Phoenix Celebrate Their 100th Game in Style

In their 100th game, the South East Melbourne Phoenix produced a display that is sure to send shivers down the spine of the NBL.

With their full line-up for the first time, they torched the leagues best defence dropping a first quarter franchise high 38 points.

Gary Browne quickly showed why the Phoenix recruited him, dishing out six assists in the first six minutes of the game. Mitch Creek, and Alan Williams feasted on the Breakers defence scoring at will.

By half time the Phoenix were up by 17, and half way through the third they lead was up to 30. To start the final stanza the Phoenix were leading by 25 before taking the win by 22 points.

Phoenix head home tomorrow with the W before taking on the Bullets on Saturday night at the Fire Pit.

(Phoenix got their revenge on thr Breakers in a 22-point win on Thursday night.)

The Result
South East Melbourne Phoenix 99-77 Breakers

The Numbers

Phoenix
Gary Browne: 8 points, 9 assists
Alan Williams: 16 points, 9 rebounds
Mitch Creek: 15 points, 5 rebounds
Kyle Adnam: 17 points, 3 rebounds
Trey Kell: 13 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists
Zhou Qi: 10 points, 6 rebounds

Breakers
Derek Pardon: 16 points, 5 rebounds.
Jarrell Brantley: 17 points, 4 rebounds

The Turning Point

A 10-2 run to start the game

Gary Browne began the game picking apart the Breakers defence finding Broekhoff for the game opening basket, then Williams and Creek for multiple buckets.

(Browne made an immediate impact in his first NBL23 game with six assists in the first quarter.)

The Player of the Game

The Phoenix Imports

Starting the season without two of their three imports the Phoenix struggled, with all three injected into tonight's game they had immediate impact.
Williams with 16 and 9, Browne 8 and 9 dimes and Kell with 13, 5 and 3.

The Play of the Game

Zhou's Dunks

Zhou Qi entered the game half way through the first quarter and had an immediate impact, with his eight of points coming from four dunks. The fourth one coming from a rebound of his own missed shot, he simply dragged it back in and threw it down.

(Zhou showed his power making four big dunks in qaurter.)

From the Coach

Simon Mitchell

"Zhou Qi is nowhere near it yet, Trey still has a long way to go, we're still managing Creeky and that was Gary's first game. There is still a lot of improvement in this group, were not even close to match fit yet.” 

From the Player

Kyle Adnam

"For sure I thought Gary did an amazing job in that first quarter, finding guys and doing his thing.  I've just got to stay focussed and stay ready. Being out there with him and being able to play off the ball a little tonight was really good for me.”

CLICK HERE for tickets to Saturday's game against the Bullets

Phoenix Media (20/10/22)