Thursday, November 27, 2014

For the Archives: Match Support Messages

It's been a while since I've posted here but I was browsing through the RJ batch '13's group messages and found our old messages for getting supporters:

(2012)
Against HCI in the Semi-finals:
Hi everyone, the guys basketball team has made it to the semi-finals of the nationals, but has unfortunately came in second in their group. We'll be playing arch-rivals HCI on Friday at 1.30pm at Singapore Basketball Centre, which is a short walk from Paya Lebar MRT.

It's going to be a tough fight (tougher than the finals, if we get there) with our team's injuries and plethora of individual talent HCI possesses. Nevertheless, we will not concede defeat without a fight in our attempt to upset the defending champions, who has yet to win a game by less than 40 points this season. (anything >10 is a blowout)

So, if you know any of the players or can't catch the NBA playoffs, this would be a perfect opportunity to catch some action. We saw that the crowd support made a huge difference in the girl soccer finals and hope the school can once again rally to be a sixth man on our side of the court.

P.S: You all can stay for the girls semis against SRJC as well at 3pm!
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(2013)
Against AJC in 2nd round:
Hi everyone, the Boys Basketball team will be playing rivals AJC (last year's finalists) on Wednesday at 3:30 at the Basketball Association of Singapore. It will be a BIG game as we have previously lost to the team by a substantial margin in a pre-season friendly (in our defense, we played the game right after our GP paper), but our much improved arsenal of tactics and trenchant style of play shall attempt to avenge our previous defeat.

This is a MUST WIN game and a defeat would signify a clash against the titans of HCI and their plethora of national team players and dunkers, which we hope to avoid until the finals, where it would be a more interesting spectacle for the supporters as we attempt to delegitimize them on the grandest stage of all.

Thus, we would really need everyone's support as we go to war and prepare to stake our lives against AJC and desist their attempt to return to the finals, as we make the case for ours. Whether it's a friend you're supporting or an ardent basketball lover, the palpable intensity of the game will be too much to let by, and we promise not to disappoint in our efforts.

If you would like to make your way down to the event venue and witness greatness, please follow the instructions from this link! http://gothere.sg/maps…

We hope to enter the game buttressed by our dearest friends and schoolmates, and your presence will inspire us and allow us to take our game to another level. See you there!
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Against Dunman High in 2nd round:
After a long grind it out match against AJC that involved many bated breaths, adrenaline rushes and never-seen-before technical fouls, our boys team unfortunately fell to AJC 47-52.

However, not all hope is lost and we shall not remained bowed, as we look to hang on to clinch a spot in the semi-finals against Dunman High, also victims of AJC. Both teams remain bloodthirsty in their attempt to cement and engrave their worth in this year's basketball medals, and as we leave nothing to chance, neither would Dunman.

Once again, we turn our heads to the school as we leave everything on the court to avoid a disgraceful elimination in the second round for the first time since... time immemorial. For those of you who were kind and fortunate enough to turn for the AJC game, we know that you saw us fighting for our lives, playing for the name in front of our jerseys, as well as the numbing excitement a basketball game entails.

If you and your friends would like to make your way down tomorrow, it is at the Basketball Association of Singapore near Paya Lebar, next to Geylang East Swimming Complex. It will be at 330, so come on down, especially if your school ends before that!

If it comes down to a guts game we shall be unfaltering.
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Against HCI in Semi-finals:
Dream: Winning starts with a compelling vision. It is a seed thats planted in your mind, and it grows every single day, with you feeding it with your desires, your hopes and dreams, insecurities and fears, passion and hate. Some people live in a dream world, and some face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.

Team: Its not a collective group of individuals or talented players; its a connection that transcends and unites, a duty and responsibility, that my actions are inextricably tied to yours, and so are the results. The companions that have battled beside you and tasted sweet victory and bitter defeat together, the ones that have so much to give that the absence of just one of them will make you feel like youve lost a part of your soul.

Fight: Every player can imagine himself/herself winning it; they close their eyes and unbelievable things happen. Then they wake up and realize, the dream is no longer enough. They want MORE. When the grind gets going and times get tough, our effort will be relentless. Well give our opponents 40 minutes of hell, until the buzzer sounds, until its all said and done.

Win: When dream, team, fight, have been realized, nothing will stand in our way. In victory or in defeat, we will be champions, victorious in our own right.

The thrilling match against Dunman High saw us trailing by 8, only to come back with a 16-0 run and hold the opponents scoreless for the last 8 minutes to win 43-33. Now, we brace ourselves for the showdown against the monolithic entity known as HCI. After 7 years of supremacy and reign as the heralded champions, tomorrow marks the day where we shall impose our will and dethrone these former kings. Many might doubt us for that presumptuous premise, but 6 years in Raffles Basketball has taught us to exceed expectations, to play above our potential. This is what we live for, what we count on, and tomorrow we shall set this spirit at our highest.

Theres a bus for supporters (one way) to Paya Lebar tomorrow at 1:15 so if your school ends before that, please make your way down and give us your all. Therell be the girls semi-finals vs Nanyang at 1:30, and the guys semi-finals at 2:30. We hope for everyone to be down and be the sixth man on the court, spurring the team on as we stake everything to emerge victorious.

For those of you who came down for the previous games, we thank you for your support, and that tomorrow, no matter how it plays out, remember this:

Count on Gryphons Basketball.
Count on DTFW.
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Against AJC (again) for 3rd/4th placing:
3rd/4th placing game. Monday, 2:30pm @ BAS.

No more cryptic messages, no more mercurial exhortations or esoteric allusions. No more motivational posts.

Be there, or be square.

All supporters are welcomed.


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