North Zone boys and girls sweep all at B Division Zonal All-Stars

Story by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports. Photos by Les Tan/Red Sports and REDintern Chua Yueda

Clementi Sports Hall, Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - The North Zone girls and boys swept all zones to emerge champions at the Zonal All-Stars basketball competition.

Organised once a year during the March school holidays between the zonal and national championships, the Zonal All-Stars brings together the best players from each of the four zones (North, South, East and West). At the same time, the players are also vying for a spot on the Singapore Combined Schools team.

The Combined Schools team will play in the Basketball U17 Youth Cup as well as an ASEAN school tournament later in the year.

To get onto the zonal all-star team, players had to impress throughout the zonal championship. Not only did the players have to show skills, they also had to demonstrate team work.

Playing matches of 12 minutes each, it was eventually the North Zone All-Stars that emerged champions. In the girls' final, North Zone overcame East Zone 30-27 while the North Zone boys edged East Zone 33-28 in the final.

Despite his zone’s victory, Presbyterian High's captain Ng Jun Jie wasn't too confident about his own chances.

"It was a good game, but it was the #13 (Zhou Zhen Qiang, Yishun) that led the team. I think my chances would be 50-50 and it will be up to the teachers! Today, I couldn't make the shots and had a couple of missed balls. They should be looking for height, skills, assists as well as team work," said Ng Jun Jie.

Although the North Zone won bragging rights, some of the players from other zones would have caught the eye of the selection team.

Johann Yeo of Queensway Secondary should be one of the favourites for selection with his impressive zonal performances that contributed to his side winning the South Zone B Division Championship. Despite his achievement, he played down his chances.

"It is hard to say [about my chances]. There are some newcomers this year that are really good! I think height and speed will be a key factor in making the selection," said Johann Yeo.

His South Zone team finished third overall in the competition with a 41-36 victory over West Zone in the 3rd/4th placing match.

Another player that might have caught the selectors’ eyes would be Chee Khan Liang. The Anglican High School captain felt that being a "team leader" would be the important quality to be selected for his position. However, he brushed off any suggestion that he would be selected with a laugh.

Some notable players like Larry Liew from North Vista Secondary and Delvin Goh from Unity Secondary were absent from the competition due to a current national training tour in Taiwan.

The list of selected players will be out later in the year after the National B Division Championship.

Selection Panel
Boys:
Ian Chew/Sham (South)
Tan Mei Hui (North)
Tan Xin Ying (East)
Joe So (West)

Girls:
Teo Siang Yang (South)
Chua Mei Hui (North)
Tan Xin Ying (East)
James Ong (West)

North Zone All-Stars (Boys)
Ng Jun Jie (Presbyterian High #11)
Nethanel Ng Presbyterian High #7)
Sean Wong Presbyterian High #4)
Toh Yi Siu (Hougang #5)
Don Tang (Hougang #8)
Zhou Zhen Qiang (Yishun #13)
Toh Hong Sheng (Yishun #7)
Toh Qing Huang (Yishun #14)
Gabriel Tan (North Vista #8)
Jeric Lim (North Vista #14)
Ng Kian Hao (North Vista #7)
Jin Hui (North Vista #12)
Sih Ming Yang (Ahmad Ibrahim #7)
Ling Yi Jun (Seng Kang #10)
Chen Fang Qi (Seng Kang #15)

East Zone All-Stars (Boys)
Sherwin Yeo (Anglican High #8)
Tan Zhi Sen (Anglican High #14)
Chee Khan Liang (Anglican High #7)
Jeremy Quah (Anglican High #10)
Auston Quek (Anglican High #4)
Andy Sim (Dunman #15)
Tan Jun Wei (Dunman #14)
Tay Ding Loon (Dunman #9)
Phua Chai Yi (Dunman #10)
Yeo Zong Han (Dunman #8)
Tan Rong Shun (Ngee Ann #7)
Ruban Paramasivam (Ngee Ann #8)
Bryan Lee (Temasek #13)
Khairul Azrie (Temasek #10)

West Zone All-Stars (Boys)
Desmond (Unity #6)
Fabian (Unity #11)
Fang Cie (Unity #5)
Wong Keng Yang (Unity #8)
Shamir (New Town #7)
Alvin (Jurong #15)
Zi Jie (Hua Yi #11)
Lee Lai Sheng (Hwa Chong #7)
Austin Cooper (Hwa Chong #14)
Cheong Rong Hao (Hwa Chong #9)
Tee Chai Sim (Kranji #15)
Emgeeyar (Jurong West #13)
Mark (Jurong West #7)
Ming Xiao (Jurong West #12)

South Zone All-Stars (Boys)
Mohd Noor Hadi Bin Mohd (Peirce #10)
Leong Wei Hao (Peirce #4)
Lowell Leong Jia Hao (Peirce, #8)
Tan Baiyong (Peirce #11)
Johann Yeo (Queensway #10)
Bryan Chng (RI #14)
Jordaan Goh (RI #8)
Kevin Yeo (Guangyang)
Marcus Tan (Yuying)
Yeow Yong Jun (Yuying)
Duncan Koh (Catholic High)
Dillon Low (Catholic High)
Mathew Ang (Catholic High)
Lee You Chen (Catholic High)

All-Stars (Boys)
1st: North
2nd: East
3rd: South
4th: West

All-Stars (Girls)
1st: North
2nd: East
3rd: West
4th: South

Ed’s note: If you know the names of the players featured in the photos, please let us know in the comments section and we’ll update the captions. Thanks.

For more photos from the game, go to the GALLERY.

Want to vote for YOUR All-Star player? Click here!