Story by Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports. Photos by Lim Yong Teck, Clara Yuan and REDintern Lee Jian Wei
Richard Neo (#2) of SIM drives against Lester Ng (#6) of NUS. Neo scored a game-high 20 points, 16 of which came in the first half. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
Singapore Basketball Centre, Monday, January 26, 2015 — Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) became the second team to achieve a three-peat in the history of the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Basketball Championship when they defeated National University of Singapore (NUS) 51–38 in the final.
The last team to have won three straight titles was Nanyang Technological University (NTU), who won five straight titles from 2002 through 2006.
Richard Neo (#2) led SIM with 20 points, while teammate Chen Yi (#35) contributed 15 points. Kenneth Low (#33) scored a team-high 14 points for NUS.
This is the second time both teams are facing each other in the season; SIM had previously conceded a preliminary round game to NUS.
In the final, both teams were missing key players Chase Tan (SIM) and Lim Shengyu (NUS) due to national team commitments at the 20th Super Kung Sheung Cup Invitation Basketball Championship in Hong Kong.
SIM never trailed throughout the entire game, as they established their winning intent right from tip-off. The defending champions experienced an early scare when Bryan Kor (#31) went down awkwardly after a drive to the basket. Kor (#31) left the court but returned in the second half.
16 first-half points from Richard Neo (#2) propelled SIM to a 29–18 lead at the end of the half.
Through Low’s (#33) post play, NUS managed to outscore SIM 9–8 in the third quarter.
A stark defensive effort from Chen Yi (#35) limited the NUS frontcourt in the final quarter, holding Low (#33) to just two points in the frame. Chen (#35) also pulled down six crucial offensive boards in the quarter to spark SIM to the 51–38 victory.
“I think the team’s performance was really quite balanced throughout the game. It’s definitely a win as a team and not by the individual,” said Neo (#2). “It was really a pleasure to play with each and everyone on the team. Not only that, we grew from a team without any chemistry to one that backs each other up during tough times.”
The SIM captain added, “The feeling of achieving the three-peat is really great! We grew up as a team to achieve this today and I only have one word to describe it – satisfaction!”
Score by quarter
SIM vs NUS
1st quarter: 16–10
2nd quarter: 13–8 (29–18)
3rd quarter: 8–9 (37–27)
4th quarter: 14–11 (51–38)
Top scorers
SIM
Richard Neo (#2) – 20 points (2 x 3-pointers)
Chen Yi (#35) – 15 points
NUS
Kenneth Low (#33) – 14 points
SIM Roster
Yeo Zhi Kuang (#1), Neo Li Zhe Richard (#2), Raphael Ong Zheng Xiong (#9), Loh Hui Han (#10), Ow Yu Jie (#11), Wong Kar Chuin Jason (#17), Sih Yong Jie (#22), Siow Wei Chong Jason (#24), Bryan Gregory Kor Chong Yang (#31), Peck Zhao Hua Nicholas (#32), Koh Weijie (#33), Chen Yi (#35), Darren Lee Da Lun (#55), Vimal S/O Mogun (#69), Chase Tan (#83)
NUS Roster
Zhou Kai (#1), Gerrard Lai (#3), Au Jin Kai (#4), Goh Kong Tat (#5), Lester Ng Jia Wei (#6), Hong Kah Qi (#8), Tan Tien Wei (#9), Ngauw Wei Chang (#10), Jeremy Lee Weng Fatt (#11), Loh Wan Xin (#14), Eddie Ng Sui Yi (#21), Ch’ng Yun Kai Samuel (#22), Lim Shengyu (#24), Kenneth Low Bing Hong (#33)
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