SJI win first C Division boys’ basketball title, five-peat for Nanyang Girls’

SINGAPORE – Just four years after their basketball programme tipped off, St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) were crowned C Division Boys’ League 1 champions on Aug 26, after beating Presbyterian High School (PHS) 57-47 in the final at the Jurong East Sports Hall.

While unexpected, the progress was a fillip for SJI, who competed in the second tier of the National School Games’ in 2024 and were promoted after finishing second.

SJI captain Jude Ng said: “We didn’t expect this at the start of the season, but we have surpassed all expectations to become No. 1.

“We are extremely happy to be able to be part of this history-making experience. We managed to work as a team and execute what our coach told us to do, and it worked out.”

SJI coach Koh Meng Koon thanked the players’ parents for their support and credited the school for helping to prepare the younger players through external youth tournaments.

He added: “Today’s win was down to our strong defence, which we have been working on. We also had good teamwork and confidence, which led to the players making eight three-point shots.”

Despite having eight Secondary 1 and seven Secondary 2 boys on their 15-player roster, SJI stamped their mark from the tip-off.

Their fluid defence, coupled with their 38 per cent success rate from beyond the arc – more than double PHS’ 16 per cent – proved crucial in the final.

The SJI players’ fine shooting from the perimeter gave them a solid 50-29 lead after three quarters, while allowing them to weather a spirited PHS fightback in the final period.

A five-point spell from small forward Sean Yuen (13 points) also helped calm their nerves.

PHS captain Ryan Peh, who congratulated the champions while wiping away tears, said: “We trained a lot for the final... but we could have done better offensively and defensively.

“The fighting spirit in the last quarter was positive and we aim to come back stronger next year.”

SJI’s maiden basketball title was all the more special for forward Tan Sheng De, who completed a unique double after clinching the C Division Boys’ football gold on Aug 13.

He said: “We bonded a lot and learnt a lot as a team. It feels really great to have the whole school behind us.

“Personally, I really can’t choose which sport I prefer now, but I think the basketball win is bigger for SJI because it’s our first League 1 title ever.”

In the C Division Girls’ final, Nanyang Girls’ High School also relied on clinical shooting to trounce Swiss Cottage Secondary School 63-13 for their fifth title in a row.

Nanyang Girls’ coach Eleanor Chen had set a goal for her players to make 6,000 baskets in the week leading up to the final, and it paid off as they made 46 per cent of their field-goal attempts, 20 per cent of their three-point shots, and 49 per cent of their free throws.

Notably, power forward Goh Yanqi’s game-high 16 points trumped the opposing team’s total tally.

Nanyang Girls’ co-captain Lee Yun Shan said of the shooting challenge: “It could be free throws or any moves to the basket... and it really helped to improve our shot accuracy.

Co-captain Rebekah Sng added: “The key to today’s win was also hard work, defence and energy.

“Everybody worked really hard for this moment, and the coaches and supporters really encouraged us, sometimes also buying food for us when training got tough and tiring.”

Though Swiss Cottage suffered a heavy defeat, they were delighted to reach their first final since the basketball programme began in 2019. Their coach Ryan Koh also had only one month to work with the girls before the competition.

Swiss Cottage vice-captain Shen Yiting said: “We are disappointed to lose, but we also gave it our all to put up a fight, and we hope we can do better next year as we move on to the B Division.”