Story by Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports. Photos by Lim Yong Teck and Clara Yuan/Red Sports
Mohamad Hilman (#5) of Jurong reacts after knocking down a three-pointer against Unity. The Jurong guard led all scorers with 24 points, including four of six from three-point range. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)
Jurong East Sports Hall, Tuesday, March 10, 2015 — Each time the score came close, Mohamad Hilman (#5) was there to knock down a three-pointer to extend the lead.
The Jurong Secondary guard sparked his team to their first West Zone B Division Basketball Championship title since 2008, with a 67–46 victory over Unity Secondary in the final. He finished with 24 points, including four of six from three-point range, and was named the Most Valuable Player of the game.
This is the second time that both teams are playing each other; Jurong beat Unity 60–48 in their previous second round matchup.
However, this time round, Unity were playing without key player Thng Yong-An (#8), who was selected to represent Singapore at the 7th Asian Schools Basketball Championship in Chiangmai, Thailand, from March 4 to 13.
Mohamad Hilman (#5) was unstoppable in the opening frame, as he mounted a personal 9–0 run. A three-pointer by teammate Leslie Chen (#7) capped the run. Unity, on the contrary, had trouble converting their attempts at the basket, and trailed 9–21 at the end of the quarter.
In the following quarter, Tan Min Hui (#9) tried to bring Unity back as he penetrated Jurong’s defence on several drives to draw the contact. He was six of eight from the charity stripe in the frame, but a lack of support from the Unity bench allowed Jurong to hold on to their lead.
Jurong experienced a temporary shooting slump after the break, allowing Unity to reduce their lead to 11 points. However, Jurong had an answer in Mohamad Hilman (#5), who scored eight consecutive points, including two daggers from beyond the arc.
Maverick Dasig (#13) was effective on the offensive end, putting up seven points for Unity in the fourth quarter. However, despite his late-game efforts, Jurong’s offensive onslaught was too much and they went on to clinch the victory by a margin of 21 points.
“We’re all very happy. Everyone played well and contributed in a way or another,” said Jurong’s captain Leslie Chen (#7).
Jurong’s vice-captain Mohamad Norisham (#8) added, “It feels great to get back the championship after so many years. Hilman (#5) was great today. If more of our players stepped up and played like he did, I think it would have been a better performance.”
Score by Quarter
Jurong vs Unity
1st quarter: 21–9
2nd quarter: 11–12 (32–21)
3rd quarter: 16–12 (48–33)
4th quarter: 19–13 (67–46)
Top scorers
Jurong
Mohamad Hilman B Mohamad I (#5) – 24 points (4 x 3-pointers)
Leslie Chen Kai Lin (#7) – 16 points (2 x 3-pointers)
Unity
Tan Min Hui (#9) – 13 points
Caraig John Christopher Bico (#7) – 10 points (1 x 3-pointer)
Jurong Roster
Chua Qi Wei (#4), Mohamad Hilman B Mohamad I (#5), Hairul Syamil B Mardan (#6), Leslie Chen Kai Lin (#7), Mohamad Norisham B Nazaruddin (#8), Mohammed Naseer B Sahul Hameed (#9), Venneth Chua Chin Tat (#10), Samson Sim Wen Yang (#11), Wu Ming Ming (#12), Tan Zun Wen (#13), Goh Xian Hao Glendon (#14), Gregory Chan Xu Zhan (#15)
Unity Roster
Brandon Tan Jun Kai (#4), Lok Jun Jie (#5), Huang Jun Heng (#6), Caraig John Christopher Bico (#7), Thng Yong-An (#8), Tan Min Hui (#9), Karl Brian Dizon Villegas (#10), Liu En Hong (#11), Matthew Choo Ming-En (#12), Maverick Jercel E. Dasig (#13), Sheares Ang (#14), Victor Benedict V. Montallana (#15)
2015 West Zone B Division Basketball Championship (Boys) – Fixtures and Results
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