EIS Lovers Season IX Matchday 3

Highest Rookies Attendance

As Season 9 started, this was the season with probably the most rookies registered. Rookies mostly come from Jolly factor and we EIS Lovers welcome you all.

Rookies for this season.

Team 2 Callum - Deadly rising star who dwells greatly beneath the basket.

Team 4 Cal - Veteran drafted straight from California. Pal of Jackrin. Currently short of match fitness but should prove a great asset as he get used to the humidity.

Team 4 John - Strong agile player. Friend of Wu with similar physical abilities.

Team 4 Saar - Brotherhood with Jolly & Dev. Agile SF who likes to score on open 3s.

Team 4 Michael - Friend of Jolly Factor. Demanding PG who continuously motivates his teammates through the match.

Matchday Report

Match 1 : Team 2 (15) 34 : 51 (25) Team 3

Team 2: Dennis 19 pts., Jay 6 pts.

Team 3: Dev 17 pts., Benz 7 pts.

It was a big match to watch as the winner of this game might be crowned the half-season champion. Team 2 started brightly as Pete hit the opening shot. Both team traded baskets as mid-way through the first half, Team 2 were leading 11-10. But as Team 3 use full roster rotation, Team 2 were starting to hit fatigue and were outscored 15-4 in the closing minutes with Dev recording 11 points in the first half.

As the 10 point deficit might weigh too heavy for team 2, Dennis’ teammate struggled to hit form and was lost for the second time of the season. Although Wolfgang was somehow out of gas for the whole match, excluding Dev who hit a season-high 17 points, his teammates each hit a couple of baskets to pull the game beyond hand.

Match 2 : Team 1 (20) 38 : 41 (29) Team 4

Team 1: Michael 12 pts., Eddie 8 pts.

Team 4: Wu 17 pts., Saar 13 pts.

Another interesting match as Team 1 hopes their victory today coupled with a great result in the other match might bring them to top spot pits against the improving Team 4 who doesn’t want to end the half-season with no victories.

Kato, snapped by Team 1 from Japan, made a surprise start and made Team 1 look stronger at the back. However as Team 4 finally gelling, Wu led his team both defensively and offensively as if the heights of Michael and Kato didn’t matter at all. Though the twin towers of Team 1 started brightly with both combining for 11 first half points, but the big general surprise was the form of Wu and Saar who combined well for 22 of 29 points.

With Team 1 shell-shocked by their 9-point deficit, Team 4 wasn’t able to capitalize on the event. With Michael hitting jumpers in his favorite 15 meter spot, midway through the second half Team 1 slashed the lead to 4 trailing 32-36. Both teams traded baskets as Team 1 led 38-34 with 4 minutes remaining. With Michael hitting another jumper for Team 1, Saar stepped up big and scored what was probably the most important 3 pointer of the game to pull his team to a 5 point lead.

With the lead slimmed, Team 4 tried to run down the shot clock and hang on to their lead. The strategy had back-fired as the referee hit Team 4 with 2 short clock violations. But with IN_FORM Eddie probably scoring more points than he missed, Team 1 was never going to catch up.

With 3 seconds ticking down the clock, Jai was fouled going for lay-up. Missing his first and most important free throw, Team 4 finally breathe a sigh of relief and finally recorded their first season win.