Story By Zachary Foo/Red Sports

Tng Zhi Cai (PHS #7) scores on the fast break. Zhi Cai had 23 points to lead his team in scoring. (Photo 1 © Zachary Foo/Red Sports)

Clementi Sports Hall, Thursday, April 10, 2014 — Presbyterian High School (PHS) defeated Unity Secondary School 73–53 in the second round of the National B Division Girls Basketball Championship. Tng Zhi Cai (PHS #7) led all scorers with 23 points, while Thng Yong-An (Unity #5) paced his team with 13 points.

The win puts Presbyterian High at the top of Group A with a 2–0 win–loss record. They have secured qualification for the semi-final. Unity fall to 1–1 in the group. They now face Bukit Panjang in their final match to decide their qualification for the semi-final.

Nigel Ng (PHS #5) and Liau Li Jiang (PHS #11) were strong in the paint for Presbyterian High early on. Their size down low prevented Unity from securing their rebounds.

The second quarter saw Unity go on a 9–0 run, snatching the lead from Presbyterian High. John Christopher (Unity #6) and Yong-An (Unity #5) combined for 14 points in the quarter. Unity were able to match Presbyterian’s front line by simply out-jumping them on rebounds each time.

The game tightened up in the third quarter, as both teams valued defence over offence in the period. Zhi Cai (PHS #7) forced a decisive turnover near the end of the period. He was able to score on the break right before the buzzer sounded, tying the game at 39-all.

Presbyterian High found their shooting stroke in the final quarter, making four three-pointers. Zhi Cai (PHS #7) and Lin Sheng Xiang (PHS #9) had two apiece. Each of their shots helped to stifle Unity’s momentum, preventing any hopes of a comeback. In the end, Presbyterian emerged 73–53 winners.

Presbyterian captain, Zhi Cai (#7), said, “We are very happy to make the semi-final. Now we hope to make the national final. Our defence was there in the first quarter, but we let Unity back into the game in the second quarter. We did our best in the second half to win, we gave our all.”

Scoring by Quarter
Unity Secondary vs Presbyterian High
1st Quarter: 10–17
2nd Quarter: 22–12 (32–29)
3rd Quarter: 7–10 (39–39)
4th Quarter: 14–34 (53–73)

Top Scorers
Unity
Thng Yong-An (#5) – 13 points

Presbyterian High
Zhi Cai (#7) – 23 points

Unity Roster
Maung Khant Htet (#4), Thng Yong-An (#5), Caraig John Christopher Bico (#6), Jacinth Figueroa Aban (#7), Lee Ko Vic Ariel Nestor (#8), Tan Min Hui (#9), Foo Jun Lin (#10), Caraig David Martin Bico (#11), Matthew Choo Ming-En (#12), Maverick Jercel E. Dasig (#13), Leon Chin Wei Chen (#14), Shahrul B Ramdan (#15)

Presbyterian High Roster
Ryan Tan (#4), Nigel Ng (#5), Ejin Tan (#6), Tng Zhi Cai (#7), Eugene Han (#8), Lin Sheng Xiang (#9), Jeryl Neo (#10), Liau Li Jiang (#11), Joel Kwok (#12), Dylan Lee (#13), Lim Zhi Cong (#14), Sana Adams Lizo (#15)

National B Division Boys Basketball Championship — Fixtures and Results

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