The road to the semi-finals became clearer on Thursday as Day Two of the NBA Rising Stars Invitational delivered another action-packed slate of games at the OCBC Arena.

With places in the knockout rounds on the line, teams across both the girls’ and boys’ divisions continued to showcase their talent, determination and growing confidence on the international stage. By the end of the day, Yali High School became the first team to officially secure a place in the semi-finals, while several other pools remain delicately poised heading into a decisive final day of group-stage action.

After a dominant opening-day victory, Yali High School continued their impressive form with a convincing 74-23 win over Jubilee School in Girls Pool D. Despite the comfortable margin, Yali remained focused on areas for improvement.

“I felt that the game was very energetic, and we were particularly active in rebounding, which is something we need to learn from,” said Zhuoxin Wu. “In terms of cooperation, there are still some aspects that are not quite in place yet that we need to improve on.”

The victory secured Yali’s second consecutive win and guaranteed their place in Friday’s semi-finals, making them the first team to advance to the knockout stage.

Elsewhere in the girls’ competition, Yang Ming Girls High School produced one of the standout performances of the day. After a closely contested first half against Thailand’s Watnoinoppakhun School, Yang Ming took control after the break, pulling away with a dominant second-half display to claim a 97-49 victory. The result sets up a crucial showdown against Gwangju Speer Girls’ High School, with a semi-final berth on the line.

Looking ahead to the winner-take-all encounter, Yang Ming’s Xin Chen expressed confidence in her team’s identity. “Even though the Koreans are much taller than we are, we will use our team’s unique strengths and fast breaks to build our momentum.”

Girls Pool A also saw a powerful statement from Japan’s Seika Girls High School, who defeated Singapore’s Hwa Chong Institution 105-21. Despite the challenging result, Hwa Chong’s players embraced the opportunity to compete against elite international opposition. “When we could score, I think it really boosted our morale,” said Yuanxin. “This tournament is a really great opportunity and I’m really grateful for it.”

Seika’s Honoka Goto highlighted her team’s resilience after a difficult first half. “My shots weren’t going in, so I felt a bit down and was struggling. But in the second half, I managed to push through and recover, and the team was able to finish on a good note.”

While Yali secured early qualification in the girls’ division, the boys’ competition remains wide open. Jubilee School kept their semi-final hopes alive in Pool A with an impressive 95-61 victory over India’s Velammal International School. The result means their final group-stage clash against Kyungbock High School will determine who advances.

Jubilee’s Chimaoby Nzekwue believes defence will be the key. “Next game, we are prepared to hustle in defence. Coach says defence is number one. We defend as a team and we will win as a team too.”

Although disappointed by the result, Velammal International School viewed the tournament as a valuable benchmark. “Back in India, we are number one. We can beat any team at our age group,” said Kushal Singh Manjunatha Singh. “But here, the competition is different. We are here to know where and what we need to improve on.”

Pool B remains similarly competitive after Tongtex Secondary High defeated Bukit Jalil School 85-21. After a slow start, Tongtex found its rhythm in the second half and steadily extended its lead.

“It’s our first time playing in such a high-level competition, and we hadn’t really gotten used to the rhythm of the game in the first half,” said Ting Tzu-Chuan Kao. “After the second quarter, the coach told us to play at our own pace. In the second half, we were playing more of our own style and that’s when we started to pull ahead.”

In Pool C, Thailand’s Assumption College Thonburi defeated Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education 82-68 in a hard-fought contest. Assumption’s Benjaariyakul described the event as a valuable learning experience. “It’s a great experience meeting players from other countries. They are very strong and have different styles of teamwork compared to us.”

ITE captain Chase Clark echoed that sentiment. “The biggest takeaway from this tournament is to see the fighting spirit of the competitors. If given a chance, I would definitely want to compete in such a competition again.”

Meanwhile, Japan’s Tottori Johoku continued to impress with a commanding 91-22 victory over Hwa Chong Institution in Pool D. “This experience has been amazing,” said Toktar. “Being selected for a tournament like this is something you experience once in a lifetime. We get to experience ourselves as NBA players for a while.”

Teammate Philemon Homtapwa Talmon credited the team’s preparation and defensive discipline. “Everyone in the team was playing well. Everyone was focused. We train every day and our defence is good.”

Beyond the competition on court, fans enjoyed a lively atmosphere at the Fan Zone in Kallang Wave Mall.

WNBA champion Lauren Jackson met with delighted supporters, while the Houston Rockets’ Anti-Gravity entertainment team brought energy and excitement to fans throughout the day. NBA champion Mitch Richmond also spent time with coaches from participating schools, sharing advice and insights drawn from his years at the highest level of the game.

The combination of elite competition, cultural exchange and access to basketball legends has become one of the defining features of the NBA Rising Stars Invitational, providing participants with memories and lessons that extend well beyond the final scores.

With Yali High School already through, the remaining semi-final spots will be decided on Friday as group-stage play reaches its conclusion.

Several pools remain finely balanced, with winner-take-all matchups set to determine who joins Yali in the knockout rounds. If the first two days are any indication, fans can expect another day of high-intensity basketball as the region’s brightest young talents continue their pursuit of the NBA Rising Stars Invitational title.

Photo Credit: NBA Rising Stars Invitational

The NBA Rising Stars Invitational takes place from 23rd to 28th June 2026 at OCBC Arena, The Kallang. Tickets available here