NYP overcome SIM to secure place in IVP basketball semi-finals

Story and pictures by REDintern Koh Yizhe

Nanyang Technological University, Tuesday, January 13, 2009 – Nanyang Polytechnic survived a Singapore Insitute of Management (SIM) onslaught late in the third quarter and early in the fourth to win 57-55 in their fourth match of the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Basketball Championship.

With the win, they secured a place in the semi-finals with a 3-wins-1-loss record in the group stage.

There wasn't much between the teams as the match started extremely tight and with both teams trading points. SIM displayed good passing and communication as they to attempted to outplay NYP in the early goings.

However, thanks to quick breaks by their #77 at the end of the first quarter, NYP took at slim 10-8 lead into the second quarter.

NYP continued their good spell in the second quarter. While SIM depended on shooting beyond the arc to get their points, NYP relied on layups as they attacked SIM on the break. This proved to be a successful formula in the second quarter as NYP slowly extended their lead.

Three-point plays came freely for NYP as well when they were fouled on the break.

For SIM, however, there wasn't much good news as the excellent passing and communication in the first half quarter wasn't there in the second. To make matters worse, their three-point shooting failed to find the target on many occasions.

It was therefore no surprise that NYP ended the second quarter leading 27-20.

Much of the same followed in the third quarter as NYP extended their lead as the pace and intensity of the game began to increase. NYP were extremely physical on the break as well and they soon stretched their lead to 14 points, the largest of the game.

Not to be outdone, SIM performed fast breaks of their own. Their defense also held NYP at bay, preventing them from extending their massive lead, while cutting it down point by point. At the end of the third quarter, the huge 14-point lead was reduced to just two points at 38-40.

With momentum on their side, SIM's #18 tied the game with a layup and within two minutes, SIM took the lead for the first time in the match.

NYP, by contrast, couldn't get their passing game going in the final 10 minutes, and SIM didn't help by pressing them exceptionally well.

NYP eventually scored after four minutes of play and with only three minutes remaining, there was only one point separating them. Both teams traded points at this stage when #16 of SIM made a brilliant three-point play, only for NYP's #5 to reply with one of his own to make the score 49-48 in SIM's favor.

SIM and NYP continued to match each other basket for basket up to the last minute. The final drama of the match came with only 16 seconds remaining when #7 of NYP was fouled as he attempted to make a layup. To the horror of the SIM players, the layup was good as well. The NYP #7 made the free throw as well to give NYP a 57-55 lead.

Despite tremendous pressure by SIM, NYP hung on for the match and their third victory out of four games.

NYP will now face NTU in the semi-finals on Monday.

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