Reflection

"What to do with a mistake - recognise it, admit it, learn from it, and forget it."

Dean Smith

Reflection Questions for C Div 2007

1) What would be the ONE thing that we did well for the season? what did we achieve that was most worthwhile?

2) If we had a chance to do this all over again, what we would be ONE thing that you will do differently?

C Div 2007: RI vs Jurong

Final Score
RI 47-50 Jurong

This was the last match of the group stage, and we had to win in order to qualify for the second round of the nationals.

We started off pretty tense, missing lots of free throws and executing our offense poorly, ending the quarter at 15-6. The second quarter was where we gained back our confidence, making timely interceptions and converting offensive rebounds and fastbreaks, going on a huge streak to lead 23-17. In the third quarter, Jurong managed to fight back, and led us by 6 points going into the last quarter. We fought hard, and down by 1 with 6 seconds to go, we misjudged their out of bounds play and allowed them to score an open basket, With 1 second left on the clock, Ravins tried a long range attempt which went in and out, marking the end of a really close game.

So, we're out of the nationals.

But we'll learn from our mistakes and do much better next time.

It Happened Before.

Hi C boys, I just want to have my say before you all go into your game. (please read coach's post, below mine)

2004: When I was Secondary 1, Raffles Basketball C division was nothing, no one expected us to make the nationals, or even the Top 4.

Nationals 1st Round: We had to beat either Rivervalley (Zone 2nd) or Woodlands Ring (Zone 1st) to qualify. We beat WRS by 8 points and lost to Rivervalley by 7. But we still qualified on a +1 point difference, we beat WRS and erased the 21 points pre-season thrashing by them.

Nationals 2nd Round: We had to beat either Maris Stella (Zone 3rd but expected to beat us) or Unity to qualify. We lost to Unity by 21 points. We entered the Maris game as underdogs. We were down by 10 at one point but we blitzed past them and won by 16. We qualified.

Nationals 3rd/4th placing: We lost to CCHSM in the semis by 7. So we played Woodgrove (Zone 2nd, and we were expected to lose). We stopped their superstar and we won by about 10+ points. So 2004 concluded RI C'div 2004: Zone 3rd, Nationals 3rd.

That year, our circumstance was even more impossible that what you'll are at now. So, its definitely possible.

2006:

Zone 2nd Round: We lost to Queensway by 1 unexpectedly, unplanned, unnecessarily. We dug ourselves into a hole and we had to find a way out by beating Newtown and Queenstown, both whom were seemingly good enough to beat us well. We beat Newtown by 17 we beat the Queenstown team (that we lost to by 20, 10, 5 points during a friendly, zone 1st round match, and semi final match respectively in 2004 during C Division) 21 points. We qualified.

So its your turn guys. Its never impossible. We did it, we weren't supposed to, but we intended to. We don't need you to emulate any success. Write your own story and beat Jurong on Monday. If its anything we have that the others don't have, its Dream Team FIGHT Win.

Winning Starts with a Compelling Vision

Every moment, even when the splitting headaches come, I think of winning. On the bed, before the computer, before and after I discovered I had chicken pox.

• I think of RI beating Jurong and going crazy when the whistle goes.
• I dream of the frozen faces of the Jurong players and fierce determination of the RI boys.
• I dream of the opponents missing layups and giving up offensive rebounds.
• I dream of them committing defensive fouls as we let loose and attack.

(heck I even think of beating them by 54 and knocking them out)

Doesn't matter whether I can be there or not, I can see that reality in my eyes.

Jonathan will do well, in training and even in matches. There are many blind spots that he has helped me correct. Every training session is a result of discussion between us. To coach the team all the way and hand it over to JW for last 2 sessions will help more than it impedes.

Take for example the jump stop instruction - I would never have thought about that.

So pick yourselvs up and go - stop emo-ing and prove yourselves worthy of wearing that jersey. For all your skills and ability, you have proven nothing yet.

Every batch has gone through severe setbacks and prevailed. You have gone through setbacks. But I've not seen you prevail. Wake up and prove yourselves!

Everybody thinks you will lose - are you guys in such a pathetic state that you think the same?

Gryphons Cup 2007: Review

Champions: RI 05

Runners Up: RI 95

MVP: Yao Zhen

Court Run Champion: Jaron Lee

3 on 3 Champions: David, Ricky, Shawn

Seen through my eyes...

Gryphons Cup 2007 surely must be the most memorable for RI 05 (Ray Wen, Kenneth, Aaron, Yao Zhen, Wei Quan, Jing Wei, Qing Yuan, Sun Ning, Yi Qing). This is the batch that have never played in any National competition before (with exception of Ray Wen in his sec 1 year). Even their highly anticipated final year in Raffles colours was also disappointing as they crashed out in the 1st round to eventual champion and runners up Hwa Chong & Innova JC.

This championship is indeed a first (in more ways than one) for the boys. Facing the dominating RI 95 with Low Jia Ren anchoring the post, I went in to coach them with no pressure and no expectations, just looking to push them as much as possible.

As anticipated, RI 95 started the game firing on all cylinders. Long range bombs, turnaround scoop shots, conversions off offensive rebounds, the juniors soon found themselves trailing by 10 and this extended to about 16 points by the 3rd quarter.

That was when Jia Ren came off for a breather and to avoid foul trouble. Sensing a chance to strike back, the Juniors turned on the 221 zone press and the full court man to man. With an amazing sequence of forced turnovers and breakaway layups, they quickly made up for the lead that RI 95 enjoyed. By the time Jiaren came back into the game, the momentum was way too strong and even the key players on RI 95 could not stop the J2s.

RI 05 ran out winners by 2 points (I think).

A Salute to RI 95...

I found you guys very gracious in defeat - it reminds me of the classics and the pioneers, for whom victory is important, but secondary to sportsmanship + celebration of the younger Rafflesians' success.

Perhaps it is age, perhaps it is maturity - In any case I just thank you for making this such a memorable experience for the J2s.

A Word for the Organisers
Thanks to Jaron, Daniel, Shawn & gang for organising - I do not think we take this for granted, that every batch will step up to play their part. I am just proud and excited that another batch has value-added to the legacy of Raffles Basketball.

C Div Boys 2007: Nationals 1st Round

Pardon late update, RI had 2 very bad games in the past 3 days.


RI 50 vs EastSpring 51

The team were mentally unprepared for the game and were handed a shock defeat by East Zone 3rd place team EastSpring.
It was a game where everything wrong occured together:

1. Poor play
2. Disunity
3. Dubious calls
4. All other problems you can think of, including a late bus.

We deserved to lose and dug ourselves this hole - now we have to climb out of it.


RI 48 vs Maris Stella 46
With 1 serious injury, 1 sick boy, and the possibility of elimination, RI turned in an extremely nervous & subpar performance. We led for 3 quarters but never managed to pull away. Then in the 4th quarter, Maris turned the tables and led RI by as much as 6 points.
With our backs against the wall, RI dug in a fought back and staged a miraculous turnaround to win by 2. Indeed the only way to describe it is: 死里逃生

With these 2 games, RI has to beat Jurong to ensure qualification for 2nd round. Any loss and our fate will depend on other results.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, we press on toward the goal to win the prize