah Hui (#33), Liang Qi Wei (#87)
SP Roster
Charmaine Lam (#3), Mabel Koh (#7), Choy Qi Yi (#8), Leo Swee Tze (#9), Natrasha Binte Muhd Zaky (#11), Vivian Lim (#14), Loh Li Ying (#21), Lim Zhixing (#22), Han Xingyue (#24), Syahidah Binte Mohd Hashim (#25), Jayne Chan (#30), Tiana Ng (#35), Casey Baguilat Perdido (#41), Cleo Sim (#44), May Lim (#99)
NUS Roster
Bernice Yeo (#4), Valerie Chua (#6), Carisia Lee (#7), Mavis Chng (#8), Ong Jia Le (#10), Tang Choy Ting (#11), Michelle Chew (#12), Leah-Diane Warden Xiu Yu (#13), Yvonne See (#14), Chok Xin Yan (#15), Kong Yu Qi (#21), Kristerbel Pang (#29), Nichole (#59)
NTU Roster
Ong Sze Ming (#2), Sheryl Ng (#4), Shermaine See (#5), Si Xu Vongsuvanish (#6), Amanda Lim (#9), Amelia Lee (#10), Jeanette Kee (#11), Woon Wei Jing (#12), Chen Jingyi (#13), Winnchis Yap (#15), Foo Yuan Ru (#16), Au Zi Yu (#18), Lee Yu Zhen (#21), Chua Cunfang (#29), Louise Yip (#77)
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