Making Every Shot Count: Basketball Girls NSG Finals 2026

Reading Time: 6 minutes

By Olivia Chia Lu Xuan (27A01A) and Janelle See Jia Xin (27A01D)

Photo courtesy of Chim Yoke Hei (27A01D) from Raffles Art and Photographic Society and Tan Si Ling Kayla (26S03E)

The tension was palpable in the air.

Raffles Institution (RI) and Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) were neck to neck, neither team showing any signs of backing down anytime soon. Though Raffles was lagging slightly behind towards the end of the third quarter with a score of 40-31, the gap was still narrow enough to be closed.

While the players battled on the court, the supporters from both schools also engaged in a contest of their own from the stands, as the sports hall reverberated with both schools’ own spirited chants of the North-South-East-West cheer.

The team fought till the end, drawing energy from the crowd’s elated cheers after each successful shot. Eventually, however, they ended with a score of 56-39 in a hard-fought match, earning their titles of First Runners-Up.

Lessons from the Court

Girls’ Captain Ng Hui En Fiona (26S06K) recalled her immediate feelings of disappointment post-game. Looking on the brighter side of things, however, she acknowledged the team’s efforts, noting that getting to where they are now was no mean feat.

“I feel like playing in the finals today is already an accomplishment for us to be proud of and I’m sure everyone tried our best today and gave it our all.”
Fiona

The team walked into the game knowing that the opposing team was a tough match, especially since they had won last year’s Championship, and had a noteworthy strength in attacking. Therefore, focusing on defending and executing plays well were the team’s main priorities, with communication being an essential component in carrying out their gameplan smoothly. While the team initially managed to keep pace with a balanced score of 11-11 in the first quarter, stamina gave way as the team started to lose momentum towards the end.

The team strategising their next moves

Game-Changing Moments

However, even as the gulf of points between the teams widened, the team never lost their spark. The team’s fire on the court was infectious; supporters in the stands held their breaths and beat their clappers against the concrete seats during frustrating moments of the match. Though exhaustion slowly sunk in over the course of the game, the team played vigorously and spurred one another on to continue trying their best.

“[Energy] is something that we were struggling with almost the entire season, particularly keeping our confidence up and our spark while in a tight game. I’m very proud of us being able to fight hard and give our all in our very last game,” vice-captain Tan Si Ling Kayla (26S03E) shared.

The team giving the match their all

Behind the Jersey

As the Year 6 team’s basketball career in RI draws to a close with their final NSG season, Kayla reflected fondly on her basketball journey. To get to her position as Vice-Captain of the girls’ basketball team, Kayla navigated a long and tumultuous road with consistent effort and a strong support system. “My basketball journey started quite late… I started from zero in Secondary 1 and slowly learnt the basics. I think it wasn’t easy but I’m very fortunate to have met the right people along the way, which pushed me to where I am today.”

Kayla at one of her matches back in secondary school

Six years since the first time she picked up a basketball, Kayla’s labour has borne fruit. The very fact of being able to play in the finals has capped off a career that she can look back upon with pride.

“I think being able to play my last NSG season in the finals really allowed me to realise how far I have come and to take a moment to appreciate everyone who has supported me and not given up on me. This game also kind of validated the effort I have put in these past few years and so I’m very grateful to be where I am today.”

Kayla at the 2026 Basketball Girls NSG Finals Match

The Power of Teamwork

As with any team sport, dynamics can make or break a basketball team. For this particular match, their teamwork seemed to accomplish the former. The close-knit pack of five players wove their way between opponents to take advantage of empty space on the court, wordlessly knowing when and where to pass the ball to each other as if through telepathy. Collaboration on such a natural, innate level does not happen overnight; rather, it comes through months of consistent training and conscientious efforts to communicate openly with each other.

Kayla weighed in, “While it took a while for us to get comfortable with each other to openly talk about our own mistakes, it really helped us know what we can work on, how to find each other on court and really just trust each other without having any hard feelings.”

The team acted as a support system, motivating one another to push on and while offering a steady presence to fall back on when the going got tough. During timeouts and half-time, they could often be found locked in a huddle with their coach courtside, clapping one another on the back or looping arms around one another, expressing mutual support and affection in subtle ways.

The team huddling together before the start of the match

“I would say we are very supportive of each other, always willing to hear each other out when we have our bad days and most importantly being willing to accept feedback from others. This was what ultimately brought us closer together. And I think all of us taking the initiative to voice out when something is wrong and letting each other know we have each other’s back was what ultimately helped us get this far,” Kayla added.

What’s Next on the Court

After a gruelling NSG season, the team has earned a well-deserved break, as well as much to look forward to in the coming months.

Despite the outgoing Year 6s having to focus their attention on their upcoming ‘A’ Levels, they still have a final opportunity to play in July’s Gryphons’ Cup, where the previous Basketball alumni batches come together to play 3v3 matches and reconnect with one another. The Year 5s also anticipate numerous small competitions and friendlies that will further strengthen their team chemistry, and ultimately prepare them for next year’s NSG.

“We still find time to get together as a team and have fun as these memories last a lifetime.”
Fiona

At the end of the day, it is not the result that the team looks back on, but the meaningful friendships forged and precious memories created over countless arduous training sessions. As they prepare steadily for their rebound, the team will still keep pushing on, remaining determined as ever to continue learning.

Raffles Press would like to express our heartfelt congratulations to the RI girls’ basketball team, and wish you all the best for next year’s NSG!