Breakers over Phoenix in last gasp victory
- 6 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The NZ Breakershave stole a 103-100 victory over the South East Melbourne Phoenix in a game they led for a total of 44 seconds – but that crucially included the final few seconds of a physical and willing encounter.
Sam Mennenga and Izayah Le’afa suited up for the first time in pre-season, with both players missing the entire NBL Blitz in Bendigo. Kouat Noi did not however as he was not risked with the September 20 season opener close.
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The visitors got off to a rocky start at 0-7 down inside the first two minutes, with coach Gordie Herbert calling time out to force a reset. While the New Zealand side continued to struggle to contain the Phoenix offence, they did find a way to put the ball in the bucket, trailing 25-32 at the end of an entertaining first quarter.
The Phoenix continued shooting the ball at a superb clip in the second quarter, but again the Breakers went toe to toe, matching their highly fancied opponents bucket for bucket. The lead blew out to as many as 16 points, but every time the Breakers found a way to stay in contact and trailed 52-59 at the main break.
Reuben Te Rangi (12 points and a perfect 3 of 3 from deep) and Dejan Vasiljevic (13 points, 2 of 2 from deep) led the Breakers offensive effort but the Breakers were guilty of 12 turnovers, gifting the Phoenix six extra shots in the first half alone.
With Le’afa on reduced minutes and Noi not an option, the Breakers were further impacted early in the half when Jackson Cartwright headed to the bench with a tweaked right ankle, while not reported as serious post-game, he was not risked again.
The next man up mentality shone through however as rookie Preston Le Gassick took on the challenge of directing his side, with superb help from American Josiah-Jordan James in bringing the ball up the floor.
The final quarter was when it all clicked for the BNZ Breakers, overturning a 9-point deficit with a final irresistible surge on the back of yet another Vasiljevic dagger three, two big Sam Mennenga paint plays, and a couple of Charles Bediako free throws that silenced if not shocked the capacity home crowd.
The Breakers ended up shooting 61 per cent from the field for the game including 13/24 from the outside despite having 20 turnovers and just the nine offensive rebounds.
Vasiljevic fired for 29 points, five rebounds and two assists with 6/8 three-point shooting while Mennenga delivered 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists on 9/12 shooting in his first pre-season appearance.
Reuben Te Rangi ended up with 12 points that he had all in the first half with James adding 11 points, nine assists and three rebounds, Bediako 10 points, seven boards and two steals, and Preston Le Gassick eight points, four rebounds and two assists.
The team will play Melbourne United on Thursday night in their final pre-season game before returning to Auckland to prepare for the season opener at Spark Arena against the Illawarra Hawks.
South East Melbourne Phoenix:
Angus Glover – 28 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals; Skylar Mays – 19 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals; D'Shawn Schwartz – 18 points, 2 rebou
NZ Breakers 103 DJ Vasiljevic – 29 points (6 of 8 three pointers), 5 rebounds, 2 assists; Sam Mennenga – 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists; Reuben Te Rangi – 12 points (3 of 4 three pointers), 3 assists; Josiah-Jordan James – 11 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds; Charles Bediako – 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals
