What a game! A close game throughout, with both teams making big play after big play but we persevered for a hard fought, well earned 76-74 narrow victory! Click "Read more" for more details and box score stats.
MMBC had 3 main players, a very big and tall center (No. 11), a sharp shooter / scorer (No. 12) and incredibly good point guard (No. 5). No. 5 particularly was nigh impossible to stop and he continually dribble penetrated into our defense and either scored on impressive lay ups or set up his team mates for easy scores. At the same time, MMBC's man-to-man defense was making it difficult for us to score.
At our end, Phang and Sem (who together usually contribute 30 points or so to our total score), were absent
By end of the 1st quarter, we found ourselves trailing 23-21. In the 2nd quarter, we started to solve MMBC's man defense. We went to our power dribble option and it resulted in us either scoring or drawing fouls on several possessions in a row, until finally MMBC gave up on their man-to-man defense and switched to a 2-3 zone defense. Meantime, we started face guarding their No. 5 but their No. 12 was HOT and kept MMBC in the game. By the end of the 3rd quarter, the score was still tied (53-53).
That set up a furious finish to the game. With 1+ minutes left, the score was still tied at 65-65. That's when, after missing all my 3 point attempts up to that point, I hit a 3 pointer from the corner and is fouled. I make my free throw for a 4 point play (69-65). However, in the next 2 possessions, both No. 5 and No. 12 score for MMBC whilst Pin travels and Ching turns the ball over on our possessions. Tie score again 69-69. Poh Guan then scores on a secondary break on my assist and is fouled. Free throw is good. 3 point play! (72-69). However, on the very next possession, MMBC's No. 12 dribble penetrates, spins, scores and is fouled! Free throw good too and a 3 point play and tie score yet again (72-72). We answer yet again with Jensen calmly hitting yet another baseline jumper (74-72). But MMBC answer again with dribble penetration and a beautiful pass setting up No. 11 for an under-basket score (74-74). This time, we fail to answer as Jensen's driving, short jumper rim out. MMBC takes a time out with the score tied and 10+ seconds left. Following their time out, they rush their play and the ball goes out-of-bounds! We call time out with 5 seconds left. I draw up a play for Jensen and our players execute it to perfection and Jensen hit's a free throw line jump shot (76-74)! Learning from our Johnny Walker Cup semi-finals, our players immediately go on defense. MMBC's player make a bad pass and I intercept. Time runs out! A hard fought and well earned win. Final score : 76-74!!
Individually, Ching gets his usual double-double with 26 points and 16 rebounds (in fact almost a triple double again with 9 drawn fouls!) (though Ching's FT% this time is not as good at 54% only). This time, I too get a double-double with 11 points and 12 assists! Jensen and Poh Guan both also contribute double digit scoring with 16 and 14 respectively.
On MMBC's side, their No. 12 scores a team high 38 points on 46% 2P% and 50% (!) 3P% shooting! Whilst their No. 5 led their team with 9 assists and also contributing 16 points!
The team stats for both teams are pretty close across the board, save one . The difference I feel in this game is free throw attempts. We managed to avoid fouling MMBC so that they only attempted 9 free throws but MMBC ended up fouling us repeatedly, sending us to the free throw line for 29 FTA (where we make 69% of them)! That's the game right there.
Well done Ex-UM. Below is the game stats box score.
 |
| Ex-UM v MMBC (Boxscore) (76-74) |
No comments:
Post a Comment