Musashi Match Report: Phoenix Go Down Fighting

South East Melbourne Phoenix threw down an almighty challenge to Melbourne United and star big Jock Landale but ultimately fell short in a dramatic 84-74 Game 3 semi-final.

The two Melbourne teams had split the first two games at Qudos Bank Arena and it was back in Sydney for the deciding Game 3, and it couldn’t have been a more dramatic Throwdown contest with the right to face the Perth Wildcats in the Grand Final on the line.

The thrilling loss ends a fantastic second season for the Phoenix, who rose from eighth on the ladder in their inaugural season to a top-four finish this year. They also ticked off their first finals appearance and first finals win.

"I have a lot of pride in our group," Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell said.

"I thought they spent themselves today. I thought they left in on the floor and we went out on our shield - I can't fault anything we did there.

"We weren't clean and we didn't play exceptionally well but that's playoff basketball, you're not always going to be at your best and you've got to find a way to hang in.

"We bent but we didn't break, not until the final bell. I have a combination of pride and a lot of love for the team...mixed with enormous disappointment because it's very difficult to put yourself in a position to win championships."

Mitch Creek also spoke glowingly of the group.

"I'm tremendously proud of our guys and what we were able to accomplish today - the way we competed to every last second," Creek said.

"I'm proud of Simon (Mitchell), the coaches, the organisation, and every single one of the boys out there who played their ass off today."

The Phoenix might have been the last team to qualify for the finals, but their belief was there they could pull the almighty upset and that was on show in a remarkable start to Game 3 on Tuesday night.

With Keifer Sykes on fire with eight points and his teammates along for the ride, the Phoenix were up 10 by quarter-time and then dramatically up 16 to start the second quarter with back-to-back threes from Izayah Le'Afa.

The challenge was thrown right back onto a United team who have been championship favourites all season and finished three games clear on top of the ladder, and it was their superstar Jock Landale who answered the call.

The big man ended up hitting 12 points in the second quarter to help Melbourne back within five at the half and then United gradually took over throughout the second half.

Landale added another six points but his captain Chris Goulding in his 350th NBL game was now along for the ride, and so was Scotty Hopson. Melbourne led by one turning for home and United closed the door with a terrific fourth quarter.

Triples from Goulding and Yudai Baba were the killer blows as Melbourne won by 10 to advance to the Grand Final against the Wildcats starting in Perth on Friday.

After trailing 32-15 early in the second quarter, Melbourne's defence locked in to hold South East Melbourne to just 42 points the rest of the night while scoring 69 themselves.

Landale ended Game 3 with an equal season-high 27 points for Melbourne to go with eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks on shooting 11/13 from the floor and a perfect 3/3 from beyond the arc.

Goulding put up 14 points in his 350th game while Mitch McCarron contributed 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists, Scotty Hopson nine points and six boards, and Jo Lual-Acuil eight points and three rebounds.

South East Melbourne might feel they missed a chance, but in reality they should be proud to have pushed such a deep United team to the brink. Reuben Te Rangi did all he could with a season-best 22 points and six rebounds on 6/9 shooting from downtown.

Mitch Creek tried to inspire his team with 19 points and six rebounds while Keifer Sykes couldn’t keep his hot start going with 15 points on 6/20 shooting. Izayah Le'Afa added eight points with those two big second quarter triples.

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HUNGRY JACK'S NBL FINALS 2021
SEMI FINALS GAME 3

MELBOURNE UNITED 84 (Landale 27, Goulding 14, McCarron 11)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 74 (Te Rangi 22, Creek 19, Sykes 15) 

Phoenix Media (15/06/2021)