The Singapore Vandas fell just short against defending champions Kenya on Tuesday, losing 49–44 in a fiercely contested Singlife Nations Cup encounter at the OCBC Arena.
In a rematch of last year’s final, both sides matched each other for intensity and precision across four quarters. Kenya started the stronger, edging ahead 13–10 after the first quarter, but Singapore rallied in the second to briefly take the lead before errors late in the period allowed the visitors to regain control and finish the first half 26–22.
The match remained tight through the second half, with both teams displaying sharp movement and clinical finishing. Singapore shooter Amandeep Chahal converted 94 per cent of her attempts, while Kenya’s Lydia Nyapere was equally consistent, scoring 91 per cent. A dominant third quarter from the Africans, led by Nyapere’s 12 goals from 14 attempts, saw Kenya open an 11-goal cushion that proved decisive despite a spirited late fightback from the hosts.
Singapore closed the gap to three points with five minutes to go, energised by a raucous home crowd, but Kenya’s composure and experience saw them hold firm for a third straight win.
Nyapere credited Kenya’s bench strength and preparation for the victory.
“It was the bench power, the substitutes that the coaches made that gave us more strength because their legs were a bit more fresh. When our energy goes down, we encourage each other to go higher, and that helps us compose ourselves and keep going.
“We went back after yesterday’s game and sat down with coaches, planned for this game through video analysis, and when we came into it, we worked on our weaknesses like bad passes and poor shooting accuracy.”
Reflecting on the result, Singapore co-captain Khor Ting Fang said the team would take valuable lessons from the match.
“We started well, but towards the end of the second quarter into the third, there were some lulls in which we let some ill discipline creep into our game. We started lifting the ball a bit and letting the hands affect us. But it’s knowing how to pick ourselves up from those errors and trying to get back on the game plan, which I’m really proud of the team for doing in the fourth quarter.
“Our team’s focus today was the word ‘relentless’. Tara reminded us to be relentless for every ball, every loose ball, every intercept. That was what kept us going. We had our momentum flowing, but it was a little too late by then.”
The result leaves Kenya unbeaten at the top of the standings with six points, followed by Singapore and Papua New Guinea, who each have two wins from three games.
In the earlier matches, Malaysia held off a strong challenge from Singapore A to secure their first win of the tournament, winning 53-46. Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea produced one of their best performances yet, defeating the higher-ranked Isle of Man 53–47.
