Story by REDintern Edina Tan. Photos by Clara Yuan/Red Sports

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Zhang Sibo (MJR #23) deny Victor Jong (Bedok View #15) from going for a layup. Zhang led his team with a game high of 23 points. (Photo 1 © Clara Yuan/Red Sports)

Anglican High School, Tuesday, 19 January, 2016 — A game with both teams equally matched in skill and speed concluded with Manjusri Secondary (MJS) emerging 39-36 winners over Bedok View Secondary (BVS) in their first match of the East Zone B Division Basketball Championship.

Zhang Sibo (MJS #23) led with a game high of 23 points, while Tang Jian Rong (BVS #4) led his team with 13 points.

Both teams started off aggressively in the first quarter, with Shawn Lim (BVS #7) scoring the first basket of the match as he managed to weave through Manjusri’s tight defence.

Two accurate free throws by Tang Jian Rong (BVS #4) pulled Bedok View up by two points, but a three-pointer by Sibo (MJS #23) evened out the score. The quarter concluded with Majusri leading 13-9.

The second quarter saw more sustained man-to man-defense from both teams, and quick rebounds and consecutive turnovers made this quarter an exciting one. The pace of this quarter was significantly hastier than the first, with Jian Rong (BVS #4) scoring a three-pointer and Rui Xiang (MJS #34) shooting a basket within 20 seconds of each other.

Sibo (MJS #23) performed exceptionally well in this quarter, scoring seven of the team’s nine points, one of which was a three-pointer. The quarter wrapped up with both teams matching each other with nine points each, with Manjusri ahead by four points (22-18).

In the third quarter, Bedok View turned the tables on Manjusri, outscoring their opponents 7-3. Jian Rong (BVS #4) and Wen Liang (BVS #5) scored baskets to pull their team to within a nail-biting one point at 21-22.

Even as Bedok View tightened their defence further, Manjusri rose to the challenge with Sibo (MJS #23) scoring two points, to put his team ahead by one at 25-24.

Sibo (MJS #23) and teammate Elfie (MJS #0) were the main scorers in this quarter for Manjusri as their their quick reflexes and speed widened the gap between the teams.

Jian Rong (BVS #4) scored his second three-pointer of the match in this quarter, while teammate Kee Boon (BVS #12) got in a surprising basket in the last 0.4 seconds of the match. However, they could not stop Manjusri from narrowly winning 39-36.

Joshua (MJS #3) of Manjusri said, “The match was a good experience and we played okay, but it was a bit too rushed. We definitely need to work on our defensive rebound. However, I’m glad that our team showed strong teamwork throughout the match this time.”

Scoring by Quarter
Manjusri vs Bedok View
1st Q: 13-9
2nd Q: 9-9 (22-18)
3rd Q: 3-7 (25-24)
4th Q: 14-12 (39-36)

Top Scorers
Manjusri
Zhang Sibo (#23) – 23 points

Bedok View
(#4) – 13 points

Manjusri Roster
Elfie Kee (#0), Ng Koh Jing (#2), Joshua Cheong (#3), Jonathan Lee (#6), Emmanuel Cheong (#7), Liu Zexu (#9), Jarrod Koh (#11), Chng Meng Choon (#21), Zhang Sibo (#23), Clifford Ng (#30), Chen Rui Xiang (#34)

Bedok View Roster
Tang Jian Rong (#4), Lee Wen Liang (#5), Kelvin Chong (#6), Shawn Lim (#7), Francisco Jacobe (#8), Zhou Yi (#9), Donovan Ho (#10), Tomy Tran (#11), Hung Kee Boon (#12), Yao Zhu Rong (#13), Wu Xiao Dong (#14), Victor Jong (#15)

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