VMT MATCH REPORT: Phoenix Fall Short After Remarkable 36ers Fightback

Despite a dominant first-half that saw the visitors take a game-high 18-point lead into the main break, it would prove inconsequential as Adelaide claimed their fourth victory of the year.

Vasiljevic proved the difference with 28 points and six rebounds, lighting a fire under the home team.

Nine first-quarter points from both Williams and Creek, alongside the hottest of hot starts from Reuben Te Rangi (11 points) that saw him contribute seven points from an unblemished three attempts gave the visitors a remarkable 17-points lead at the first break.

The Phoenix shot 70 per cent from the field in the opening stanza, the home stunned, themselves only able to muster 40 per cent in the same time.

Already feeling the love from the club he played 13 seasons for, Daniel Johnson – in his first trip back to Adelaide - was welcomed to the floor eight minutes in with yet another rousing round of applause, and duly saluted with a clean make from beyond the arc.

Staring down the biggest deficit of the game at the half, the hosts wouldn’t lie down, using the third term to reduce the margin to just one point, Vasiljevic heating up, 11 points including a buzzer beating three sending the Adelaide Entertainment into hysterics.

South East Melbourne were outscored 31-14 in the penultimate quarter, and it would prove the game-turning 10 minutes.

Jacob Wiley (17 points, 14 rebounds) was a standout big man for CJ Bruton’s side, a powerhouse on the boards when the 36ers needed second-chance opportunities.

Adelaide took the lead with just over eight minutes remaining through a Flowers corner three and didn’t relinquish, finishing an extraordinary comeback.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE SAUCE

Alan ‘Big Sauce’ Williams did his MVP credentials no harm with his output in Adelaide. Finishing with 23 points and 10 rebounds, the American was in beast mode in the first half, and looked to be taking the game out of the host’s hands. Instrumental in the Phoenix’s mammoth first-half lead.

Full-Time Stats

Williams: 23p/11r/2blks
Creek: 20p/4r/3a/1blk
Cummings: 16p/3r/3a
Te Rangi: 11p/1r/1a/1stl
Browne: 9p/2r/2a/2stls/1blk
Johnson: 6p/3r/1a
Kenyon: 5p/3r/1a
Ayre: 2p/1r/4a
Moller: 1p/2r/1stl
Vague: 3r

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