Phoenix Fall Short in Final Blitz Game to Taipans

Gary Browne (19 points) led all-comers for South East Melbourne, with Tyler Cook (16 points) and Will Cummings (15 points) excellent in the final game of the NBL Blitz.

Bobi Klintman (18 points) was instrumental for the Taipans, alongside Patrick Miller (17 points) – vital with the game on the line.

In a see-sawing affair, the Taipans took the lead with less than 60 seconds on the clock and never looked back, clinching their first win of the tournament.

Despite a gallant effort across the week, the Phoenix leave with a 1-2 record ahead of next week’s season opener against Melbourne United.

HOT START

The Phoenix shot out of the blocks, scoring 34 points in the first term, the most of their three outings at the Blitz. Mike Kelly’s side scored 29 against the JackJumpers and a miserly 19 against the Kings but on the back of Cummings (eight points) and both Browne and Cook (five points) took a four-point lead into the first break.

The Taipans were also kept without an offensive rebound, whilst the Phoenix managed three and scored five second-chance points.

ONE-TWO PUNCH

If Will don’t get you, Gary will.

Questions have been asked about the size and ability to co-exist between Will Cummings and Gary Browne but they’ve shown in the pre-season that both can shine when required.

It was Cummings in game one (17 points) and Browne (26 points) in game two and three (19 points) and Phoenix fans should be excited about their back-court imports.

THE PHOENIX HAVE FOUND THE ONE

The off-season recruiting of Ben Ayre from the Cairns Taipans has proved a masterstroke. The 27-year-old is a more-than-capable backup guard to Cummings and Browne, and during the Blitz we’ve seen how important he can be.

Against the Kings, he scored a vital 18 points, and tonight backed it up with 10 points against his former side. Whilst not as prolific as other games, his catch-and-shoot ability is proving instrumental and when the coaches need someone to turn to for a spark, it’s been Ayre this pre-season.

THE MOMENT

When hasn’t it been a Tyler Cook dunk?

The American import plays on a trampoline at times, and today was no different. Down eight at the main break, the Phoenix’s break glass in case of emergency was a perfectly timed lob from Cummings which Cook finished with a flourish.

His ability around the rim is unparalleled and come the season proper, he’ll no doubt be in every top-10 highlight reel for whatever period he is with the Phoenix.

RETURN OF THE MITCH

Mitch Creek featured in his first game of the Blitz, starting and hitting his straps early. He had eight points at the main break from 14 minutes, but that’d be the last we’d see of him in the Gold Coast. Minutes restrictions on the league-leading scorer hindered him taking part in the decisive second-half, sporting an iced calf as a precaution.

FULL-TIME STATS

Browne: 19p/3r/1a/1stl
Cook: 16p/6r/3a/2blks
Cummings: 15p/2r/2a/1stl
Ayre: 10p/1r/5a
Moller: 8p/4r/2a/1stl
Creek: 8p/2r/1blk
Te Rangi: 6p/3r/1a/1stl
Vague: 5p/4r/2a/2stls
Foxwell: 4p/1r/1a/2stls
Rissetto: 4p/2r
Stattmann: 1r

Phoenix travel home from the NBL Blitz tonight, with their focus fully on the round 1 games.

CLICK HERE to secure your seat to the re-lighting of the Fire Pit on October 1 against the Perth Wildcats.