National Technological University, Tuesday, January 19, 2010 – A much improved Temasek Polytechnic look odds-on favourites to snatch back the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) basketball title they lost to the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) last year.

Featuring mostly the same group of players, TP’s captain Mitchell Folkoff and teammates Han Bing and Lin Cheng Yu combined well to see off NTU 77-64.

NTU, on the other hand, disappointed in their centres’ play, especially with Quan Ju looking out of sorts and Kuo Tzu Wei failing to impose himself on the weaker inside presence of TP. Yet they did manage to raise their fanatical supporters’ hopes briefly when they closed the gap to 51-59 in the third quarter.

However, hot shooting from the TP forwards beyond the three-point line in the fourth quickly snuffed them out.

In the other semi-final, Singapore Polytechnic’s point guard Edwin led his team in the absence of Lim Wai Sian to a narrow two-point victory over Ngee Ann Polytechnic, in spite of an inspired performance from NP’s centre Khaw Yeong Wooi.

Yeong Wooi had dominated the paint at the defensive end with at least 10 blocks and had a chance at the end to tie the game, but committed a crucial turnover instead. SP then hung on for a slim 66-64 victory.

Yet even that morale boosting win is unlikely to stop a well-oiled TP team, who possess too many weapons in their arsenal. Expect at least a 10-point victory by Temasek Polytechnic tonight at the IVP men’s basketball final.

NB: More match reports of the semi-finals coming up.

See second quarter highlights of NP v SP:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnD9YK5acpw

See third quarter highlights of NP v SP:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRrEQu8MP1w

See fourth quarter highlights of NP v SP:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKqFxqYWc1Y

See first quarter highlights of TP v NTU:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5QIHw-F6So