Circuit 5 in MABA Stadium,Kuala Lumpur saw four competitive games played alongside the league’s Hoopstar Showcase Weekend that saw NS Matrix Deers confirm their entry into the playoffs while Johor Southern Tigers took hit on their quest to secure the No.1 seed position.
Here’s our weekly Power Rankings!
(All rankings are the personal opinion of the writer)
#1 NS MATRIX DEERS
Overall (10-3) Circuit 5 (2-0)
Circuit 5 Results
vs Penang Sunrise Youngsters 88-74 W
vs UCSI Rising Star 88-72 W
With new signing, Singaporean scorer, Jonathan Wong in tow, the defending champions remained at the top of our Power Rankings list with two wins, extending their win streak to five and securing their spot in the playoffs.
For the second straight week, the team was pushed hard by Penang Sunrise Youngster but came from behind in the third, taking the lead and pushing through in the fourth, keeping their opponents at bay with their defence forcing them into several poorly taken shots.
Despite missing Wong Yi Hou who sustained a serious injury the day before, the team kept up their momentum against UCSI Rising Star with their trademark intense defence seeing them build a 20 point lead in the second quarter that was enough in seeing out the rest of the game comfortably.
An encouraging sign for NS Matrix Deers was the sight of Ting Chun Hong’s form improving over the past two circuits. The 2022 Local MVP averaged 16.5 PPG in Circuit 5, shooting 46% from three.
Circuit 5 Star Performer:-
There was no stopping Dequan Abrom as the speedy guard was seen constantly blowing by his defenders for the easy basket. Abrom averaged 20 PPG, 8 RPG, 4.5 APG and 3 SPG while shooting at a 58.6% rate.
#2 PENANG SUNRISE YOUNGSTERS
Overall (4-7) Circuit 5 (1-1)
Circuit 5 Results
vs NS Matrix Deers 74-88 L
vs Johor Southern Tigers 80-72 W
It was set to be a tough circuit for Penang Sunrise Youngsters, going head to head against the top two teams.
In a true dejavu feel from last week, Penang Sunrise Youngsters started strong against NS Matrix, leading the game in the third quarter before collapsing to their fourth straight loss. The team’s poor form from three in the fourth quarter proved costly as they failed to make things uncomfortable for the defending champions down the stretch.
In their second game, it was a reverse story with the team stunning the league leaders Johor Southern Tigers with the upset win despite being down by 15 early in the game.
The team had an amazing 29-9 third quarter highlighted by a true Cameron Satterwhite take over, wowing the crowd and building this team’s momentum with his dunks and clinical shooting. The team showed maturity and calmness in the fourth, repelling Johor Southern Tiger’s comeback to snap their losing streak.
A noteworthy change for the Penangites in Circuit 5 was the increased minutes for backup power forwards, Teng Wei Chew and Phang Yoon Khong, who both provided efficient contributions on defence and offence. Teng Wei Chew had his best performance of the season against Johor Southern Tigers, contributing 9 points on 4/4 shooting.
Circuit 5 Star Performer:-
The Hoopstar Showcase dunk winner, Cameron Satterwhite earned our pick this week, averaging 21.5 PPG, 10 RPG and 3 SPG. Satterwhite’s clutch shooting and free throws were instrumental in their win against Johor Southern Tigers.
#3 JOHOR SOUTHERN TIGERS
Overall (10-2) , Circuit 5 (1-1)
Circuit 5 Results
vs KL Aseel 78-77
vs Penang Sunrise Youngster 72-80
Since losing to NS Matrix Deers last weekend, it feels like last season’s runners up are in a slight funk. Despite two big wins coming after the loss, both games were against teams missing key players and imports.
It looked like everything was going to plan as they led by 18 against bottom ranked KL Aseel with five minutes to go before a series of careless turnovers and poor defending led to a really nervous end that saw them barely hang onto the one point win.
The team’s nervous play continued against Penang Sunrise Youngsters as they found themselves down by 14 going into the final quarter, failing to contain the athleticism and height advantage of Cameron Satterwhite and Jordan Tolbert. Despite a late push to cut the lead to five, the team ran out of time, slumping to their second defeat of the season.
In a rare off day, Arinze Chidom had his worst performance of the season against Penang Sunrise Youngsters, scoring only 7 points.
Thai-American Moses Morgan also had an underwhelming weekend, uncharacteristically going only 5/21 from beyond the arc.
Circuit 5 Star Performer:-
With Chidom and Morgan underperforming this week, point guard Heng Yee Tong was their best performer, averaging 10 PPG and 6 APG. Yee Tong currently leads the league in assists, averaging 6.6.
#4 – UCSI RISING STAR
Overall (4-7) Circuit 5 (0-1)
Circuit 5 Results
vs NS Matrix Deers 72-88 L
Only one game in Circuit 5 for UCSI Rising Star against the defending champions and unfortunately for them, it wasn’t a repeat of their stunning upset win in Port Dickson.
The newcomers paid for a poor first half with their inability to match NS Matrix Deer’s intensity seeing them down by 20 at the half, leaving them in too deep a hole to climb out from.
A positive note for the team were Yap Run Sam and Lee Jia Jun finishing first and second respectively in the Hoopstars Showcase Weekend three point shooting contest.
Circuit 5 Star Performer:-
Chong Zhen Yang continued his momentum scoring 16 points and getting 4 steals. Currently averaging 15.1 PPG, the 20 year old guard is ranked third in scoring among local players.
#5 KL ASEEL
Overall (1-9), Circuit 5 (0-1)
Circuit 5 Results
vs Johor Southern Tigers 77-78 L
Coming into Circuit 5 still with only one import in Anthony Moe, many expected KL Aseel to fold and get swept in their lone game against the league leaders.
To the surprise of many, the bottom ranked team almost pulled off an unlikely epic comeback. Trailing by 18 with five minutes to go, Anthony Moe went on a tear, scoring 19 points to cut the lead to three with eighteen seconds to go.
Despite getting a crucial steal, Wee Yong Gan opted for a layup instead of a three point attempt, leaving his team with not enough time to steal the win, condemning them to their ninth straight loss..
The signing announcement of new import guard Lamonte Bearden and their encouraging performance against Johor Southern Tigers will motivate KL Aseel in their hopes to stay alive in the hunt for a playoff spot.
With two more games against both Penang Sunrise Youngsters and UCSI Rising Star still to come, the team know their playoff fate is still very much in their own hands.
Circuit 5 Star Performer:-
It seems like Anthony Moe and Head Coach Kris Reyes have made amends after last week’s in game squabble as the big center from Guyana played a full 40 minutes, delivering 32 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists. Moe currently leads the league in scoring and rebounding, averaging 24.1 PPG and 16.9 RPG.
Here’s the latest standings after Circuit 5
