From sudden player swaps to nail-biting finishes, the latest Public Service STAR Games put every team to the test. But for these champions, it was resilience and strong camaraderie that saw them through. With determination and unwavering teamwork, they pushed past obstacles and came out on top — showing that true victory comes not just from skill, but from standing together.

Public Service 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament (22 February 2025)

A total of 54 teams from 18 public sector organisations competed in high-energy, fast-paced matches held at Choa Chu Kang Sports Hall, cheered on by supporters and overseen by Guest-of-Honour, CSC Executive Committee member Mr Vincent Goh.

Having placed second overall in 2024, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) team entered the tournament with one clear goal — to clinch the top spot. And they did just that, despite the odds. MINDEF team representative Mr Shamus Poh Chong Yi shared that the team hadn’t had the chance to train together leading up to the tournament. But their strong bond and years of playing together gave them an edge. “Our long-running chemistry and mutual trust gave us confidence in our line-up,” he said.

While MINDEF had dominated the traditional 5-on-5 format for the past three years, the top spot in the more unpredictable 3-on-3 version had remained out of reach — until now. “3-on-3 basketball is always an uncertain game,” said Mr Poh. “It’s very fast-paced – whoever’s on a hot streak can easily win. But we’ve finally got the champion spot!”

RESULTS

Overall Positions
Champion: Ministry of Defence
Second Place: Ministry of Home Affairs

Women’s Category
Champion: Ministry of Education (1)
Second Place: Ministry of Health (2)
Third Place: Ministry of Home Affairs (1)
Fourth Place: Ministry of Defence (1)

Men’s Category
Champion: Ministry of Defence (3)
Second Place: Ministry of Home Affairs (2)
Third Place: Ministry of Home Affairs (3)
Fourth Place: Ministry of Defence (4)

Public Service Mixed Netball Tournament (19 January 2025)

It was a heart-stopping finish at the Public Service Mixed Netball Tournament, where the Ministry of Education (MOE) edged past the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) by just one point in the final — clinching the win after regulation time. Held at Temasek Polytechnic Sports Hall 2, the tournament was graced by Guest-of-Honour, CSC Executive Committee member Ms Tanya Fong.

The showdown between the two powerhouses kept spectators on the edge of their seats, with both teams neck-and-neck till the very end. According to MOE team manager Mr Jason Goh Buan Huang, MINDEF’s strong comeback late in the match was “nerve-wracking”, but MOE’s players kept their cool. “Our strong bond helped us stay calm and focused on the basics, such as relying on short passes and staying open for each other,” said Mr Goh. “It was really our teamwork, fighting spirit and composure that helped us to edge through with that one-point win. Everyone gave their best, supported each other and stayed positive even under pressure.”

Looking ahead, he hopes to organise more casual games and friendly matches to bring in new players. “Most importantly, we want to keep the focus on having fun, staying active and building connections through the sport.”

RESULTS

Overall Positions
Champion: Ministry of Education (2)
Second Place: Ministry of Defence (1)
Third Place: Ministry of Home Affairs (1)
Fourth Place: Housing and Development Board (1)

Public Service Sepaktakraw (Inter-Team) Tournament (23 February 2025) 

Strategic training and strong team cohesion powered the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to victory at this year’s Public Service Sepaktakraw (Inter-Team) Tournament held at Woodlands Sports Hall. Eight teams comprising 124 participants from seven organisations competed, with Guest-of-Honour, CSC Executive Committee member Mr Brian Phua presiding over the event.

Instead of centralised training, MHA took a distributed approach: each team captain led weekly training within their own department and scouted for new talent among newly enlisted officers. This decentralised strategy — paired with players’ ability to quickly adapt to each other’s styles — proved effective on game day.

MAJ Saifulbahri Bin Mohd Idris, MHA’s Sepaktakraw Convenor since 2016, shared how support from within the ministry makes a difference. “Our players are well-supported by their supervisors, who give them time off to train and compete. Their achievements are even highlighted on the MHA directory,” he said, adding that the tournament atmosphere was lively and heartwarming. “It’s heartening to see the players’ family members cheer for them during the tournament, which has a fun picnic atmosphere with everyone bringing food and drinks to share.”

Looking ahead, MAJ Saifulbahri hopes to see MHA’s sepaktakraw teams continue participating in grassroots tournaments and regional matches. “We want to build rapport and strengthen ties with fellow Southeast Asian Home Team departments through the sport,” he said.

RESULTS

Overall Positions
Champion: Ministry of Home Affairs (1)
Second Place: Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment 
Third Place: SP Group
Fourth Place: Ministry of Health

Public Service Sepaktakraw (Inter-Regu) Tournament (15 February 2025) 

Despite needing to make last-minute player substitutions due to work commitments, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) showcased grit and resilience to clinch both first and third places at this year’s tournament. The event at Woodlands Sports Hall welcomed 132 participants from 27 teams across eight organisations, with CSC Executive Committee member Mr Brian Phua attending as Guest-of-Honour.

MSE team manager Mr Mohamed Fahmi attributed the team’s strong performance to the close bond and trust among players, built through consistent two-hour training sessions every Tuesday evening at the PUB Recreation Club. “We could have done better by getting both our teams into the final,” he reflected. “Still, we’re happy and grateful for this year’s achievements, and I think we need to put less pressure on ourselves to perform. The most important thing is to do our best and enjoy the game.”

Looking ahead, Mr Fahmi hopes the team will refine their tactics to approach matches more confidently. “We’ll be working on strategies that help us win with ease, rather than struggle through games.”

RESULTS

Overall Positions
Champion: Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (2)
Second Place: Ministry of Health 
Third Place: Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (1)
Fourth Place: Ministry of Home Affairs (6)

Public Service E-Sports (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang) Online Brawl Tournament (8 March 2025)

The MINDEF team may have faced an early setback in the semi-finals, but their resilience and quick thinking turned the tide. After a tough first loss, the team regrouped and conducted a swift ad hoc analysis of their mistakes — a strategy that paid off.

They bounced back with a 2-1 win and went on to clinch the overall championship title, outplaying 20 teams from 10 agencies in the Online Brawl tournament for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

It was a proud moment for the team, who finished as second runners-up in the previous tournament. Team manager Mr Adrian Loy credited the win to focused preparation and team commitment. “We enhanced our gameplay by working on mechanics, game sense and decision-making. Despite our hectic schedules, we trained at least once a week to build synergy and refine our strategies,” he shared.

RESULTS

Overall Positions
Champion: Ministry of Defence (2)
Second Place: Ministry of Health (2)
Third Place: JTC Corporation (2)
Fourth Place: Ministry of Home Affairs (1)

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Find out more about upcoming competitions, view full results and get inspired by fellow Public Service Officers at STAR Games.