Raffles Institution trounce Victoria JC in A Division basketball quarter-finals

Story by REDintern Alan Chiang. Photos by Vanessa Lim/Red Sports

Singapore Basketball Centre, Monday, May 4, 2009 - Raffles Institution thumped Victoria Junior College 49-38 after a nervous start from both sides in a boys’ A Division Basketball Championship quarter-final match-up.

Chey Zheng Feng (RI #9) put in a class act as he contributed 29 points to help RI clinch their first win of the quarter-finals. Macus Yap (VJC #4) performed just as well with a 25-point game even though his entire team did not fare too well.

It was a nail-biting affair in the first quarter as both sides aimed to cancel out each other's lead. Zheng Feng (RI #9) added seven points while Macus (VJC #4) contributed the same number for their respective teams. The first quarter ended with a tight 9-9 score line.

As the game heated up, Zheng Feng (RI #9) got himself into the fray again for RI as he dribbled past three players with ease to get to the basket. It was point-for-point in the second quarter before VJC came into the match strongly. Two consecutive 3-pointers from Macus (VJC #4) allowed them to control the match with a 7-point lead. But RJC did not make things easy for VJC as they managed to reduce the deficit to two points by half-time with Zheng Feng (RJC #9) and Jonathan Lim (RJC #12) adding four fast-break points.

VJC started the third quarter on a bright note, but soon faded as they committed a series of turnovers. They also failed to contain Zheng Feng (RI #9), as he tied the game at 30-30. It did not take too long for his team to establish a lead as they displayed some good movements and hit accurate shots from range. RI managed to outscore VJC in the third quarter 14-5 to lead by nine points.

After an all-important team talk, Macus (VJC #4) attempted to spark a revival after scoring six successive points. With 7:54 remaining, RI was only holding on to a slim 3-point lead, but they managed to extend it as Danny Chua (RI #7) and Jonathan Cher (RI #6) worked well together to provide 8 vital points to take an 11-point lead. Time ran out on VJC, who had too much to handle as they capitulated to the better opponents on the court.

In another match that was played on the other court, Temasek JC defeated Anderson JC 46-41 after a late comeback run in the third and final quarters of the game.

Starting line-up
RI: #4 - Charles Oei, #6 - Jonathan Cher, #7 - Danny Chua, #9 - Zheng Feng, #11 - Jun Wei
VJC: #4 - Macus Yap, #7 - Wee Liang, #8 - Hui Wen, #11 - Gary Tang, #15 - Julian Low

Scores by quarter
1st Q: RI 9 VJC 9
2nd Q: RI 16 VJC 18
3rd Q: RI 14 VJC 5
4th Q: RI 12 VJC 8

Top scorers
RI:
Zheng Feng (#9) - 29 points
Danny Chua (#7) - 12 points

VJC:
Macus Yap (#4) - 25 points
Wee Liang (#7) - 8 points