The time and place for UM boys’ basketball team’s next practice is as follows:-
Day : Wednesday
Date : 30th July 2008
Venue : 5th College, outdoor basketball court
Time : 7:30p – 10:30p
A weight training session will also be held (conducted by our Asst. Captain, Amirul) at Pusat Sukan weight room @6:30p-7:30p. All players are encouraged to attend this session prior to the practice above.
1st year students who have been invited to attend and those interested to try out should attend.
As for veterans, its time to start our preparations for the 2008/09 season. See you all this Sunday.
After 3 months Xballer League has finally come to an end. Although we lost our final game to finish 3rd Runner Up (4th), this has been one of Ex-UM's best performance in a lomg while.
A lot of the credit must go to Chuan whose youth, size and athleticism makes us a totally different team.
However our success is also due to the development and maturation of players like Ming Lip, Leong, Bik Yih and Juin Haur, giving us much more depth than we've ever had.
Our final game was against Myth again, the same opponent in our 8th game. During our 8th game we only had 6 players and was without Ben, Leong or Chuan. We lost that game by 43 points (51-94)!
Myth was big, physically strong and shot the 3 point shot extremely well.
This time however we had almost all our players (except for Ben). We set the same goal of staying close to give ourselves a chance at the end.
Myth was ultimately still a very big and physically strong team. Whenever the got the ball in the paint, it was virtually impossible to stop them from scoring without fouling.
Pin was also late so we didn't have our usual starting unit. Juin Haur did well stepping up and filling in for Ben but defensively Ming Lip kept missing rotations and we had a tough time on defense.
That allowed Myth to jump out to 19-10 lead after 1 quarter.
When we finally had our front court of Sem, Pin and Chuan on the floor together in the 2nd quarter, we were able to press often, with great success. We quickly closed the gap and trailed only by 3 points at the half (28-31).
And for the second straight game, our bench players also played steady and well (though when Ming Lip and Leong were on the front court, the unit were not effective on the press).
That allowed us to stay close the rest of the game. Unfortunately, we just couldn't stop them when in close and we couldn't quite catch them up.
FINAL SCORE : 55-59
We finished as 3rd Runner-Up / 4th.
Scoring disribution for this game:-
No. 6 Hung - 0+0+2+0=2
No. 7 Leong - 0+0+0+2=2
No. 8 Juin Haur - 0+5+0+5=10
No. 9 Chuan - 4+6+4+2=16
No.10 Pin - 0+0+0+4=4
No. 11 Sem - 4+5+2+4=15
No. 12 Loke Yew - 0+2+0+0=2
No. 13 Ming Lip - 2+2+0+0=4
Having observed our team and compared to other sronger teams, if Ex-UM is to continue to improve, we will have to improve (1) our individual ability to create shot opportunities for each other by being able to dribble penetrate and pass (2) improve our medium distance shot accuracy and (3) perhaps most importantly, improve the speed of our shot release.
Well done Ex-UM!
What a fantastic game we had last night! We were 4th seed playing against OAE the 1st seed with a 9-0 record.
Our 1st game in the league round had been against OAE too. We lost that one badly by 44 points! (42-86) But then that was our first game in the competition and for many of us (myself included) was the first competitve basketball game in a long while. Also we didn't have Chuan (who had yet to be invied to play for us) and didn't have Pin (injured ankle). Still, OAE was clearly the overwhelming favorite for last night's game. Our goal was to keep the score close and not let OAE run away with the game so we'd have a chance at the end. OAE started out playing man-to-man immediately and our early efforts to post Chuan up was not effective. Early in the game it didn't look like we'd be able to achieve our goal of staying close as OAE jumped out to an 11-2 lead, forcing us to take a time out. Afer the time out, we settled down and adjusted to OAE's man offense by posting Chuan higher and managing to get a few lob passes in for easier baskets. More importantly we stepped up our half court defense and started flying by every 3 point attempt and rotating and covering for each other. That allowed us to gain control of the game rhythm (they missed, we pushed the tempo, we scored and they had to slowly inbound). The rhythm therefore allowed us to go into our "230" half court zone press early and OAE did not handle it well at all. After the time out we went on 12-2 run to take a slim 1 point lead by the end of the 1st quarter (14-13). We started the 2nd quarter with 4 bench players (Haw Keat, Juin Haur, Ming Lip & Leong) with Ben (who had got a few minutes' rest in the 1st quarter). That unit played excellently and stayed close to OAE. OAE maintained a 2 or 3 point lead only throughout the 1st half of the 2nd quarter. We then subbed the 1st unit in (except Ben who needed to rest) together with Hung. Unfortunately this unit did not maintain complete focus as a unit and had several defensive breakdowns allowing OAE to pull out to a 7 point lead by halftime (28-35). As the 2nd unit had played well and I wanted the whole 1st unit (me, Ben, Sem, Pin and Chuan) together, I had a 2nd unit without any starters, start the 3rd quarter (Haw Keat, Bik Yih, Juin Huar, Ming Lip and Leong). That 2nd unit played fantastic and cut into OAE's lead, drawing within 2 points. At the 5 minute mark, the 1st unit returned and this time, played much better, staying within 2 or 3 points at all times. After 3 quarters we only trailed OAE by 3 points (45-48). At the 6 minute mark, we subbed the 1st unit back in. The 1st unit even managed to take a 4 point lead ourselves with about 3+ minutes left. Unfortunately, OAE hit a few 3 pointers and free throws and regained the lead and pulled out to a 6 point lead (63-57) with less than 1 minute left. We took a time out so we could advance the ball and in bound at the half line. We had already run our "line" inbounds play several times and each time OAE knew and expected the lob pass and kept a player back to deny that pass. But coming out of the time out, they forgot and I managed to hit Chuan with a long pass who was fouled and hit his shot for a 3 point play. Chuan hit his FT and drew us within 3 (60-63). We went into our zone trap and caused a turnover. We ran our half court offense and Pin hit a BIG 3 point shot to tie the score (63-63). We played good defense and OAE missed and Pin got the rebound with 3.9 seconds left. OAE players tried to trap Pin but Pin managed to dribble out of trouble and OAE made a big mistake. With 3.9 seconds left and Pin still in our back court, OAE player was called for a foul on Pin's drive. OAE was in "red flag" situation so that meant Pin was shooting 2 free throws with 3.9 seconds left and the score tied. All we needed was 1 of the free throws. Pin missed both free throws! Over time! In overtime, again OAE pulled out to a modest lead. With less than 20 seconds left, we still trailed 70-74. Then Sem hit a big basket (72-74) and we trapped and got the ball back. We took a time out and drew up a play for a 3 point shot. I inbounded to Pin and OAE fouled Pin in the act of shooting! Pin got 3 free throws but we needed all 3 to win this time. Pin hit the 1st 2 to tie the score (74-74) but missed the last. 2nd Overtime! However late in the 1st OT, Sem had fouled out. Midway thru the 2nd OT, Ben too fouled out. OAE finally pulled away and with less than 1 minue left had a 6 point lead (82-78) and possession. That forced us to foul intentionally on defense and to take quick 3 point attempts on offense. Unfortunately, OAE made their free throws and our 3 point shots wouldn't go in. FINAL SCORE : UM lose 78-88 Scoring disribution for this game:- No. 4 Haw Keat - 0+0+0+2+0+0=2 Although we lost the game in the end, as I said at the beginning, WHAT A FANTASTIC GAME! All players played their hardest and as best they can AND all played great. I am so proud of our team and the players. Next game later this evening (Sunday) 5:30pm vs Myth for 3rd/4th placing. Well done, Ex-UM.
With full confidence in our 2nd unit (the same one that started the 3rd quarter), we started the final quarter with the 2nd unit again. Again they played great. Not only did they keep the score close, they even caught up and took a 2 point lead.
No. 5 Ben - 0+6+0+0+0+0=6
No. 6 Hung - 0+2+0+0+0+0=2
No. 8 Juin Haur - 0+2+2+0+0+0=4
No. 9 Chuan - 7+0+4+7+4+4=26
No.10 Pin - 2+2+3+3+2+0=12
No. 11 Sem - 5+0+6+0+5+0=16
No. 13 Ming Lip - 0+0+0+3+0+0=3
No. 15 Bik Yih - 0+2+2+3+0+0=7
As usual the overall basketball level / skill displayed was poor (though there were a few with good potential) but (as usual) fan / supporter level was SUPERB! (see background of pictures).
The supporters were LOUD ... they sang, chanted, cheered their team and boo-ed the opponent regardless of whether their team were winning or getting blown out! Fantastic spirit.
Players too tried their very best even though many obviously were not basketball players or may even be playing the game for the first time in their lives.
Finals / 3rd-4th placing (boys & girls) will be played this Friday 5-7pm @Varsity Green, UM.
Note : there are no games being played today.
Freshie/1st year basketball games are being held on 1st, 2nd and 4th July 2008 at varsity green 5pm-7pm.
