By REDintern Gerald Goh

Republic Polytechnic Competition Hall, Tuesday, August 4, 2009 - Underdogs Singapore Polytechnic (SP) were eventually outgunned 64-44 by a Temasek Polyetchnic (TP) team whose ball-technique and rebounding ability were second-to-none on the night.

Despite going level on points with ITE at the top of the table to set up a thrilling finale, TP were left counting the cost of victory with captain Gwendalynn Koh rushed to National University Hospital after suffering a horrific knee injury in the final quarter of the match.

Tjhang Lisian got TP underway with a three-pointer, as her team had the better of the early exchanges. With TP easily claiming their rebounds, Low Wunying broke from one such recovery to post an easy lay-up.

Despite TP's dominance, the team missed five consecutive field attempts before Koh Su Peng finally pulled them 13-5 up with a nice shot, as SP struggled to find their passing rhythm.

SP's Barbara Kong then took advantage of TP's Fion Tey fumble at the beginning of the second quarter to draw a defensive foul and make both of her free-throws, but TP continued to sink basket after basket as they went 25-7 up and threatened to run away with the match.

Barbara continued to be a dominant presence for SP on the attack, though, the SP forward burying a classy three-point shot before being fouled straight after as she drove to her basket, converting both throws again to drag her team back to a 27-14 deficit.

Two minutes into the third quarter, Barbara managed a basket despite being on the end of another TP foul, but failed to convert her three-point play. The very next play saw her awarded yet another pair of free-throws, of which she missed both as SP failed to draw closer than 32-21.

A spell of sustained SP pressure was epitomised by Jin Hui, who missed both her throws after being fouled but fought back to regain possession and make amends to draw SP closer at 41-31. As both sides racked up the team fouls, SP's Goh Pei Rong ghosted between two TP players to post the ball, before Jennet Koh's three-pointer made it 46-34.

The fourth quarter saw SP's valiant fightback eventually nullified as TP went on a seven-point streak, Poh Chia Ming bombing in unmarked three-point shot.

With 4:42 left on the clock, Gwendalynn and Barbara's tussle for the loose ball took a calamitous turn when the TP captain landed badly and immediately hit the deck to lay motionless, her screams reverberating through the hall.

Play was stopped for many minutes as players and officials alike stood around in confusion while Gwendalynn received extensive treatment and eventually had to carried off the court into a wheelchair.

With the atmosphere considerably muted after the injury, SP's Stephanie Koh turned the ball over far too easily to Fion Tey, who made no mistake on the subsequent fast-break. TP's Goh Siew Lingzz missed a three-point shot at the buzzer as TP ran out 64-44 winners.

SP coach Lim Kwee Chai had encouraging words for his team, despite the heavy defeat. "My team's attitude was good today, their fighting spirit is there, not like in the past three matches… They are improving. They are not as experienced as the teams they will meet, but they will put up a fight and try to beat them for as long as they can."

When queried about the injury to TP captain Gwendalynn Koh, coach Lim felt that it was an ´accidental' clash between her and Barbara, with absolutely no malice on either side. "She landed with full force on her leg, so it was unfortunate," he commiserated.