ACS family to meet again in A Boys' tennis final

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.

"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."

- Anglo-Chinese Junior College tennis coach Lee U-Jin, on meeting Anglo-Chinese (Independent), who beat them in last year’s final