NBL Round 5 (Regular Season): Adroit hand first defeat to Hornets

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Hornets (4-1) in Singapore on Sunday night. Hosts were rolled over by Adroit (6-0) 66-44. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Hornets. They outrebounded Hornets 51-39 including 38 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was Meng Leon Kwek Wei (190) who scored 15 points and 7 rebounds. The former international point guard Zhong-Han Wong (183-1997) chipped in 10 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Jun Hao Mah produced 12 points and 9 rebounds for the hosts. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Undefeated Adroit have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place with 6-0 record. Defending champion Hornets keep the second position with one game lost. They share it with Xin Hua. Adroit are looking forward to face Chong Ghee (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Hornets will have a break next round.
SG Bball can celebrate their first win this season after two consecutive losses. The victory is especially important as it came on the road game in Singapore, where they edged SAF (1-5) 89-86. Shengyu Lim orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 15 rebounds. Shi-Yang Ng contributed with 12 points and 6 assists for the winners. Xuan Xian Kerk answered with 22 points and 8 rebounds for SAF. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. SG Bball (1-2) left bottom position moving up to eighth place. It was SAF's third loss in a row. They dropped to the tenth position with five games lost. SG Bball will play against higher ranked Xin Hua (#3) in Singapore in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. SAF will have a break next round.
SBA can celebrate their first win this season after three consecutive losses. The victory is especially important as it came on the road game in , where they defeated Nanyang (2-3) 60-53 on Sunday. Leslie Chen stepped up with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. Benjamin Lim responded with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 16 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. SBA (1-3) left bottom position moving up to ninth place. Nanyang at the other side keeps the seventh position with three games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last two games of round 5 winless Tagawa was defeated by Chong Ghee in a road game 66-60. Xin Hua beat Zebra at home 73-55.



SAF - SG Bball 86-89

SG Bball can celebrate their first win this season after two consecutive losses. The victory is especially important as it came on the road game in Singapore, where they edged SAF (1-5) 89-86. SG Bball forced 20 SAF turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. Shengyu Lim orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 15 rebounds. Shi-Yang Ng contributed with 12 points and 6 assists for the winners. Xuan Xian Kerk answered with 22 points and 8 rebounds and Jeryl Neo added 17 points and 5 assists in the effort for SAF. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. SG Bball (1-2) left bottom position moving up to eighth place. It was SAF's third loss in a row. They dropped to the tenth position with five games lost. SG Bball will play against higher ranked Xin Hua (#3) in Singapore in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. SAF will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
SAF: K.Xuan Xian 22+8reb+3ast, N.Jeryl 17+3reb+5ast, W.Yew 12+7reb, M.Han-Qing 12+5reb+2ast, S.Sherman 7+1reb+1ast, A.Reuben 6+2reb+1ast
SG Bball: L.Shengyu 22+15reb, P.Bin 19+2reb+1ast, L.Remus 14+3reb+4ast, N.Shi-Yang 12+4reb+6ast, T.Jun-Rong 8+2reb+6ast, N.Max 8+3reb

Hornets - Adroit 44-66

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Hornets (4-1) in Singapore on Sunday night. Hosts were rolled over by Adroit (6-0) 66-44. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Hornets. They outrebounded Hornets 51-39 including 38 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was Meng Leon Kwek Wei (190) who scored 15 points and 7 rebounds. The former international point guard Zhong-Han Wong (183-1997) chipped in 10 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Jun Hao Mah produced 12 points and 9 rebounds and the former international guard Kelvin Lim (191-1996) added 7 points and 10 rebounds respectively for the hosts. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Adroit have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place with 6-0 record. Defending champion Hornets keep the second position with one game lost. They share it with Xin Hua. Adroit are looking forward to face Chong Ghee (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Hornets will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Hornets: M.Jun Hao 12+9reb+2ast, D.Oh 9+4reb+3ast, K.Lim 7+10reb+2ast, K.Bryan 5+2reb+1ast, X.Yang 4+4reb, L.Tay-Ding 3+2reb+1ast
Adroit: K.Wei Meng Leon 15+7reb+2ast, Q.Toh 13+8reb+1ast, Z.Wong 10+5reb+8ast, B.Naqib 9+9reb+1ast, N.Bin 9+8reb+1ast, W.De 5+4reb+1ast

Chong Ghee - Tagawa 66-60

There was no surprise when bottom-ranked Tagawa (0-4) was defeated on the road by sixth ranked Chong Ghee (3-2) 66-60 on Sunday. However just six-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. International guard Justen Chiam (177-2002) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 25 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and Yuan Lim Jun chipped in 11 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. International forward Shi-Yu Ng (197-2000) responded with a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!) and 13 rebounds and Minghui Pan scored 8 points and 7 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the third consecutive win for Chong Ghee. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Tong Whye. Tagawa lost their fourth game in a row. They still close the standings with four games lost. Chong Ghee will meet league's leader Adroit in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Tagawa's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Singapore to the arena Tong Whye.
Top scorers:
Tagawa: N.Shi-Yu 33+13reb+3ast, P.Minghui 8+7reb+3ast, H.Andy 7+6reb+2ast, P.Harihaaran 7+4reb+1ast, N.Zhao Feng 4+5reb+1ast, C.Wei Zhun 1+2reb+2ast
Chong Ghee: C.Justen 25+11reb+4ast, L.Jun Yuan 11+9reb+6ast, H.Yi-Fan 9+7reb+2ast, M.Amirul 7+5reb+1ast, C.Pepito 7+3ast, O.Darius 3+2reb+1ast

Xin Hua - Zebra 73-55

No shocking result in a game in Singapore where fourth ranked Xin Hua (4-1) defeated bottom-ranked Zebra (0-5) 73-55 on Sunday. Xin Hua outrebounded Zebra 50-39 including a 35-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. Xing Yuan Han stepped up and scored 12 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners and the former international point guard John-Jing Ng (190-1994) chipped in 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Five Xin Hua players scored in double figures. International guard Xavier Ng Jun (188-2000) responded with 12 points and 6 rebounds and Dillion Yap scored 11 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Xin Hua moved-up to second place, which they share with Hornets. Zebra lost their fifth game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings with five games lost. Xin Hua will meet at home SG Bball (#8) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Zebra will play against Siglap (#4) in Singapore and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Zebra: G.Jeryl 12+2reb+1ast, N.Jun Xavier 12+6reb+1ast, Y.Dillion 11+6reb+1ast, F.Hao Seng 6+8reb+3ast, O.Kai Ning 4+3reb, M.Tan 4+1reb
Xin Hua: T.Cheng Shan 16+6reb+2ast, S.Zhi Yun 12+3reb+1ast, J.Ng 12+8reb+4ast, H.Xing Yuan 12+9reb+7ast, Y.Ching Poh 10+5reb+1ast, L.Zhi Jian 4+8reb+1ast

Nanyang - SBA 53-60

SBA can celebrate their first win this season after three consecutive losses. The victory is especially important as it came on the road game in , where they defeated Nanyang (2-3) 60-53 on Sunday. SBA held Nanyang to an opponent 23.3 percent shooting from the field compared to 33.8 percent accuracy of the winners. Leslie Chen stepped up with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 13 rebounds for the winners and Jia Rong Koh chipped in 10 points and 11 rebounds. International guard Benjamin Lim (184-1997) responded with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 16 rebounds and Aik Chua-Cheong scored 10 points. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. SBA (1-3) left bottom position moving up to ninth place. Nanyang at the other side keeps the seventh position with three games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Nanyang: B.Lim 15+16reb+1ast, C.Aik 10+2reb+1ast, Y.Ronald 7+3reb, M.Marvino 6+7reb, G.Pei Zong 6+3reb, C.Bryan 6+3reb
SBA: C.Leslie 12+13reb+1ast, K.Jia Rong 10+11reb+2ast, P.Haran 10+3reb+1ast, T.Zhi-Cai 9+9reb+1ast, W.Wong 9+1reb+2ast, T.Sze Tuan 7+3reb