Written by: Kam Keng Han
Edited by: Chen Kexin and Lydia Ong
Photos by: EusoffWorks
Basketball F Finals vs TH
1st Set (W) 15-2
Vivian
Hwee
Tam
Jermaine
2nd Set (L) 13-14
Chok
Vera
Cheryl
Angela
3rd Set (L) 5-9
Jin Wen
Alex
Aderes
Shanice
Overall Score: Eusoff 1-2 Temasek
After a tough week of preparation for TH in the finals, the girls headed into the match all fired up. Since it was the finals, I decided to take down as much stats as I could to recognize the contributions and play making abilities that our players possess. (note that the game is very quick and there are definitely mistakes to the stats…)
1st Set (W) 15-2
Spectacular defense by our Eusoff girls as they hounded their TH opponents better than loansharks do...
It was a true display of hustle and determination. In the opening set of the showdown between EH and TH, our girls never once let the opponents settle down into a comfortable setting. We were constantly in their faces and caught pretty much every rebound. From a spectator standpoint, Jermaine was the star of the show. She dominated the stat sheet, racking up 9 goals, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals. This game also showcased the chemistry between the dynamic duo of Vivian and Tam as they flowed in tandem with their movement and passes around the court. Hwee and Vivian once again, owned the area below the rim. Rebounds after rebounds were collected by them. On top of that, they also farmed up blocks and steals as TH tried their hardest to work around their tight defence. 10 min of game time later, the girls came out of the court gassed yet satisfied as they set the tone for the rest of the game. Game 1 to Eusoff.
2nd Set (L) 13-14
Cheryl out there hustling and going past TH defense before her injury
If you have never had the chance to witness fighting spirit, then this is the game to watch. The game started off slowly, but other than that, it was just like any other game. 3min into the first half, with the score-line at 4-4, Cheryl went for a 2 point shot (from the traditional 3 point line). And BANG. Shot enters the hoop. It was a splash shot, clean as a whistle. The bench cheers. Seconds later, the court went quiet as Cheryl turned to the bench, grimacing in pain as she grabbed her ankle. The 2 point shot had caused Cheryl to reinjure her ankle. From this point on, the girls team was tasked with the challenge of playing 2v3 as Angela and Chok were both IVP players. Only one IVP player was allowed at any point in time. With a slight lead at 6-4, Vera and either IVP player now had to hold down the fort and bring the game home. Anyone would know that a 3v2 is extremely lopsided. That thought did not daunt our girls for they would at times take on multiple defenders or defend as much space as possible, TH could barely capitalize on the numbers advantage. Every goal that they landed was extremely hard earned. Unfortunately, it was evident that our girls, especially Vera, were getting gassed out. With 20 seconds left to play, TH took their first lead of the game 14-13. With 5 seconds left on the clock, the ball landed in Angela’s hands. She ran out onto the 3 point line and seemingly, time seemed to slow. She faced the hoop and took aim and fired a shot just before the buzzer went off. Alas, the ball hit the rim twice and fell off, bringing the overall score to 1-1. Though the game was a loss, the girls surely are proud of themselves for their spirit and resilience in battling through the adversity and difficult circumstance that was presented to them. More importantly, Cheryl is okay!
3rd Set (L) 5-9
Spectators and opponents were watching with bated breaths to see if the shot could go in
Win with humility and lose with graciousness. This game was close and TH’s level of defense suddenly switched on. The pressure that they had against us was immense and barely gave our players any room to work with. They were also unafraid to drive into the paint and drew countless fouls along the way. The game remained close at 5-5 but suddenly, something seemed to click for TH and they started to score on every single lay up they attempted. Collectively they were disciplined and calm and seemed to have an answer for Eusoff’s tactics. It was also clear that the coach’s goal was to neutralize Jin Wen due to her explosive nature (because I eavesdropped) to which they somewhat did. Jin Wen landed many shots and at times took on all 3 defenders at once but ultimately, we fell short.
Final score 2-1 to TH
Kudos to Temasek for a spirited game and a well fought game to Eusoff!
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