Story and photos by Low Zheng Yu/Red Sports

national a div bball nanyang anglo chinese junior college

Jordan Ong (NYJC #5) looks to pass. He had a game-high 13 points. (Photo 1 © Low Zheng Yu/Red Sports)

OCBC Arena, Tuesday, April 18, 2017 — Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) cruised past Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) 68-35 in the National A Division Basketball Championship.

With this win, NYJC remain undefeated with a 4-0 win-loss record. They have won against Anglo-Chinese School (International) (ACS Int’l), Saint Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) and Jurong Junior College (JJC) previously and look to continue their undefeated streak against Serangoon Junior College (SRJC).

This game gives ACJC their fourth loss of the season with a 0-4 win-loss record. They lost in their games against SAJC, JJC and SRJC previously and look to get their first win of the season in their next game against ACS Int’l.

As soon as the ball was tipped, NYJC got to work. With a few quick passes, Tan Jin Hui (NYJC #8) got open and knocked down a three-point shot to start the game. NYJC played good defense to stop ACJC from scoring while converting on their shots to extend their lead.

Kenneth Kiang (ACJC #6) of ACJC beat the first quarter buzzer but NYJC led 11-6 after the first.

NYJC played good defense throughout the game to stop ACJC from scoring. Making use of their defense, they were able to force turnovers off the ACJC players. NYJC converted those turnovers into fast-break points to steadily increase their lead.

Despite knowing that it would be tough, ACJC never gave up fighting. They tried their best to score and Kenneth Kiang (ACJC #6) led ACJC with team-high 12 points.

Despite that, Jordan Ong (NYJC #5) of NYJC led the game with game-high 13 points and NYJC were able to get balanced scoring from all of her players. However in doing so, Al Khalifa Bin Mazlan (NYJC #14) sprained his ankle in a play which was a blow to NYJC for he was the main rebounding center.

Without, Al Khalifa Bin Mazlan (NYJC #14), NYJC played harder and eventually overwhelmed ACJC 68-35.

Captain Al Khalifa Bin Mazlan (NYJC #14) of NYJC expressed after the game, “I think ACJC managed to attack the basket quite aggressively. They didn’t give up and were hardworking all the way until the final buzzer. To counter their offense, we kept switching between man and zone to confuse their players and surprise them when we switch so that they are caught off guard and we can get the turnovers.”

“The first thing that went through my mind when I sprained was pain. Next, I felt very unfortunate that I could not play with my team due to it but I just have to be strong and quickly take care of it so that I can be back soon.”

Scoring by Quarter
NYJC vs ACJC
1st Q: 11-06
2nd Q: 14-06 (25-12)
3rd Q: 25-14 (50-26)
4th Q: 18-09 (68-35)

Top ScorersNYJC
Jordan Ong (#5) – 13 pts
Al Khalifa Bin Mazlan (#14) – 10 pts

ACJC
Kenneth Kiang (#6) – 12 pts

NYJC Roster
Zhong Zhu Chen (#3), Jordan Ong (#5), Herng Ee (#6), James Lee (#7), Tan Jin Hui (#8), Dominic Poon (#9), Nicholas Quah (#10), Xu Zi Heng (#11), Leow Zhan Xian (#12), Al Khalifa Bin Mazlan (#14), Wu Can Heng (#20), Wilbur Tan (#26)

ACJC Roster
Pan Feng (#1), Liu Hanyang (#2), Kenneth Kiang (#6), Kenneth Mah (#10), Nicholas Lim (#11), Xavier Ng (#12), Kng Yew Chian (#15), Osho Gnanasivam (#17), Joel Song (#23), Kean Goh (#24), Timothy Tan (#25), Justin Ee (#35)

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