By Aidan Tan (27A01D) and Christian Adriel Tan (26S07B)
Photographs provided by Christine Zhu (27S03G) unless otherwise stated.
DEJA VU
A year ago, Raffles Netball stood where every team hoped to be: NSG champions, after a commanding 13-8 win against ACJC. One season later, they are standing once against ACJC again in the semi-finals, a fixture carrying an unmistakable sense of deja vu.
The spectators, perhaps rightfully, almost always give their most attention to the finals: the last round of the game; the arbitrator of who’s the best. But turn your attention to the more unforgiving semis, and the tension is no less palpable.
You’re in that precarious position where you’re within a whisker of being on the podium. Win, and you’re guaranteed a podium victory. Lose, and you’re relegated to the bronze medal match. Falter on the penultimate step to victory, and you must still collect yourself and give it all once more to leave the season with something to show.
That day, it was either RI or ACJC who would falter—and unlike last year’s final, no consolation of a silver medal was waiting on the other side of defeat.
Raffles Netball preparing themselves before the fateful semis match.
Continue reading “15 Strong: Netball NSG 2026”
