Story By Zachary Foo/Red Sports. Photos by REDintern Clara Yuan
Thng Jun Rong (TP #37) driving the ball past Toh Qing Huang (RP #7). (Photo 1 © REDintern Clara Yuan)
NTU Sports and Recreation Centre, Tuesday, January 21, 2014 — Republic Polytechnic (RP) scored a remarkable 11 3-pointers on their way to a 87–83 win over Temasek Polytechnic (TP) in the semi-finals of the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Basketball Championship. Larry Liew (TP #11) led all scorers with 21 points, while Gary Yeo (RP #4) led his team with 20.
RP started off strong in the first quarter, scoring three consecutive three-pointers to cap off a 13–0 run. TP did not help their cause, as they were outrebounded by the smaller RP lineup early on. As the quarter wore on, TP’s defence started to get into the groove, closing out on RP players to force missed shots.
TP started using Larry Liew (RP #11) off the ball in the second quarter, freeing him up through screens before handing him the ball in opportune spots. Larry repaid his team’s faith in him, scoring a couple of baskets and trimming the lead. However, RP continued their hot streak from three-point land, nailing three more three-pointers in the quarter. This allowed them to head into the half-time break up 46–41.
In the third quarter, Thng Jun Rong (TP #37) and Lim Fang Cie (TP #45) stepped up for their team. Both players shouldered the bulk of the scoring load for TP, putting them up by three when the period ended. RP was completely shut down on offence, as their players failed time and again to put up a shot in rhythm.
Both teams started to show signs of desperation in the final quarter, with a spot in the final at stake. TP’s defence tightened up, closing out better on RP players to defend their shots. However, RP managed to regain the form they had in the first quarter, dropping a few more three-pointers which helped seal the 87–83 win.
RP now face Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) on Monday, January 27 at the NTU Sports and Recreation Centre at 8:30pm. Temasek Polytechnic (TP) will face Nanyang Technological University (NTU) for third place in the match before the final at 7pm.
RP captain Nethanel Ng (#5) said, “It is really exciting to make the finals. I think we played better today and had more fighting spirit. We shot the three ball really well, which is a plus. Although we faltered in the second and third quarters, we managed to make the big plays in the fourth to come back. Our bench really supported us all the way, cheering us on on each play.”
TP captain Rudy Tan (#23) said, “I think both teams played really well today. We stuck to our coach’s instructions and that helped us pull back. He gave good directions, our faith in him, as well as our never-say-die attitude aided us in this. It was unfortunate that we lost.”
Scoring by Quarter
TP vs RP
1st Quarter: 20–26
2nd Quarter: 21–20 (41–46)
3rd Quarter: 24–16 (65–62)
4th Quarter: 18–25 (83–87)
Top Scorers
Temasek Polytechnic
Larry Liew (#11) – 21 points
Republic Polytechnic
Gary Yeo Jun Yuan (#4) – 20 points
TP Roster
Julian Lim (#1), Marvin Foo (#2), Alistier Tay (#5), Sebastian Acosta (#8), Alvin Hartono (#9), Wang Liang Rong (#10), Larry Liew (#11), John Ng (#13), Shamus Poh (#14), Teo Zhen Kai (#22), Rudy Tan (#23), Tay Ding Loon (#32), Jeric Lim (#34), Thng Jun Rong (#37), Lim Fang Cie (#45)
RP Roster
Poh Wei Hao (#1), Chua Deng Yu Daryl (#2), Zhou Zhen Qiang (#3), Gary Yeo Jun Yuan (#4), Ng Huai En Nethanel (#5), Huang Haojie Joseph (#6), Toh Qing Huang (#7), Lim Bryan (#8), Toh Wee Keong (#9), Gabriel Teh Zhong En (#10), Ong Jun Jie (#11), Wu Qing De (#12), Chua Wei Jian (#13), Lim Boon Kiat (#14), Sean Lim Han Ming (#15)
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