the basketballers

The B Division CCA members

The B Division school team 2008 (from L to R): Mr Ken Ng, Ziting, Wenxing, Haoming, Hwee Teck, Bryan, Andy (captain), Jieqi, Yew Chin, Ben, Xin Yu, Billy. Absent from photo: Kaiming.

The Sec 4s and 5s: Mr Ken Ng, Ziting, Wenxing, Andy, Hwee Teck, Zhi Cheng, Vincent, Colvin, Jieqi, Xiaokai and Bryan

The 'oldies' in our CCA: Ben, Andy, Zhi Cheng, Hwee Teck, Vincent, Colvin, Wenxing

The Sec 4s: Colvin, Jieqi, Wenxing, Zhi Cheng, Ziting & Bryan

The Sec 3s: Eugene, Roy, Yew Chin, Xin Yu, Billy, Haoming & Micky

The C Division CCA members

The C Division school team 2008: Mr Ng, Vincent, Joshua, Joe, Kok Yang, Sheng Xian, Jiawei (captain), Shao Yi, Sean, Jason, Kevin, Herman, Kai Jun, Ting Hao, Jing Hong & Heng Yi

Report on training match vs Greenridge Sec School 18 Jun 2008

Fajar squad that faced GSS today:

Joshua Low 2E2
Teo Jia Wei 2E2 (team leader)
Hazizul 2E2
Jang Sang Jin 2E3
Vincent Koh 2E4
Yeo Han Kun 2E4
Joe Chan 2A2
Tan Kok Yang 1E1
Herman Theng 1E2
Sean Too 1E3
Lim Heng Yi 1E3
Chng Shao Yi 1E3
Lian Ting Hao 1E4
Chew Jing Hong 1A2
Ong Sheng Xian 1A2
Kevin Huang 1T2


The Greenridge team was a very different team compared to our previous two opponents. This team is more experienced and certainly much faster in offense. I knew that Greenridge would provide a stern test for our young Fajar team.


The coach, as always, quickly analysed the situation and gave very simple instructions to the team.

His plans worked very well, for in the first two quarters we were neck-to-neck with them in terms of the scoreline.


However, in the 3rd quarter, Fajar fell apart. Playing man-to-man system is actually very simple and uncomplicated. Unfortunately, some players were very forgetful and looked very lost. Some allowed their players to run away into space. There were times when our players did not realise that the person they were supposed to mark had already gone behind them.

In man-to-man system, you need to stay close and contain your player. Don't give them space to receive the pass. Do not attempt to steal. Just contain and blunt their threat.

You need to know the jersey number of the player you are marking. During defence, do not ever let him out of your sight. Just stick to him. These are all very simple rules but Fajar made it look so difficult.


So, in the 3rd quarter, Greenridge took great advantage of Fajar's confusion.


Again, there was no 'general' on our court to wake the team up. The coach was screaming instructions. My voice bellowed in the indoor court, admonishing players to mark their man and to box them out.

But truthfully, what Fajar really needs is a player who takes charge of the team and barks all these instructions to them. The captain and the vice-captain will need to take on this role to inspire the team and motivate them to perform even better.


After this game ended, both the coach and I are now clear that we need to work on the man-to-man system.

Again, I have to repeat: the man-to-man system is a very simple plan to execute. Against Greenridge, if the players had the presence of mind to work out who they are marking, we wouldn't have played so badly.


This match marks the end of our series of training matches. On Friday, we go back to our home court to refine our formation and skills. Next Monday, we have one more training session in the afternoon. On Wednesday, it is Match Day vs Westwood Secondary.

Fajar, train hard!

Report on training match vs Assumption English School 16 Jun 2008

Fajar squad that faced AES today:

Joshua Low 2E2
Teo Jia Wei 2E2 (team leader)
Hazizul 2E2
Jang Sang Jin 2E3
Vincent Koh 2E4
Yeo Han Kun 2E4
Joe Chan 2A2
Tan Kok Yang 1E1
Herman Theng 1E2
Sean Too 1E3
Lim Heng Yi 1E3
Chng Shao Yi 1E3
Boey Kai Jun 1E4
Lian Ting Hao 1E4 C
hew Jing Hong 1A2
Ong Sheng Xian 1A2
Kevin Huang 1T2


This match against AES was very interesting to the coach and I, because this AES team consisted mainly inexperienced Secondary 1 players, similar to our training squad.

AES has always been one of the best disciplined teams around, mainly due to its strong leadership from its teacher in charge, Ms Peh, who is assisted by the coach who works well with her.


That is why it is important that leaders are strong, steady and rooted in positive and right values. Any team that is led by weak leaders are destined to fail.



In many ways, the Fajar team improved in many ways:

1. There was greater penetration and willingness to attack creatively.

2. The defence was much tighter this time, and AES players were boxed out more. Once we got the rebounds, AES had to run back to defend.

3. There were some improvement in individual performances, such as Lim Heng Yi and Lian Ting Hao, who showed great stamina and were very involved in the game.


Some things that the Fajar squad needs to improve on:

1. Once we get any rebounds, we must never throw the ball away carelessly. This happened quite a number of times, and the ball fell into the hands of the AES players, putting our team under great pressure.

2. At times we were under trouble, but there was no 'general' on the court to organise the team properly! All we needed was for someone to alert the players on the court and tell them to wake up, to play hard etc.


Overall, it was a good match, where we played well and followed the coach's instructions. Incidentally, we did win the game but unfortunately, in training matches, the scoreline does not matter. In friendly matches, there are no prizes for the winner.

In friendly matches, what matters most is that we play to the best of our ability, applying what we have learnt in training, and using teamwork to bring out the best in one another. When we achieve that in any match, then that would be the sweetest victory of all.

Report on training match vs Yuan Ching Sec 13 Jun 2008

Fajar squad that faced YCSS today:

Joshua Low 2E2
Teo Jia Wei 2E2 (team leader)
Jang Sang Jin 2E3
Vincent Koh 2E4
Joe Chan 2A2
Tan Kok Yang 1E1
Herman Theng 1E2
Sean Too 1E3
Lim Heng Yi 1E3
Chng Shao Yi 1E3
Boey Kai Jun 1E4 (suspended)
Lian Ting Hao 1E4
Chew Jing Hong 1A2
Ong Sheng Xian 1A2
Kevin Huang 1T2

Referee: Chua Jun Chang (senior player)

Fajar and Yuan Ching were evenly matched in the first two quarters. However, in the third and last quarter, Yuan Ching pulled away and scored more baskets. Some reasons were:

1. YCSS players were more willing to penetrate, cutting inside the Fajar defence.

2. The YCSS players talked a lot to each other on the court. It was very important to see that the YCSS players were regularly motivating each other, giving encouragement when their player was taking the free throw, for example.

3. Fajar players were passing the ball around, but needed more ideas to penetrate into YCSS defence. Without penetration, YCSS found it easy to defend against us.

4. The box-out in defence was not consistent. Sometimes it was very good, but sometimes the Fajar players were guilty of ball-watching, and let the opponent sneak past to get the re-bound.


Some suggested improvements:

1. Less dribble, more passes - passing the ball is always faster than the fastest dribble. It is important to look up when dribbling, so as to spot any team-mate making offensive runs.

2. Strong defence is the most important - and box-out with the outlet centre can be very effective, especially at the C Div level. If our centres (such as Joshua, Joe, Kevin, Shengxian and Jing Hong) box out well, they will make the opponents feel very discouraged, because they won't be getting any rebounds at all.

3. When attacking YCSS, Fajar players need to be adventurous. Passing the ball around too much becomes harmless. Find an opening, do a fake, do the triple-threat. Find the opportunity to shoot, pass, or penetrate. Do the unexpected.

4. Under the basket, go for the shot. Do not pass the ball away when you are right under the basket. Position yourself, and go for it. You may score and earn 2 points, or you may draw a foul. Either way, our team will benefit. If you pass the ball away, we are actually helping the opponents. And we look very silly as well.


Jiawei played a relatively good game today, because he was more able to talk to his team-mates. Also, he played strongly and gave YCSS a slightly more difficult time.

Tinghao was energetic. He was running everywhere and in defence, he applied strong pressure on YCSS players.


However, on the whole, Fajar's performance is still lacking sharpness. There is much room for improvement.

All the players today must reflect and think about their good moments and not-so-good moments in today's game.

For the next game against Assumption English, you must think about how you can be a more effective player.

Update to training schedule for June

C Div players:
13th Jun Fri friendly with Yuan Ching Sec
16th Jun Mon friendly with Assumption English
18th Jun Wed friendly with Greenridge Sec
20th Jun Fri 0745 – 1100
23rd Jun Mon 1600 – 1800
25th Jun Wed CCA Photo-taking + WZ C Div Match 1
27th Jun Fri 1400 – 1600


B Div players:
13th Jun Fri No training
16th Jun Mon No training
18th Jun Wed No training
20th Jun Fri No training
23rd Jun Mon 1600 – 1800
25th Jun Wed CCA Phototaking
27th Jun Fri No training