In a keenly contested women’s basketball final, the National University of Singapore defeated the Institute of Technical Education to emerge champion in the Inter-Varsity/Polytechnic games 2006-2007.

The final was held at the NUS Sports and Recreation Centre Multi-Purpose Sports Hall Five on Oct. 19. The 51-44 victory enabled the NUS women’s basketball team to recapture the trophy they last won two years ago.

NUS team coach Yao Xiu said the team had been “very hardworking” and “fully deserved the victory.” 

“I took over as coach for only a month, and the girls have practiced very hard.

“We took it one game at a time and see how far we can go, and I think the end result is truly justified for the amount of effort they have put in,” she said.

Chen Hui Hui, captain of NUS women’s basketball team, said the team “showed character” in overcoming initial internal problems to play a “good tournament.”

“We went through a change of coach, but the team got together in the end to make this happen,” she said.

Chen added that the team went through a tough training programme and participated in the Tri-Uni games in Hong Kong during June in preparation for the Inter-Varsity/Polytechnic games.

The final began with ITE leading the game, but NUS eventually played their way back into the game. NUS managed to gain the lead in the second quarter and stayed in front all the way until the end.

“We struggled a bit at first,” Chen said, “but once we got into the mood, it was OK.”

Yue Keng Siang, team manager for ITE, said his team played a “very good final” and showed a “strong fighting spirit.”

“It is anybody’s game tonight,” he said. “Whoever plays the best will win the game, and I truly respect the fighting spirit shown by my girls, especially during the last few minutes.”

Gary Ng, another team manager for ITE, said this is “not the end of the game” for the team.

“It is a learning process for the girls, and we are looking to next year already,” he said.