By Kelvin Lim
Circuit 4 in Kluang, Johor was full of talking points with the main headline being Johor Southern Tigers securing their playoff ticket despite being on the receiving end of hometown disappointment with their first loss of the season.
Here’s our weekly Power Rankings!
(All rankings are the personal opinion of the writer)
#1 NS MATRIX DEERS
Overall (7-3) Circuit 4 (2-0)
Circuit 4 Results
vs Johor Southern Tigers 88-63 W
vs Penang Sunrise Youngsters 89-76 W
Handing Johor Southern Tigers a hometown beatdown and finishing Circuit 4 with a perfect 2-0 record sees NS Matrix Deers back at the top of our weekly power rankings.
After Johor Southern Tigers dealt them their own hometown heartbreak last weekend in Port Dickson, NS Matrix Deers returned the favour in stunning fashion, blitzing them with a 17-4 second quarter run to grab a double digit lead, never looking back by keeping up their hot offence and holding Johor to their lowest scoring output of the season.
Despite missing Ting Chun Hong due to illness against Penang Sunrise Youngsters, NS Matrix Deers prevailed in a close contest against the Penangites, coming from behind at the half, pulling away late in the game through three pointers from Dequan Abrom and Chang Zi Fueng.
It was clear to see that Amir Williams’s improved physical condition was a huge factor in their stellar Circuit 4 performance as the team had arguably their best circuit so far with top class output on both ends of the floor.
With Matrix announcing a duo of Singaporean signings in ace scorer, Jonathan Wong Zhong Han and experienced big man, Delvin Goh, the odds of the defending champions retaining this season are looking drastically higher now.
Circuit 4 Star Performer:-
Amir Williams was no doubt the rock of the team in both wins, averaging 19.5 PPG, 12.5 RPG and 2.5 BPG in Circuit 4.
#2 – UCSI RISING STAR
Overall (4-6) Circuit 4 (2-1)
vs KL Aseel 81-58 W
vs Johor Southern Tigers 56-97 L
vs Penang Sunrise Youngsters 76-69 W
With crucial victories over fellow playoffs qualification contenders, the ever improving UCSI Rising Star keep their No.2 spot on our weekly power rankings.
The newcomers opened their Kluang circuit with a dominant victory over KL Aseel, blasting them with a 18-0 third quarter run to seal the win.
In a strategic move, the team opted to rest Tychique Bosango and Chong Zhen Yang against Johor Southern Tigers and were predictably mauled as it looked like they were keeping an eye on their upcoming clash against Penang Sunrise Youngsters.
The decision bore benefits as UCSI Rising Star pulled away in the fourth quarter against Penang Sunrise Youngsters through Zhen Yang’s 11 fourth quarter points while Bosango delivered 4 key assists.
The improving chemistry between Marcellus Roberts and his young teammates is evident and UCSI Rising Star are now looking like true playoff contenders.
Circuit 4 Star Performer:-
Taking on a more of a facilitator role, Tychique Bosango didn’t light it up in the scoring department but showed his versatility, leading the team on both ends of the floor, averaging 11 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 6.5 APG. 4.5 SPG and 3.5 BPG in Kluang.
#3 JOHOR SOUTHERN TIGERS
Overall (9-1) , Circuit 4 (2-1)
Circuit 4 Results
vs NS Matrix Deers 63-88 L
vs UCSI Rising Star 97-56 W
vs KL Aseel 95-69 W
It was a hometown circuit of highs and lows for Johor Southern Tigers as they took their first loss of the season but secured their playoff ticket by the end of the weekend..
It was a rough debut for new signings, veteran center Chee Li Wei and young Singaporean big, Lavin Raj in a truly cold shooting night in Kluang for Johor Southern Tigers as the team crashed to a heavy defeat to the defending champions NS Matrix Deers as the team failed to break their opponent’s intense defence
The team bounced back in style, routing UCSI Rising Star without Tychique Bosango and Chong Zhen Yang in the next game with a 41 point win, the largest of the season so far.
Able to rest Heng Yee Tong against KL Aseel, the team ran riot over a KL Aseel team in complete disarray pushing their overall record to 9-1, leaving it impossible for KL Aseel to overtake them, hence securing their playoff ticket.
Even though the team sent their home fans home happy with two huge wins (against teams missing key players), the team will surely be thinking about how NS Matrix Deers outclassed them and will need to dust themselves off and learn their lessons if they want to take that extra step to the gold this season.
A noteworthy achievement for the team was Heng Yee Tong logging his 100th MBL career assist and Moses Morgan now only 82 points away from 500 MBL career points.
Circuit 4 Star Performer:-
The writer might as well plant Arinze Chidom’s name here every week. The MVP candidate averaged 23.3 PPG and 7.3 RPG in Kluang while shooting at an impressive 61.3% rate.
#4 PENANG SUNRISE YOUNGSTERS
Overall (3-6) Circuit 4 (0-2)
vs NS Matrix Deers 76-89 L
vs UCSI Rising Star 69-76 L
It was a frustrating Circuit 4 for Penang Sunrise Youngsters as they are now on a three game losing streak, falling behind UCSI Rising Star in the standings.
The team had a positive showing against NS Matrix Deers, leading at the half but crumbled late in the third quarter in the face of NS Matrix Deers’s signature press defence.
There was a scary moment for the team after Jayson Lee had to be helped off the court due to an ankle injury but thankfully for the Penangites, he was able to return.
It was a dejavu feeling for them in their crucial game against UCSI Rising Star as they lost their fourth quarter lead after failing to stop Chong Zhen Yang’s scoring efforts. Poor shot selections down the stretch ensured their Kluang circuit is one they’d like to put in the rear view mirror.
With only seven players averaging at least 10 minutes per game (lowest in the league), it’s clear that Penang Sunrise Youngsters have a roster depth issue and they’ll need to figure out a way to gain more production from their bench if they don’t want to miss out on the playoffs for the second straight season.
Circuit 4 Star Performer:-
With Cameron Satterwhite and Jordan Tolbert logging in their regular output, we feel Jayson Lee deserves to be his team’s top performer this week, shaking off a poor performance in Johor to deliver 15.5 PPG and 3 SPG in spite of his injury scare against NS Matrix Deers.
#5 KL ASEEL
Overall (1-8), Circuit 4(0-2)
vs UCSI Rising Star 58-81 L
vs Johor Southern Tigers 69-95 L
It just keeps getting worse for KL Aseel as their losing streak balloons to eight with two crushing defeats in Kluang.
The team’s bad luck with injuries continued with Brachon Griffin unavailable for Circuit 4. The team kept themselves in the game against UCSI Rising Star before a horrendous 0-18 run in the third quarter sealed the heavy loss.
KL Aseel actually logged in a decent performance against Johor Southern Tigers and were still very much in the game in the second quarter before a bizarre incident which witnesses reported Head Coach Kris Reyes having a heated argument with Anthony Moe and subbing him out while his team were only down by seven.
Things went downhill for KL Aseel’s all local line up from then as the league leaders ran rampant on them.
The team must find a solution to the clear disharmony within the team and have their import positions sorted before the trade deadline later this month if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
.Circuit 4 Star Performer:-
In spite of his limited minutes in their second game, the big center from Guyana, Anthony Moe
Was still their best player, averaging 17 PPG and 13 RPG while going 4 for 5 from beyond the arc.
Here’s the latest standings after Circuit 4
