Story contributed by reader Tsang Wing Han

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Singapore Basketball Centre, Wednesday, April 23, 2008 – The National Junior College boys’ team pulled off an upset 56-49 win over Anderson Junior College this afternoon in an A Division Basketball Championship first round game. This win brings NJC win means they have almost sealed a spot in the second round.

AJC’s #6, Yanming, was surprisingly omitted from the lineup today but the AJ team still managed to make their chances count, especially from the free throw line. They took a 14-8 lead before NJ’s #10, Vernon, sank a buzzer beater to put NJ only four points behind at the end of the first quarter.

NJ started the second quarter strongly with #7 Run Chao driving to the basket and scoring two points. AJ then committed a team foul and Vernon sank both free throws to put NJ only three points behind. Run Chao then scored four quick points to give NJ their first lead in the game at 17-16. But a timeout changed the momentum of the game and AJ made a 9-0 run to go ahead 25-17.

NJ’s #14, Bernard, made a shot with one second left on the clock to close the gap and the half-time score stood at 27-24, with AJ still holding a three-point lead.

The third quarter started with both teams fighting hard and not ready to give up the game. The lead kept changing hands but a layup at the end of the quarter by NJ’s #4, Li Jun, give his team a one-point lead at 37-36.

The NJ team got into foul trouble early in the fourth quarter and went over the foul limit after three minutes into the quarter. AJ’s centre, #9, made his presence felt, his constant post ups drawing fouls from the NJ players. He made several crucial baskets for his team but every time he secured a lead for AJ, NJ would hit back. With three minutes remaining, the score stood at 45-43 in favour of NJ but with both teams exceeding their foul limits.

In the end, NJ’s #11, Wei Ming, made 5 consecutive free throws for his team and NJ held on to their small lead to take the game 56-49.