Singapore have qualified for tomorrow’s quarterfinals of the 3×3.EXE Super Premier Final, finishing second in Group B following a gutsy win over Swiss outfit LUGANO and a heartbreaking overtime defeat to Japanese side SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE on Day 1 at Sengkang Grand Mall.

Singapore’s opening match was a classic David vs Goliath contest, pitting the home side against LUGANO, winners of the first leg of the 3×3.EXE Super Premier in Japan and currently ranked second in the league standings. The Swiss side, whose players average a towering 1.98m in height, posed a formidable physical challenge, but Singapore more than held their own through tenacious defence and relentless ball pressure that kept Lugano under the pump throughout.

Chen Zhenyu was the standout performer, finishing with nine points, including two two-pointers. With the clock winding down and the score at 18-14 in Singapore’s favour, LUGANO mounted a late push, trimming the deficit to a single point with less than 15 seconds remaining. With the ball in Singapore’s hands and the crowd at Sengkang Grand Mall behind them, the team kept their nerve and calmly wound down the clock to seal an 18-17 victory.

Singapore’s second match of the day was an equally tense affair, with SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE edging them in overtime. With the scores locked at 14-14 and less than two minutes to go, both sides traded baskets in a frantic finish. With Singapore unable to capitalise on numerous opportunities when it mattered most, the match went to overtime following an 18-all draw. It was Ryota Iwata who proved the difference, burying a two-pointer with the scores at 19-19 to hand SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE the win.

“As a team, I think we played well, especially the first game,” said Singapore captain Nur Aufa Bin Emil Putra. “The second game, fatigue got to us. We just didn’t execute at the end. We missed too many free throws, too many twos, and we missed layups. Three game-winning shots we missed. That’s unacceptable.”

Head coach Lazar Rasic acknowledged the lessons his side still needs to learn. “Whatever we as a coaching team tell them, sometimes these players really need to feel it on the skin – for  it to be painful – so they remember the moment and next time recognise the situation on the court.”

LUGANO and Singapore have both advanced to the quarterfinals following LUGANO’s commanding 22-9 victory over SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE in the evening. Singapore will face UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE in tomorrow’s quarterfinals, while LUGANO will face Thai side RN SPORT.EXE.

In Group A, league leaders SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE have secured their place in the quarterfinals, following wins against HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (20-15) and MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (22-13), and will face ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE tomorrow. Group C’s winners BRISBANE 3×3.EXE will face MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE following their group wins over Singapore’s U-23 side 21-20 and ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE (21-13). 

The Singapore U-23 side endured a tough day, after falling to BRISBANE 3×3.EXE by a single point before suffering an overtime defeat to ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE 18-20. Despite ultimately going down in both matches, the young side pushed their more experienced opponents deep into the closing stages before fading at the final hurdle. 

Rasic acknowledged the losses were still progress. “Today we had two tough losses, which is still an improvement compared to the last two stops. Definitely, they are reacting. It’s just that in crucial moments, we are soft.”

The 3×3.EXE Super Premier resumes tomorrow with matches starting from 2pm.