Basketball Guys + Girls

In an otherwise fine day for basketball, the rain had threatened to call SH IBG basketball to a halt on this very chilly and windy day. However the atmosphere on the courts was much unlike the cold weather, with each blocks cheering their hearts out, and burning passion show on the faces on the respective block Basketballers. With the girls and guys match played concurrently, there non-stop pulsating action on the courts as the blocks pit their skills on the court. As the eekers walk away happy on this very day with both the guys and girls coming in champions, special mention must be given to all this very enthusiastic blocks and players who gave it their all throughout the matches played today. It was truly a shearites’ event and the glory belongs to everyone and not just a single block.


Girls’ games
E vs. D
HT score: 2 - 14
FT score: 6 - 24
Despite the disparity in score, the deeblockers’ girls on court show immense fighting spirit in the game, never once letting their heads hang low. They applied pressure on the female eekers from the very start of the first whistle. However the star of the show came from our very own ex-sportswomen of the year last year Yi Feng who was unstoppable in the proceedings showing her credentials and experience on court.
C vs. A
FT score: 30 - 6
The acers and c-towners were next on the courts, playing out tough defence and lethal offense from the very start. The towering girls of the c-towners prove too much for the acers as they easily overpowered their way through in a very flattering scoreline, yet the acers was tough mentally and never really gave in despite all the pressure.

D vs. B
HT score: 4 – 10
FT score 12 – 12In a very exciting game from start to end, the deeblocers and beekers was relentless in their quest for dominance as the deeblocks need a win to stay in competition for a place in the finals, and the beekers wanting to give a good account for their first game. The beekers were ruthless in the first half, knocking down basket after basket with chuanting showing the way, however in the second half, the lion heart spirit of the deeblockers prove irresistible as they clawed their way back to contention and almost came away with a comeback victory. It was not to be but both blocks played their hearts out.

A vs. B
FT score: 20 – 8
With pride and possibly still a slot for the finals, both teams gave it their all. However exhaustion play a major factor in this match, as the beekers haven’t really recover from their previous game, and the fresh and raring to go acers gave them a tough fight. In the end, the acers prevail as the tired troops for the beekers fought till the very end.

C vs. E
FT score: 20 – 11
In the battle between the two hot favourites, the c-towners and eekers put up a good show for the respective set of supporters. The towering c-towners versus the skilful eekers, a battle of epic proportion ensue. Both teams were pretty close in the opening stages; however the eekers show more steel and determination in the closing minutes with zhiying and yifeng combining well for the last few baskets bring the game to an end.

Finals
C vs. E
FT score – 20 – 8As the final is the repeat of the final preliminary game, it pits the towering c-towners vs. the eekers once again. Despite the previous game defeat, the c-towners were pretty much determined to give a better account of themselves this time. They came out much stronger than before, however the familiar duo manage to subdue the rest of the c-towner team after much hustling and tough running between the both teams. The result ended again in the eekers favour, however truly the c-towners gave the holders of the IBG female basketball a decent scare before fading away.


Guys’ match
A vs. B
HT score: 5 – 12
FT score: 13 – 30
On the guy’s side of the court, the acers and beekers were the first to face off. It might seem a pretty straight forward affair at the start, as rongtzu (beeker alumni) needed no time to start terrorizing the defences of the acers. The acers just had no answer to him, with Jin Wei also contributing to the beekers’ cause of searching for lots of baskets. The match was over by the time it was half time as with a 7 point lead, the pressure was off the beekers as they slowly ease away to a their victory.

D vs. E
FT score: 22-23
In a rematch of last year’s final, the deeblockers were first off the blocks scoring consecutive basket which the eekers had no answers to. As the game drag on, the combination of Li jing, Zhi Bin and Yeow Lin consistently tore through the ranks of the eekers’ defence. The half ended pretty much in their favour as the eekers trail by 5 at the turn. Showing resilience and strength in numbers, the eekers finally made their numerical advantage in terms of the bench players coming on to provide fresher legs on the court. With the combined efforts Nicholas Tan and Darren Chua, the score was brought closer as the eekers slowly edge themselves closer to the deeblockers after a run of 5-0. Eekers smell blood going into the last minute, as once they took the lead, they never look back despite making a schoolboy error underneath the basket at a point of time.

C vs. A
HT score: 3 – 2
FT score 7 – 5
The c-towners were the fresher of both teams, as the acers had a previous game before. The fatigue started to show in the acers’ faces, but they ran hard and long, still they little progress in terms of basket count. The c-towners too were made to work for their points as the acers defended valiantly and restricted their scoring opportunities. The end result was in the c-towners’ favour as the acers went out of the competition rueing the possible victory.

D vs. B
HT score: 10 – 15
FT score: 22 – 24
In a do or die match for the deeblockers, they must beat the beekers to stand a chance to have a shot of retaining their championship of last year. With the game restarting after problematic weather, and failing flood lights in the midst of the game, the beekers started strongly with the talismanic alumni rongtzu blitzing past all who dare to stand against him. The beekers manage to stretch to a comfortable 5 point lead by the turn. The deeblockers were not down and out thought, with the introduction of Kaiwen, their spirits were rejuvenated and took the game to the beekers. With rongtzu going out for a rest, the match hit a standstill at 22-22. However the strong hearted deeblockers failed at the last asking, as their failed to convert their chance as the beekers had the last laught scoring the last basket of the day winning the match and the chance of getting the IBG male championship.
C vs. E
HT score: 4 – 7
FT score 7 – 19
With both sides coming into this game with a win, it became a winner takes all situation. Eekers made a change to all 5 starting players with zhicao coming in place of Nicholas. The match started pretty slowly as both sides struggle to convert their baskets. Both sides gave each other a tough game from the start till the half time break with the difference of only 3 points. However the numerical advantage of the eekers prove the trump card they had, with 10 players rotating in and out, the fresher legs and hot scoring form of zhicao proved to be the downfall of the c-towners as the eekers stretch their lead and finished the game off.

Finals
B vs. E
HT score: 12 – 11
FT score: 14 – 31
In the final game of the night being played in near darkness as the floodlights proved unstable and faulty, most of the shearites had left the SRC with the beekers and eekers left behind to do the final battle. Losing their talisman rongtzu to injury from the previous game,no one will forgive the beekers if they decided to give up. However they did not and took the fight all the way to the eekers doorstep and score consecutive baskets and the eekers team totally in a mess after making a series of turnovers. However as the half draw to a close, it became a pretty close fight as both teams showed no hesitation to fight for any of the loose balls. After the half it was a different story as again, numerical advantage that the eekers had the whole night proved to be more effective than skills and technique. Using a wide array of substitutes, the eekers manage to close down the beekers restricting them to half chances with they themselves proving ruthless at the other end of the court. The final score though pretty much flattered the eekers, but kudos to the supporter that stayed back and support their respective teams, and the helpers for the event.

Thanks to all the shearites that came down to make this IBG event a successful one despite the weather not favouring us. Till tomorrow, everyone lives to fight again. Not for the championship but for the spirit and experience and friendship that we build by playing together and against each other.

Santa