By Joseph Lee/Red Sports

Lim Shi Hui (NTU #9) taking a shot with Juliana (SIM #22) rushing over to block it. (Photo 1 © Joseph Lee/Red Sports)

 

NUS Multi-Purpose Sports Hall 5, Thursday, October 4, 2012 — The Nanyang Technological University (NTU) defeated the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) 57-51 to win the Singapore University Games (SUniG) basketball title.

NTU finished SUniG with a perfect 3-0 win-loss record while SIM (2-1) were second. NUS and SMU finished third and fourth respectively in the single round-robin competition format.

Both teams were trying to get a good feel of each other in the first quarter with SIM taking a slim two-point lead (10-8) after the first 10 minutes.

The game went into a high gear in the second as both teams scored on many fast break attempts and quick shots. Half time saw SIM leading 26-23.

NTU came out in the third quarter looking like a brand new team. Although SIM established a seven-point, 37-30 lead midway through the third, NTU slowly whittled it down.

NTU were shooting on all cylinders and contesting every ball on their side of the court, grabbing steals and rebounds to close in on the lead that SIM had. NTU finally took back the lead through two foul throws to go ahead 42-41 at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, NTU went on a scoring streak to extend their lead to seven points three minutes into the fourth quarter. But SIM were not out of the contest yet, coming back strongly to reduce the gap and tie the game at 49 a piece with three minutes left on the clock.

A big part of that comeback for SIM came through their tight man-to-man full court press on the NTU team which led to steals and easy baskets. But after making a comeback, SIM seemed too anxious to get back the lead, accumulating fouls to give NTU free throws in the dying moments of the quarter. Those fouls led to NTU scoring 6 points from the free throw line to put the game out of reach for SIM.

Scores by Quarter
NTU vs SIM
1Q: 8-10
2Q: 15-16 (23-26)
3Q: 19-15 (42-41)
4Q: 15-10 (57-51)
Final score: 57-51

SIM Roster
Tay Yin Ling (#1), Jiang Hui Shi (#3), Joey Lim Ying Hui (#4), Sheryl Yeo Hui Yin (#5), Por Zhi Mei (#6), Yeo Sze Ying (#7), Wee Hui Min (#9), Koh Hwee Chee (#17), Liu Xiayu (#21), Juliana (#22), Cher Huiling Sabrina (#30), Jacqueline Tan (#38), Yap Qing Qing Avis (#71), Ang Wei Theng Juliana (#88)

NTU Roster
Ong Xue Li (#1), Tan Miao Ying Shenna (#2), Chua Cunfang (#3), Chia Gek Lan (#4), Chong jieying (#5), Tsang Wei Yi (#6), He Ran (#7), Koh Ling Di (#8), Lim Shi Hui (#9), Ng Bao Xian (#10), Lydia Chiew Mei Jing (#11), Lee Pei Jing (#12), Loh Zhi Hui (#14), Chean Kai Xian Annette (#15), Lim Jia Min (#16)

SUniG Basketball Fixtures and Results