It will be a family affair in the National Schools Boys’ A Division tennis team final once again.
In what will surely be a raucous affair, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), the defending champions, will battle Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) at the Kallang Tennis Centre next Tuesday.
In yesterday’s semi-finals at the same venue, ACS (I) sent out a clear message of intent with a resounding 5-0 victory over St Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC).
Not surprisingly, ACS (I) captain Will Angkawidjaja was ecstatic.
Speaking to The New Paper after the comprehensive win, the 18-year-old said: “Reaching the final has always been our aim and we’ve been working hard for it.
“Now, I can’t wait to get going.”
He added that the team will be training hard almost every day in preparation for the final.
COMEBACK
In the other semi-final, ACJC struggled in the first match, a doubles encounter, with Sean Goh and Elgin Teo falling to Raffles Institution (RI)’s Nilay Jugtap and Brendan Yim 6-1, 6-3.
However, captain Lee Koon Wen got them back on level terms when he beat RI’s Roy Liu 6-3, 6-4.
Teammate Tristan Tan then turned in a gallant performance, overcoming RI’s Marcus Teoh in a tough three-set encounter 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
ACJC’s second doubles pair, Christopher Tang and Thng Wee Chuan then played the role of heroes.
In a tense encounter, they prevailed 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-3 over RI’s Trevor Ku and Samuel Kng to book their team’s spot in the final. ACJC also won the final singles to make the final score 4-1.
“We worked hard for it. We trained like crazy and even came back on weekends to train,” said Koon Wen.
“I am happy we delivered.”
ACJC have a chance to avenge their 3-2 loss to ACS (I) in last year’s final, and Koon Wen is looking forward to it.
He said: “We’ve always had a friendly rivalry going on and I’m happy that we’re meeting them in the final. I think we’re strong enough to win but they will also put up a good fight.”
ACJC coach Lee U-Jin, 29, said that the boys deserved it and that reaching the final was a great achievement.
“They fought hard and played exceptionally well today.
TRY OUR BEST
“I’m happy that it’s an all-AC final. We’re just going to try our best and you never know what will happen.”
The ACJC girls’ tennis team has also reached the A Division final, after beating Hwa Chong Institution 4-1 in their semi-final last Friday.
They will face defending champions RI in the final, also at Kallang next Tuesday.
This article was first published on April 27, 2016.
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