Chong Gene Hang College avenges last year’s second-place finish, as Heep Yunn continues dominance for seventh consecutive year
Man Chun-kit of Chong Gene Hang College (left, in white) scored a total of 16 points in the finals against Diocesan Boys' School. Chong Gene Hang College and Heep Yunn School were crowned the champions at the Nike All Hong Kong Schools Jing Ying Basketball Tournament (2018-19) at Queen Elizabeth Stadium on Sunday.
Chong Gene Hang College finally returned to the top of the local secondary basketball world with a 76-49 win over reigning champs Diocesan Boys School (DBS). Their last time as champions was during the 2001-2002 season. They managed to avenge their loss from last year, when they placed second.
“I believe we managed to outplay DBS mainly because we had taller players in the box, and our three-point field goal percentage was quite high,” said Bobby Yip Chun-fung, a 19-year-old player at Chong Gene Hang College who was also chosen as the Boys’ Most Valuable Player. He also led the game in steals and assists.
Chong Gene Hang College, the Hong Kong Island Division One champion, took the lead at the start of the match and never gave it up. The closest the game got was a two-point differential at the end of the first quarter.
However, as the second quarter commenced, Diocesan Boys’ School fell further and further behind. They were down by 9 at the end of the second quarter, and 22 by the end of the third. Chong Gene Hang College dominated the entire game and blew away their opponents with a final score of 76-49.
Meanwhile, Heep Yunn School remained the champions of the girls division for the seventh consecutive year. In the final match against Hon Wah College, Heep Yunn School established a 7-point lead at the end of the opening quarter.
Hon Wah College strove to fight back in the second quarter and the teams were tied twice, at 21-21 and 27-27.
However, the defending champion regained control in the third period and took the lead with three-pointers by 17-year-old Yannie Chan Yan-man, who was later selected as the Most Valuable Player. They eventually defeated Hon Wah College by 20 points, 66-46.
“During the halftime break, our coaches reminded us to attack according the weaknesses of each player from the opponent team,” said Karen Lau Fong-ying, the power forward of Heep Yunn School.
The 18-year-old player added that winning the Jing Ying Tournament was the perfect ending to her secondary school life.
Ng Yan-tung, the point guard of the team and Form five student said, “There’s so much pressure to continue the legacy, but this will also push us to try harder and improve every year.”
After being defeated in the Girls’ Final, Hon Wah College Basketball team captain Jackie Ma Tan-fung said, “When both teams were neck and neck in the second quarter, we wanted to earn more points quickly. That’s where we started to become flustered and fall behind.”
She also blamed herself for not being able to lead the team effectively in the second half of the game. “I feel very guilty. Also, because it’s my last year to play at Jing Ying, I’m quite disappointed with the result.”
In the Boys’ Third Place Playoff, the reigning Kowloon Division One champion Po Kok Secondary School won a tough match against Lam Tai Fai College, who made it to the final four of the Jing Ying tournament for the first time ever. Lam Tai Fai College got off to a great start with a 8-point lead by the end of the first quarter, but Pok Kok Secondary School made an impressive comeback as the game proceeded.
It was touch and go for the rest of the match, especially in the final quarter where Po Kok Secondary School only had a one-point lead at 62-61 and 68-67. Finally, Po Kok Secondary School finished Lam Tai Fai College off with a 81-75 win and claimed third place.
“Although I’m glad we won this match, I still feel a bit regretful,” said Tsai Choi-nam, the 18-year-old power forward of the team. Po Kok Secondary School has been competing in the top four at the Jing Ying Tournament for the past three years. They came fourth two years ago and won third place last year.
“I feel a bit down because we didn’t manage to break through,” Tsai added.
In the Girls’ Third Place Playoff, the Tuen Mun District inter-school champion Baptist Wing Lung Secondary School beat Ju Ching Chu Secondary School (Kwai Chung) with a 5-point win of 74-69 and walked away with a third place finish.
“Although Ju Ching Chu Secondary School (Kwai Chung) scored many three-point field goals in the third quarter, we couldn’t just give up,” said Chan Lok-yu, 15, the point guard of the team. “I just wanted to win so badly, and we’ve proven that we can.”
Edited by Jamie Lam