Heroic Anderson JC effort sinks Raffles Institution in A Division boys’ basketball semi-finals

Contributed by reader Seow Buan Chuan. Photos by reader Wong Wee Keat

Singapore Basketball Centre, Friday, May 14, 2010 – Despite having three starters fouling out and star centre Ang Wei Xian injured, the Anderson Junior College team showed nerves of steel as its bench held out to the end, sealing a dramatic 54-52 semi-final win over Raffles Institution (RI) in the A Division Boys’ Basketball Championship semi-finals.

Three of their starters fouled out, one by one, in the fourth quarter. Their star center, Ang Wei Xian was forced out of play due to an open neck wound he suffered after drawing a crucial charge late in the game.

Wei Xian struggled most of the game offensively due to the stifling RI defence, but a sublime three-point shooting display from shooting guard Siow Wei-Zhong and stellar play-making by point guard Eric Lin paved the way for a historic victory as the AJC boys’ team made their third final in five years.

The game started out as a cagey affair, with both teams looking more intent on not making any mistakes than putting points on the board.

The tempo was upped inevitably in the second quarter, as both sides starting making deflections and steals, getting out on the break. Jonathan Cher of RI came off the bench to provide a scoring spark, as well as a calming influence for his team.

However, Siow Wei-Zhong, who was carrying a nagging knee injury into the game, simply could not miss from three-point land. He scored all 12 of AJC’s points in the second quarter from four of his five three-pointers in the game, tying the score at 24-24 at the end of the first half.

Wei-Zhong led his side with 17 points.

AJC had a rebounding advantage throughout, and it evidently carried on into the second half as their post players Wei Xian and Teo Yu Jian corralled almost every rebound possible to help their team’s cause. AJC’s captain, small forward Jong Kai Jie, also hit big shots to ensure his side brought as much momentum as possible into the fourth quarter.

This was crucial, as RI’s defence was holding up solidly, and they seemed to have the upper hand in terms of scoring in the third period. The quick passing of twins Jervin and Shervin Lim led to good ball movement on RI’s part, and the high-flying Wang Jiachen slashed his way to the basket for many strong finishes up close.

Jiacheng scored a game-high 19 points, but his valiant effort was not enough to take RI through to the final.

Then came a timely momentum swing towards AJC’s side, as substitute Ng Keng Wee made a huge interception at the defensive end, and finished with a huge layup at the other after a composed pump-fake which sent his defender flying.

This set the stage for a dramatic end to a thrilling match, as both teams were neck-and-neck heading into the final quarter.

To AJC’s despair, this was also when their team’s foul trouble started to take its toll. Captain Jong Kai Jie was the first to foul out, with more than nine minutes left to play.

The score was close throughout the fourth, until a crucial stretch when huge steals by Eric Lin and Teo Yu Jian led to layups at the other end which gave AJC a 49-45 lead. However, both of them would soon foul out themselves as well, Eric with more than three minutes left, and Yu Jian barely a minute after.

Then, AJC players and supporters had their hearts in their mouths when Wei Xian drew a crucial, but costly offensive foul with 1:51 left on the clock. An elbow to Wei Xian’s neck opened up a wound, and forced him out of the game for good.

Wei Xian was rushed to Mount Alvernia Hospital’s A&E department after the game to have his injury tended to.

Fortunately, the AJC bench stepped up and clung on resolutely to their team’s narrow lead. Clutch free-throw shooting from Wong Yusheng sealed the deal for AJC in the end, but not before Jervin Lim’s half-court heave right at the death rattled in and out of the rim.

The AJC players and supporters were sent into delirium as the final buzzer sounded, as they celebrated a historic win, and a third final berth in five years.

They will next play defending champions Hwa Chong Institution in the final on Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 at Yishun Sports Hall.

Quarter By Quarter Scoring
Anderson Junior College vs Raffles Institution
1st Q: 12-8
2nd Q: 12-16
3rd Q: 16-15
4th Q: 14-13
Final score: 54-52

Top Scorers
AJC:
Siow Wei-Zhong (#12) – 17 points
Eric Lin (#6) – 15 points

RI:
Wang Jiacheng (#8) – 19 points
#15 – 11 points

AJC Lineup

Koh An Song (#4)
Wang Hao (#5)
Eric Lin (#6)
Wong Yusheng (#7)
Teo Yu Jian (#8)
Jong Kai Jie (#9)
Ng Keng Wee (#10)
Khiew Kian Sin (#11)
Siow Wei-Zhong (#12)
Nicholas Chan (#13)
Teo Yu Liang (#14)
Ang Wei Xian (#15)

RI Lineup

Shervin Lim (#4)
Dominic Lim (#5)
#6
Jonathan Cher (#7)
Wang Jiacheng (#8)
#9
#10
Ravins Cheung (#11)
Goh Kong Tat (#12)
#13
Jervin Lim (#14)
#15