Ex-UM @ JW Cup - QF Stats (vs MTV Digital)

What a game!! Ex-UM played extremely well against a quality, strong team. MTV Digital controlled most of the game, leading for 3/4 of the game and leading by as many as 14 points. As late as 3 1/2 minutes left in the 4th quarter, we were still down by 8 points (39-47)! But we stayed poised and slowly closed the gap, finally tying the score and taking a 1 point lead on a 3-point play by Ching (50-49), with less than 1 minute left in the 4th quarter! From there our players held on, getting another critical lay up and then hitting all 4 of our free throws to win the game, 56-49!!

Well done indeed Ex-UM!! We are through to the Semi Finals!!

Click "Read more" for game details and game stat.

The game started in wet, slippery conditions, with the rain having just stopped. The game stayed close early. FG% for both teams were virtually identical. However, MTV had a small 5 point lead towards the end of the 1st half but managed a half-ending, buzzer beating 3 point shot, allowing them to take an 8 point lead into the break.

At the start of the 3rd quarter, MTV hit a few perimeter shots and pulled out as far as a 14 point lead. However, as the quarter progressed, MTV went to a full court press and ended up committing way too many fouls, putting our players on the free throw line continually, allowing us to keep drawing close.

In the 4th quarter, with only 3 1/2 minutes left, MTV still had an 8 point lead. But the constant fouls and our team's strategy to have Jensen face guard their No. 6 point guard, started swinging the game flow in our favor. Sem starts it off with a 3 pointer, Jensen hits off a good dribble penetration and (after JK5 hits a jump shot) Ming Lip hits another critical 3 pointer from the corner. Off a missed shot, we push the ball up court and Jensen finds Ching in the lane who gets fouled and makes the shot! Game tied (49-49). Ching calmly hits the ensuing free throw and with 50+ seconds left, we had our first lead in a long time (50-49)! MTV then commits a critical turnover, fumbling the ball out of bounds. On the next possession, Ching finds Ming Lip at the top of the key. Ming Lip takes one bounce and drives hard to the basket for a layup!! 3 point lead (52-49)!! That forces MTV to start rushing up 3 pointers (which mis)s and to foul to stop the clock thereafter. Poh Guan and then Ming Lip both calmly step up and hits all four of their free throws to put the game safely out of reach and to close out a very good victory. Well done indeed!!

Ching as usual gets yet another double-double (18 pts, 16 rebs) but had a team high 9 TO's!! Sem broke out of his recent 2 game slump in a HUGE way, getting a team high 21 points off an impressive 8/16 FGM/A and 100% FT shooting. That's more like it, Sem!! Poh Guan still struggled from the floor (with an 0/5 FGM/A) but led the team with 7 assists and hit the 2 critical free throws that put the game out of reach. Ming Lip almost had a double-double of his own, with 8 pts and 12 rebs and the critical, powerful layup to give us a 3 point lead. Jiunn Ming and Hung also played critical minutes, giving Jensen critical rest times so that Jensen could shut down MTV's best player, their No. 6 point guard.

Looking at the box score, it can be seen that our game stats are virtually identical for both teams, across the board, with only one exception. 2 pt FG%, 3 pt FG%, rebounds and even turnovers are all virtually identical. The most glaring stat that is different is the FT's. MTV put us on the line 28 times! (compared to just 13) whilst we hit 64% of our FT's and they hit only 31% of theirs. That one stat alone is a game decider in this game.

Well done everyone! Below is the game stat Box Score.

Ex-UM v MTV Digital (56-49)