Singapore withstood Kazakhstan smart defense, won 82-71Boxscore : (16448)Fantastic Four were down one and half. Ling Feng Kong was on streetclothes, and Lim Shi Xin hurt his left wrist on scrimmage last week.
Things were going smooth as Singapore took 43-31 lead into halftime behind Peh Jian Long and Lin Chuan Loong strong play. But things gone complicated at 3rd quarter, when Kazakhstan start to pack the paint area, forcing a lot of outside shooting by Singapore team. Yap Kwang Meng, Kang Puay Ying and Abdul Hamid combined for 0/9 FG as they were forced to take plenty of long Jump Shooting. But Merlions managed to hold up the lead 63-55 going into 4th quarter after Kang Puay Ying buzzerbeater dunk that brought the standing ovation from crowds of the Esplanade Indoor Stadium Arena.
But the momentum is drowned again at 4th, as Kazakhstan use 11-4 run to cut Singapore lead by one 68-67. Both team kept exchanging bricks from the field, went scoreless until final four minutes when Kazakhstan tough giant Sergei Golinchekhov were fouled out. Singapore didn't waste the final chance and then keep pounding the ball to Lin Chuan Loong and Loh Leong Tong. Both were clutch to drag away Singapore lead by six with less than a minute to play. Kazakhstan kept misfired from three point land, and finally Singapore able to escaped with final score 82-71.
Peh Jian Long led Singapore with 15pts and 12rebs, Lin Chuan Loong had 14pts with only 17minutes of playing. Abd Rauf Ishak and Kang Puay Ying have 11 and 10 pts, despite combined for 7/27 from the field. Team leader Lim Shi Xin were started, but limited only for 14 minutes as the injury was obvious from his movements. He scored only 2pts and grabbed 5 rebounds.
Tanatar Musanov led Kazakhstan with 17pts. Kazakhstan star PF Igor Kelin were hold to 7pts and 9rebs, thanks to Lin Chuan Loong and Li An Wen tough defense.
Singapore will fly to Brussel on next week to face up with giant-crowded Belgium team.