Off-Season Player Wrap: Glover dominates with a 38-point weekend

Angus Glover (Ringwood Hawks)
22PTS, 6REBS, 6ASTS, 1STL vs Geelong United (W)
16PTS, 9REBS, 6ASTS, 2STLS vs Frankston Blues (W)

After a week’s break for the King’s Birthday long weekend, the Ringwood Hawks returned to the floor and finished Round 10 with two important wins over Geelong and Frankston.

Glover had a dominant weekend in the two victories. He kicked off on Saturday night against Geelong with 22 points in the Hawks’ 28-point win, before backing up the stellar performance on Sunday in Frankston. In the narrow three-point win, Glover was just shy of a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds.

The Hawks sit 13th on the ladder, with the remaining five rounds pivotal to keeping their top-eight and finals hopes alive.

Akech Aliir (Mt Gambier Pioneers)
17PTS, 6REBS, 3ASTS vs Kilsyth Cobras (W)
15PTS, 13REBS, 2ASTS, 2STLS, 3BLKS vs Knox Raiders (L)

Mt Gambier went 1–1 over the weekend in Melbourne in the tightest of margin weekend for Mt Gambier. Starting Saturday night against the Kilsyth Cobras, a 17–25 final term from the Cobras wasn’t enough, as the Pioneers held on for a one-point victory. Aliir was instrumental in the win, recording 17 points and six rebounds.

Back on court Sunday in a top-of-the-table clash against the Knox Raiders, it was a finals preview as the game went into overtime. Mt Gambier forced the extra period with a 22–13 final quarter, but ladder leaders Knox held on for a one-point win, cementing top spot on the NBL1 South ladder—three games clear of Mt Gambier. Despite the heartbreaking loss, the centre had a standout game, collecting another double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, along with a strong defensive performance of three blocks and two steals.

Daniel Foster (Keilor Thunder)
21PTS, 9REBS, 4ASTS, 3STLS, 1BLK vs Ballarat Miners (W)

Foster continues to shine in NBL1 South, leading the Keilor Thunder to an 11-point win over Phoenix assistant coach Luke Brennan’s Ballarat Miners. Just shy of a double-double, the Phoenix development player worked hard at both ends of the court, recording 21 points, nine rebounds, and three steals.

Nathan Sobey (Santeros de Aguada)
6PTS, 3REBS, 3ASTS vs Mets de Guaynabo (W)
19PTS, 3REBS, 6ASTS, 3STLS vs Cangrejeros (L)

The Phoenix captain again took on Phoenix coach Josh King’s Mets in a hard-fought battle, as King sought revenge after a previous loss. The game went down to the wire and into overtime, with Santeros scoring 62–54 in the second half to take the win by four points.

Sobey returned to the floor Monday morning to take on fellow NBL player Ian Clark’s Cangrejeros, with Clark’s side coming away with a nine-point win. After a quiet game against the Mets, Sobey bounced back, recording 19 points and six assists.

DJ Mitchell (Ipswich Force)
8PTS, 7REBS, 6ASTS, 2STLS vs Logan Thunder (L)

Mitchell worked hard across the court for Ipswich in their game against Logan Thunder. Unfortunately, the Thunder snatched the win from the Force by three points, while the power forward contributed eight points, seven rebounds, and six assists in the loss.

Gorjok Gak (Casey Cavillers) 
2PTS, 1REB, 1STL, 1BLK vs NW Tasmania (W)

The Casey Cavaliers bounced back with a commanding 20-point win over NW Tasmania on Saturday night. Gak had a quiet game, battling illness, and played eight minutes—recording two points, one rebound, a steal, and a block.

Stay tuned via Phoenix socials and website to be kept updated on how players perform during the off-season.