Phoenix Fall Short After Late Surge

South East Melbourne Phoenix are making a habit of producing nail-biting finishes, but just fell short of a stunning come-from-behind revival against Sydney.

Losing yet another star to Covid protocols on the eve of the game, the Phoenix went in without import point guard Xavier Munford, who was the hero in their one-point thriller against Illawarra on Monday night.

On a night where the Phoenix honoured their members with a special appreciation game, they jumped out of the blocks, scoring the first four points of the game, prompting Sydney coach Chase Buford to call a quick timeout and reset his charges. It worked, as Dejan Vasiljevic and Jarell Martin drained back-to-back threes to get them going.

Excitement machine Lachie Barker, in his first start for the club after being called up as a Covid-replacement player, kept the Phoenix in it with six points, while stand-in captain Ryan Broekhoff led from the front with seven. The Kings, though, held a 29-22 lead at the first break.

They haven’t had much of a chance to play together due to injury and Covid, but Dane Pineau alongside Zhou Qi, for the short period they were deployed together, looks to be an effective front-court pairing on the defensive end. That duo keyed a number of stops in the second that put the ‘Nix back in touch as the Kings looked like pulling away.
Five late points to ‘King Chee’ and then a Broekhoff bucket tied the scores at 39.

A pair of free throws to Tom Vodanovic and then a Le’afa turnover with a second to go in the half gifted the Kings a lay-up that gave them a 43-39 lead at the long break, just taking a little shine off the improved performance.

Mitch Creek exploded in the third, taking over with 10 for the term, and then five late points to an energised Reuben Te Rangi, in his return from Covid protocols, ensured the Phoenix were in striking distance, down 64-62 at the last break.

The two teams traded blows, but, when the Kings jumped out to an 11-point lead with 4.25 to go, all looked lost. The depleted Phoenix never gave up, though, and, after Creek scored five straight points, Broekhoff took over, scoring 10 of the last 15 Phoenix points to reduce the margin to three with just 59 seconds left.

But the Kings were just good enough to hold them at bay, a big three to Angus Glover capped off by accuracy at the free throw line.
Barker was superb, scoring 10 points in the first half and finishing with 14, while Creek added 23 and Broekhoff 25.

The Phoenix won’t dwell on this one, with the in-form Tasmania JackJumpers visiting Sunday.

The Result

South East Melbourne Phoenix 87-92 Sydney Kings

The Numbers

Phoenix
Broekhoff: 25 points, 6 rebounds
Creek: 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Barker: 14 points
Qi: 5 points, 10 rebounds

Kings
Cooks: 23 points, 5 rebounds
Martin: 20 points, 8 rebounds
Adams: 14 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists
Vasiljevic: 14 points

The Turning Point

It wasn’t so much a turning point as an attempted shift of the tide from Ryan Broekhoff, late. Rowdy capped his best game of the season with has last-quarter surge that almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Down 11 with a tick over four minutes left, Rowdy was involved in the claw back, hitting a big three and then sinking seven free throws down the stretch.

The Player of the Game

Ryan Broekhoff
It had to be Rowdy. He was pipped by Munford’s heroics against Illawarra, but the night was the Frankston Bomber’s. He hit a three to start proceedings and extended his arms as if to say, “I’m here, be prepared”. Captain in Kyle Adnam’s absence, Broekhoff keyed everything good the Phoenix did on the night on the way to a game-high 25 points to go with six rebounds and plenty of team-lifting acts. We’re loving what we’re seeing from Rowdy.

The Play of the Game

Lachie Barker
The Tassie boy produced a number of highlight reel-worthy plays, but it was his first bucket that had the crowd captivated. Receiving the ball on the move, Barker used his handles to shake Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, freezing the Kings defender, before penetrating into the lane and producing a high-degree-of-difficulty finish that any NBL player would be proud of.

From the Coach

“He’s finding ways to contribute and today, he was getting himself to the foul line, that really helped keep the scoreboard ticking over. Defensively, what he means to us, having that stability for us. The last two-three games, big responsibility put on, not just Rowdy, but the guys that were here, Creeky, as well, Izayah, X, when he was here. (We) really saw good leadership, saw a bunch of people really step up over the last few games, really proud and we can build on that.”
- Phoenix stand-in coach Judd Flavell on Ryan Broekhoff’s impact and his pride in his Covid-impacted team.

From the Players

“Phoenix fans, thank you all, especially members. We appreciate you coming out every game supporting us, cheering us, getting us going when we’re flat. We’ll see you guys on Sunday.”
-Ryan Broekhoff on how important fans and members are to the Phoenix family.

“To see all the families, kids, everyone out here is amazing. Come back here, show us your support, the boys love it. It really does mean a lot, there is so much work that goes into it. Thank you.”
-Mitch Creek on his appreciation of the club’s supporters.

CLICK HERE for tickets for Sunday's game against the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Phoenix Media (10/2/22)