Buzzerbeater!Anyone wanting to see an amazing Buzzerbeater match, check the u21 game vs Singapore
(29560). If you want to cut it short, skip the the last qtr, even the last minute. Its worth it.
Australia has won a thrilling game vs Singapore to remain undefeated in Pool B in the first stage of the Asia u21 Championship.
There was of concern to the Aussie management at the selection table coming in to the game with Christian out (religious reasons), McInerney out (aroused muscle soreness) and Rudd out (of form).
To the fanatical buzzerbeater fan, the game started as a game of unlikely events. Singapore started a C at Sf, and exposed our greatest weakness, that we had no player capable of defending inside well at Sf. Knowing this, and scouting Singapore's lack of decent guards, the coach of the Aussie u21 team made a decision to GDP inside, thinking this was the only way the team could walk out of the stadium defeated. But the first qtr told a different story. Within 2 minutes, Singapore had subbed their C out, and put in international superstar Aaron Abraham. Abraham was on fire, tearing apart our defensive specialist from outside the key, scorching Buckshot for 10 points off 6 shots in the first quarter alone. Singapore finished the first quarter with 30pts, and conceding only 20pts, leaving the Australian management is disbelief.
The 2nd quarter started somewhat more promising, with Australia creeping the lead back a little before a run from Singapore saw them creep the lead out to 16pts.
The 3rd quarter was owned by inspirational big man Lachy " Marylin" Munro, contributing a whopping 11pts on 5-6 shooting ( including a 3 ball), 6 rebounds, and endless defensive stops where he also cleaned up the mess on the glass. In 12 minutes of play, the score had turned on its head, and the Aussies seemed to be the unlikely favourite, now with a 4 point lead! Special mention goes out to TP, who had the ball on a string as usual, finding team mates free for rewarding finishes.
For the 2nd time tonight there was an "R Mac' debuting for Australia. This time in the u21s, Roy "Old MacDonald" played 12 noteworthy minutes. Whilst the initial box score glance assumes he wasted his time out there (yes, he is yet to register his first score XD ), a deeper analysis sees his defense was key to the win. For Singapore, Abraham was looking unstoppable all night, hitting everything he went near like an "L" plater with a lead foot. Enter Old Macdonald, who came up with not one, but several key stops when it mattered most, limiting Abrahams damage in the 4th. Australia bashed the lead out to 7 and things looked over mid way through the 4th. But a clever strategy from the Singapore coach ensured they remained in the game, running a Princeton offense that lead to some big 3s from some unlikely heroes. Before you knew it, scores were back to tied and the game had a reassurance it was going down to the wire.
The last 2 mins had some massive plays, none more important than 2 key steals from Buckshot, giving the Aussies the ball back when they looked likely to be coughing the lead back up. with 11 seconds in the match the game looked out of reach to Singapore before big man Chan Su Leong dropped a huge 3 ball to level the scores at 86. A time was called and the Aussie team drew up a play that favoured their strengths. TP broke the ankles off the Singapore PG before finding Buckshot on the wing and exposing their Center out of position for an open look for the game. Great play, bad shot. The game was destined for OT. But someone forgot to tell Uggies, who inhaled the crumbs, and caressed the ball back in to its home with the clock expiring! The umpires checked the replay to see the fingers of Uggies leaving the ball with 0.01 secs remaining.
An all time win for the Aussie community in difficult circumstances, keeping the team on top of the Pool B table.