Story by REDintern Charles Lim. Photos by Chan Hua Zheng/Red Sports.
Victor Lai (EJC #1) pulls up for a jumper. He finished with a game-high 12 points. (Photo 1 © Chan Hua Zheng/Red Sports)
Singapore Basketball Centre, Wednesday, April 25, 2018 — Eunoia Junior College (EJC) inched past Hwa Chong International School (HCIS) to clinch a narrow 35-28 win in the Preliminary Round of the National A Division Basketball Championships. However, this win does not qualify Eunoia for the second round as River Valley High School did not manage to overcome Catholic Junior College on the other court.
Winning the tip off, Eunoia made quick work and made the basket with Jaron Tan (EJC #6) who drove into the paint. This basket was quickly answered by Lin Hao (HCIS #28) who scored a 3-point shot. With stoic defence from both sides, it was a low scoring quarter ending with HCIS being up one point 9-8.
The second quarter saw numerous failed shot attempts from both teams as they were unable to convert fast-break points off turnovers. Maintaining a tight scoreline, Eunoia gained a slight edge with Captain (EJC #1) making 2 consecutive fast-break baskets off clean steals, ending the quarter 14-13.
Maintaining his momentum from the earlier quarter, Victor Lai (EJC #1) made an and one play early in the 3rd quarter. Eunoia proceeded to widen the gap to a 3-point lead, ending the quarter 25-22. On the team taking the lead, Victor (EJC #1) commented “We put up a half court press on the opposition from 2nd quarter onwards, forcing more turnovers and hence taking the lead.”
In the final minutes of the last quarter, HCIS managed to claw back and reduce their deficit back to one point at 28-29. However due to the lack of game time and foul trouble, they were not able to turn the tables as Eunoia converted majority of their free throws off (EJC #24), who made 4 to seal the win at 35-28.
On the end of their very first season, Captain Lin Hao (HCIS #28) reflects, “We are a very new team and this is our 1st year together, where our players have foundation from streetball and not much of traditional 5v5 team games. Throughout the season, I feel that the team has improved chemistry, team work and I am happy for us.”
Captain Victor (EJC #1) who was also the top scorer for the game, comments humbly, “It was teamwork where my teammates continued to trap and allow me to have the fast-break baskets.” On the game, Victor (EJC #1) mentioned, “The start for us was damn slow, but we eventually picked up on offence and got it going.”
This game marks the end of the season for both Eunoia and HCIS, where both teams are the newest in the competition, as this marks Eunoia’s second season and HCIS’s very first. From Group B, Hwa Chong Institution and Catholic Junior College will be proceeding to the quarter finals.
Scoring by Quarter
EJC vs HCIS
1st Quarter: 8-9
2nd Quarter: 6–4 (14-13)
3rd Quarter: 11-9 (25-22)
4th Quarter: 10–6 (35-28)
Top Scorers
EJC
Victor Lai (#1) – 12 points
HCIS
Lin Hao (#28) – 8 points
EJC Roster
Victor Lai Yee Teng (#1), Fraser Chua Si En (#5), Tan Sin Chez, Jaron (#6), Seth Koh Hau Jer (#7), Lan Yikun (#11), Joe Teddy Yosua Sanjaya (#13), Chong Min Han (#15), Liu Xiangyuan (#18), Dylan Ang Ray (#19), Lim Ngee Yong (#24), Goh Yi Heng (#27), Li Baishi (#35)
HCIS Roster
Zhang Yitong (#2), Lou Shiuan Wei (#3), Zhang Yichen (#5), Li Yuzhe (#10), You Zhenchen (#11), Li Ye (#13), Lin Yunheng (#17), Xie Shaojun (#19), Guan Zhiyang (#20), Guo Muyuan (#21), Lin Hao (#28), Lu Junpu(#33)
More photos next page
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