Date: 25 February to 28 April 2012

Venue: Toa Payoh Sports Hall / Jurong East Sports Hall

Organiser: Netball Singapore

Final Ranking | Most Valuable Awards | League Table | Fixtures & Results | Team Lists | Press Centre

Final Ranking

Most Valuable Awards

League Table

Team Lists
Mission Mannas
Charmaine Soh, Natalie Long, Jocelyn Ng, Deborah Rowe, Zhang Ailin, Ang Shiqi, Low Yi Lun, Ng Yi Yong, Chua Hui Xian, Grala Teo, Suhailah Kariman, Chen Li Li, Jolynn Loo, Cheryl Choo, Toh Wan Ling
International Player: Delila Keja (Namibia) C/WA 170cm 19-year-old

M1 Starfish
Cassandra Soh, Lee Si Ling Georgina, Melissa Teo, Yap Siew Kim, Chan Hui Mui, Kwok Shuyi, Nurul Baizura, Shelby Koh, Jean Chia, Paula Ho, Tessa Tan, Sharon Wong, Serene Lim, Elizabeth Cheong, Zhang Shuting
International Player: Ntebogang Motlakaleso (Botswana) GD/GK 180cm 20-year-old

Blaze Dolphins
Lin Qingyi, Chen Huifen, Huang Meixin, Phoa Huilin, Wee Yi Zhen, Alicia Pe, Tan Ci Hui, Tan Shini, Tan Shiyu, Pamela Tan, Chia Xinling, Julynn Mark, Amanda Pe, Akila Jayawardane, Yeo Weiqi
International Player: Tebogo Radipotsane (Botswana) GS 180cm 22-year-old

Bedok Kings Vipers
Olivia Jane Flanagan, Kobie Absalom, Kirsty Laing Smith, Emilie Louise Bell, Karen Elizabeth Russell, Katriona Wilson, Ashya Jane Haug, Claire Joanne Price, Jordan Hannah Rowcliffe, Abigail Rose Verlaan, Rowena Du Val Scott
International Player: Anna Kasper (Namibia) WA/GA 175cm, 21-year-old

Nike Marlins
Nur Aqilah, Nur Athirah, Ho Kah Yee, Kimberly Lim, Nur Liyana, Yu Mei Ling, Melody Teo, Pamela Liew, Seah Yun Zhen, Farah Shakina, Grace Sim, Jean Ng, Josephine Yeo, Li Huilin, Christina Koh
International Player: Kagisano Mawela (Botswana vice – captain) GD/GK 175cm 29-year-old with 38 caps

Sneakers Stingrays
Rachel Leong, Amanda Lai, Diana Chew, Liu Xin Yi, Carmen Goh, Tan Anni, Xu Wen Hui, Anna Soo, Cheryl Ann Lee, Teo Shu Hui, Geraldine Tay, Koh Hin Ann, Parveen Nair, Sarah Soo, Lydia Soo
 

Press Centre

NIKE MARLINS WIN THE FAIRPRICE FOUNDATION NETBALL SUPER LEAGUE 2012

Highly-charged final at Toa Payoh Sports Hall

The 13th edition of the FairPrice Foundation Netball Super League ended in exciting fashion as a repeat match-up of the 2011 final between reigning champions Nike Marlins and Blaze Dolphins resulted in Nike Marlins lifting the silverware once again and the winner’s cheque for S$10,000.

The 52-39 final score line did not reflect the end to end battle that took place for three of the four quarters. It was only in the final period of play that Nike Marlins showed their strength winning it 20-8 to pull ahead of out of reach.

The added presence of some African flare in the shape of Botswana internationalists Tebogo Radipotsane (Blaze GS) and Kagisano Mawela (Marlins GK) made the on-court battle even tougher and Radipotsane got Blaze off to the start they’d been hoping for with some strong holding of space and accurate shooting winning the opening quarter 14-10.

Marlins looked to fight back in the second with Captain Jean Ng coming into defence as GK alongside Mawela who moved to GD.

Dolphins Captain Lin Qingyi (GD) worked hard at the other end of the court with Huang Meixin (GK) to keep the Marlins shooters at bay but they settled into their rhythm and won the quarter 13-8 for a one point 23-22 advantage at half time.

The teams have met twice in the league this year with both results going in Nike Marlins favour – 57-48 and 53-24 – but Blaze Dolphins had nothing to lose as they underdogs and kept the pressure on for 45 minutes (Marlins still only one point ahead after third quarter) but struggled to net the points in the final 15 minutes as Yu Mei Ling and Pamela Liew continued to slot them in.

Winning Captain Ng, was delighted with the victory. She said, “It is fantastic to win and do it two years running is even better. Last year we showed our potential and this year we really fulfilled it. It is great for the team.”

Blaze Dolphins Captain Lin reflected on her team’s effort saying, “Reaching the final was beyond my expectations for the team and today we started really strongly but faded in the final quarter and Nike Marlins came back at us really hard. It was a good match and it’s been a great season for us.”

Following the trophy and medal presentation to the finalists, awards were given out to the selected Most Valuable Players based on their league performance.

The recipients were as follows:
MVP International: Ntebogang Motlakaleso (M1 Starfish)
MVP Shooter: Chen Huifen (Blaze Dolphins)
MVP Midfielder: Nurul Liyana (Nike Marlins)
MVP Defender: Serene Lim (M1 Starfish)
MVP Coach: Yap Hui Kim (Nike Marlins)
Outstanding Umpire Award: Eric Lee

The 2012 National Opens Squad of 18 players was also announced after the final today. They will train in preparation for this year’s Asian Championships which are being held in Sri Lanka in August, and the year-ending Nations Cup in Singapore. Twelve players from this squad will be selected for each tournament.

The Squad is as follows:
Chen Huifen (Blaze Dolphins)
Chen Li Li (Mission Mannas)
Premila Hirubalan*
Suhailah Bte Kariman (Mission Mannas)
Shelby Koh (M1 Starfish)
Kwok Shuyi ( M1 Starfish)
Vanessa Lee*
Pamela Liew (Nike Marlins)
Lin Qingyi (Blaze Dolphins)
Natalie Long (Mission Mannas)
Jean Ng (Nike Marlins)
Nurul Baizura (M1 Starfish)
Charlene Porima*
Melissa Teo (M1 Starfish)
Cassandra Soh (M1 Starfish)
Charmaine Soh (Mission Mannas)
Melody Teo (Nike Marlins)
Yu Meiling (Nike Marlins)
(* = Overseas based)

Netball Singapore
28 April 2012

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A Taste of Africa shakes up the Netball Super League!

Five exciting new additions were made to the starting line-ups of the Netball Super League (NSL) teams last weekend in the shape of tall and athletic players from Botswana and Namibia.

All the girls have played in Singapore before either at the Nations Cup (Botswana in 2008, Namibia 2011) or the 2011 World Championships (Botswana) and are relishing the opportunity to play alongside some of Singapore’s national players this time instead of against them!

After arriving last Wednesday (21st March) they managed one training session before playing.

Joining the current league-topping Nike Marlins is Botswana’s Vice-Captain Kagisano Mawela, who’s affectionately known as ‘Shakes’ by her team mates.

She said, “Nike Marlins play very good netball and it’s good for me to get to play alongside the Singapore Co-Captain Jean. I am learning a lot from her. I played against her in 2007 and 2011 at the World Championships and now I play with her.

“I enjoy staying in Singapore. It is a very nice place and we are missing winter back home which is very cold!”

M1 Starfish are being ably supported by Ntebogang Motlakaleso (Nte), also from Botswana who has just turned 21 and plays in defence. She helped her team to victory over Sneakers Stingrays on Saturday (24th) and in a narrow loss on Sunday against Mission Mannas. Nte has taken time off from her fashion studies to make the trip to Singapore.

“We are playing well together as a team and I want to make the finals with my team. That is my main aim during my time here,” she said.

Tebogo Radipotsane completes the contingent from Botswana and is playing for the Blaze Dolphins. She is making her third trip to Singapore like ‘Nte’ who were both involved in the 2008 Nations Cup and 2011 World Championships here (Nte didn’t play in 2008 but was part of the squad).

She explained, “I like to experience new things and everything is different in Singapore to back home: the weather, the food and how people play netball.

“We only trained once before playing so my team weren’t used to having a tall shooter on their side but on our second game (against Bedok King Vipers) we did much better.”

Namibia is represented by two players who were both part of their 2011 Nations Cup team whom finished in an impressive fourth place despite being the lowest ranked team competing.

Anna Kasper, aged 21, helped Bedok King Vipers record their first victory of the league on Saturday with her sharp shooting skills helping them overcome Mission Mannas 54-39. She is in her first year at the Institute of Mining and Technology studying Fitting and Turning.

Anna said, “The playing style and level of competition is very different here from Namibia and I believe we can learn a lot from this experience. I think my team can win more games this year and we will continue to get better.”

The youngest of the visiting players is 20 year old Delila Keja who is an attacking player for Mission Mannas.

The second year Psychology student said, “The Nations Cup was very tough for Namibia. The teams were very fast but we adjusted our style of play and learned a lot with each game we played.

“The first game of NSL was tough as I was not used to how they play. We won our second game and it was a lot better. Training is helping our team as well.”

The girls train four times a week – twice with their respective teams and twice with the National Squad, led by National Coach Kate Carpenter- and the shooters have an extra session on a Friday too.

The finals of NSL take place on Saturday 28th April and the girls head back to Africa on the 29th. So for the next month, the girls with train, play and enjoy the experience of Asia as they escape the African winter and transfer knowledge and many skills between themselves and their new teammates.

Netball Singapore
29 March 2012

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SPEED AND SKILLS ON SHOW AT OPENING DAY OF NSL

FairPrice Foundation Netball Super League 2012 Begins

The 13th edition of the FairPrice Foundation Netball Super League began today at Toa Payoh Sports Hall with all six teams in action looking to get off to a winning start.

Before the play began, Guest-of-Honour, Mr Lim Teck Yin, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Sports Council spoke during the opening ceremony and congratulated Netball Singapore on “maintaining momentum for the sport following the Mission World Championships and the FairPrice Foundation Nations Cup at the end of last year.”

He added that, “For SSC it is one of the most significant sports for us. We hope to see it grow in numbers so working women will find opportunities to continue to play netball as part of our Vision to increase sports participation.” He also talked about the possibility of restarting the corporate league for netball.

First game on court was between defending champions Nike Marlins and Sneakers Stingrays.

The historic rivalry between the two sides visible from the first whistle it was a close opening quarter (11-8) before Nike Marlins stretched ahead 25-18 at half time and continued to dominate, taking the match 57 points to 38.

Marlins Assistant Coach, Noraida Binte Abdul Malik reviewed her teams’ performance. She said, “That was good start for us, I am very happy. We were a bit nervous at the start but it was a good game and we hope we can continue that form through the season. There is a lot we need to fine tune so we can definitely get better.”

Malik highlighted Nur Liyana Noordin (WA) as a stand out performer for the team saying, “she is a new player in the team and blended very well making some excellent feeds.”

Next match pitted the Mission Mannas against the M1 Starfish. Mannas held a 27-18 lead at half time after some disjointed play by both teams as they settled into their rhythm. M1 Starfish made a few key changes for the second half, bringing on national players Shelby Koh at Centre and Cassandra Soh at Goal Shooter. Fellow national player Chen Li Li was Soh’s opponent in the circle and both battled hard, Soh playing aggressively and helping narrow the deficit. Mission Mannas stretched ahead again in the final quarter (Charmaine Soh with an 89% shooting score for the match) to win 48-36.

The final match on court was a hard match between Bedok Kings Vipers and Blaze Dolphins. The Vipers, a mostly expatriate team, had the advantage in height and power while the smaller sized Dolphins showed their faster pace resulting in end to end action throughout.

Chen Huifen in attack for Blaze against Olivia Jane Flanagan in defence for Vipers made for an exciting battle; and the same at the other end with Lin Qingyi working hard against Viper Shooter Jordan Hannah Rowcliffe.

Only two goals separated them at halftime (18-16) and but Blaze edged four ahead going into the final quarter (22-26) and won the final quarter 10-5 to win the match 27-36.

The six teams from Singapore will battle it out for a share of the S$23,000 prize money (the winning side netting S$10,000).

Over the next two months the teams will play a double round-robin format over the first seven weekends then the top four teams will compete in the semi-finals then the finals on 28th April to determine who takes the top honours and the title.

This year the league will include five foreign players who will each be assigned to one of the teams (Sneakers Stingrays opting to play without the addition) and will play from week five of the competition for the remainder of the competition and will add a new dimension to the teams’ strengths.

Netball Singapore
25 February 2012

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FairPrice Foundation Netball Super League 2012

It’s that time of year again – the FairPrice Foundation NSL is ready to rock back into action!

Now in its 13th season, four Club Teams and two selected sides from Singapore will battle it out for a share of the S$23,000 prize money (the winning side netting S$10,000)!

Over the next two months the teams will play a double round-robin format over the first seven weekends then the teams will compete in the playoffs, semi-finals then the finals on 28th April to determine who takes the top honours and the title.

Just who will take the title….

Last year’s champions Nike Marlins will be missing netball stalwart Pearline Chan who retired at the end of last season but have plenty young blood ready for the challenge. One to watch is Nur’Aqilah Afiqah who is a strong, dynamic GK and only 15 years old! Joined by Jean Ng in the circle, the mix of young and old will create an exciting dynamic.

Blaze Dolphins are also a young side that will rely on the experience of seasoned national players Chen Huifen and Lin Qingyi. Sneakers Stingrays with their all-Singaporean line-up will have a rising star in their defensive circle in Cheryl Ann Lee who currently plays in the 21&U squad.

Showcasing some of the expat netballing talents will be the Bedok Kings Vipers. Playing in their second season of NSL, Australian Emily Bell will be their most experienced player in the competition and they will be led by Kirsty Smith as their Player-Coach. Kaitlin Koh, younger sister of national player Shelby will be worth keeping an eye on.

Our two selected side this year will be the Mission Manas and M1 Starfish. Mission Manas have a good track record in the competition and are being coached by Assistant National Coach Yeo Mee Hong while M1 Starfish have a new Coach in Sharyn Hill. Sharyn is the former Assistant Coach for Darters in the Australian National League and will be experiencing the NSL for the first time this season.

To add to the excitement this year, the league will include five foreign players who will each be assigned to one of the teams (Sneakers Stingrays opting to play without the addition) and will play from week five of the competition for the duration. Providing training partners for our national squad and adding strength in depth to the existing team line-ups, the added mix of some African flare will certainly spice up the on-court action!

Two of the featured players will be Anna Kasper and Delila Keja from Namibia. Both girls played in the 2011 FairPrice Foundation Nations Cup with 21 year-old Kasper picking up her team’s most valuable player award. Keja may only be 19 but made her international debut at Nations Cup and quite an impression at the same time. Kate Carpenter describes her as a ‘strong, dynamic athlete’.

Make sure you check out the local and international players for yourself!