WG Sport having already lost 2 games, were already out of running for round 2. As a result, many of their players did not turn up and they only had 6 players. We on the other hand, continued to good (new) practice of arriving early and started the game with a full 11 players (only Poh Guan, who has yet to turn up for any of the games, was absent). However, the 6 players who did turn up for WG Sport put up a stirring and inspiring performance!
In the early going, we were unable to handle their quick, strong and sharp offense, despite our best efforts defensively. In the 1st quarter, WG Sport shot the ball incredibly well (56% FG%, with a 4 for 4 / 100% 3 point shooting - one of the 3 pointers was even shot some 3 full steps well behind the 3 point line!). Fortunately, we were also scoring on the offensive end, with Sem having the "hot hand", more than making up for his previous game's misses. Still, whilst we were scoring, mostly were outside shots whilst WG Sport was either hitting 3 pointers (remember, they didn't miss any in the 1st quarter!) or getting high percentage in-close lay ups or drawing fouls on our players. Ching very quickly was saddled with 2 fouls and had to sit and it just felt like WG Sport was in control and were the aggressors and we were on our heels and always seemed a step slower than them. Although we scored 18 points in the 1st quarter (which is our typical scoring goal), WG Sport scored 25 points (and seemingly with ease).
The 2nd quarter continued in the same pattern, with us scoring but with effort and WG Sport continuing to score with ease. The score continued to pull further and further apart and at the 5 minute mark of the 2nd quarter, we were suffering our biggest deficit at 29-45 (a 16 point deficit)!
Realizing that if we continue to do the same things, we will continue to get the same results, I knew we had to make a change and try something else. I decided to switch Phang (who had volunteered and took the challenge of stopping WG Sport's best player, their No. 7, an extremely quick and sharp shooter) onto WG Sport's weakest player (No. 5 or 15) and subbed Kelvin in to "face guard" their No. 7.
The move worked and paid huge dividends. Kelvin played a fantastic defensive game and virtually took No. 7 out of the equation. Unable to run their offense through their No. 7, WG Sport's offense became more and more disorganized and individualistic. Though Ching returned and made some critical scores, he was again quickly hit with his 3rd foul and had to sit. Nonetheless, with Sem continuing his "hot shooting", we slowly, gradually but surely and steadily, started to close the gap. By half time, we had cut the deficit down to 8 points (39-47).
The 3rd quarter continued in the same manner, with Kelvin still maintaining superb face-guarding of No. 7 and a very fresh Ching (who had sat out half of the 1st half) running fast break after fast break scores. By mid-way of the 3rd quarter, we finally caught up and took our first lead at 55-54. WG Sport regained the lead (55-57) momentarily before we persevered (with HEART and DESIRE!!) and regained the lead for good, taking a modest 68-63 lead into the final quarter.
Towards the end of the 3rd quarter, we went on another push, with Kelvin and Chuan hitting big, back-to-back 3 pointers to push our lead to the biggest its been to that point at 68-63 (a 5 point lead).
Although we managed to push the lead up to72-63 (our biggest lead of the game), WG Sport refused to give up and continued to push back, going on several mini-runs themselves and causing Ching to foul out. However, the closest WG Sport would get was 5 points. Each time they came close, one of us would make a critical score to keep them at bay, including several impressive dribble penetrations by Phang, a 3 pointer by me, a critical lay up by Kelvin and a critical 3 point play (lay up + foul) by Chuan.
In this way, we were able to hold them at bay. Final score : 84-79.
Individually, although Ching was in foul trouble virtually the whole game, he continued to be extremely effective whenever he was on the floor. Despite the limited minutes, Ching still came away with an impressive double-double of 16 points 10 rebounds. Phang too, despite missing a few layups he usually makes, played a solid game with 14 points, 5 rebounds and a team high 7 assists. With Ching in foul trouble, Chuan stepped up his game and played a solid double-double with 16 points, 15 rebounds and adding 6 assists as well. However, the difference makers were clearly (a) Sem who carried us offensively with 55% 2P% and an impressive 43% 3P% on 3 of 7 shooting, finishing with a game high 21 points along with 3 rebounds and 4 assists and (b) Kelvin, whose contribution does not show up on the Boxscore / Game stat, having played MVP-like defense against WG Sport's No. 7 - Kelvin played so well defensively, from the time I inserted him about the 5 minute mark of 2nd quarter, I never took him out until the last minute and half of the game, when I subbed him because WG Sport was desperate and was going to try to full court press us.
Ultimately, it was a team effort, with contributions all round and great HEART and DESIRE to pull the win out despite the daunting deficit. Well done, Ex-UM!
Our next and final, Round 1 game is this Friday vs the as yet undefeated JK5. We will need nothing less than a win to advance to the Quarter Finals (though it matters not how many points we win by, even a 1 point win is sufficient for us to advance). Come on Ex-UM, we can do it! UM! UM! UuuuuuuMMM!!
(Below the game stats)
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