Ngee Ann Polytechnic battle to 44-40 win over Republic Polytechnic in mens’ POL-ITE basketball despite loss of key player

Story by REDintern Gerald Goh

Republic Polytechnic Competition Hall, Monday, August 3, 2009 - Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) grinded out a 44-40 win over Republic Polytechnic (RP) in the mens' 2009 Polytechnic-Institute of Technical Education (POL-ITE) Basketball Championship.

The low scoreline was marked by dogged defending and poor shooting accuracy on both sides, with NP missing a score of chances as key player Cheong Wei Zhun required extensive medical treatment in the opening minutes for a twisted left ankle.

Wei Zhun's inability to continue meant that NP struggled to find a way past RP, with the first quarter finishing at a paltry 9-5 in RP's favour. RP continued to swamp the NP offense in the second quarter, epitomised by Samuel Goh tussling violently with NP's Pek Jia Rong for the ball.

NP's Khaw Yeong Wooi was instrumental in breaking up numerous RP's attacks, as NP gradually forced their way in front to lead 20-18.

With both sides conceding numerous turnovers, RP's Hu Kai Wei sank a three-pointer in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 30-25 as NP threatened to establish a double-digit lead.

RP's Ben Lim then rebounded a loose ball directly onto the back of Jia Rong's head, with the NP captain seemingly unfazed despite the impact of the ball reverberating through the hall.

With NP leading 36-27 by the end of the third quarter and RP running out of steam and ideas, NP's Ong See Guan and Yap Kian Leong continued to mop up stray RP shots at the back. See Guan then got on the end of an NP break to score an easy lay-up and establish NP's lead at 40-29.

As the clock wound down, RP captain Ng Shi Yang had other ideas, burying an emphatic shot from outside the semi-circle before his compatriot Jonathan Yuen made another arcing three-pointer with half a minute on the clock.

Hu Kai Wei completed RP's 4-1 run as he received a pass from Shi Yang between the legs of his marker to lift the ball into the net, taking RP within two points at 42-40. However, RP's spirited comeback was tempered as NP made another basket to establish a four-point lead, their players running down the clock as RP's harassing ultimately failed to pay off at the final buzzer.

NP captain Pek Jia Rong felt his team played well compared to their previous matches. "We managed to follow our coach's instructions. His (Wei Zhun’s) injury gave us a wake-up call early in the match."

Despite the narrow margin of victory, Jia Rong nevertheless felt it was a good win. "We'll continue to take every game as it comes," he concluded.

N.B. If you know the names of the players featured, please let us know and we’ll update the captions. Thanks.