36ers, Phoenix look to add to winning streak

South East Melbourne Phoenix will come to Brett Maher Court at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre looking for consecutive wins on Thursday night.

The Phoenix, under new head coach Mike Kelly, was impressive last round, defeating the in-form Tasmania JackJumpers 86-85 on their home court at John Cain Arena to claim their second win of the NBL24 season.

Adelaide, also buoyed after their first win of the season last round, will welcome Dejan Vasiljevic into the roster in a big boost for the 36ers.

Vasiljevic will add much-needed scoring power and toughness at both ends of the floor as the 36ers look to make it two wins in-a-row against a Phoenix side littered with talent.

The Phoenix backcourt duo of Gary Browne and Will Cummings loom large as gamebreakers for South East Melbourne, so the addition of Vasiljevic is timely to complete the 36ers NBL24 roster.

THE KEY
South East Melbourne will always be Mitch Creek’s team as long as the No.55 is running around in the Phoenix colours.

The 196cm power forward is the heartbeat of the Phoenix at both ends of the floor and leads his side with passion, strength and will.

Creek will again do battle against close friend and 36ers power forward Jacob Wiley in a match-up which will put two of the league’s highflying stars against each other. 

Both Wiley and Creek spent the NBL off-season playing in Puerto Rico and the 36ers 201cm forward said his side Vaqueros de Bayamon have had fierce matches against Creek’s Mets de Guaynabo.

“We have been battling here man, me and Creeky,” Wiley said after he signed to return to Adelaide for the NBL24 season.

“There were wars every time we played each other this past season.

“My team won three times, and his team won three times.”

READ MORE

• Defence key to Flowers' frenzy against Hawks
• Bruton's 'few choice words' catalyst to success
• Comwire re-signs for NBL24 campaign

THE SECRET
Alan Williams returns to the South East Melbourne line-up for the first time this season after knee surgery.

Williams has been sidelined since the NBL pre-season due to a knee complaint picked up following an off-season stint in Japan. Tyler Cook initially replaced him on the roster but has missed the Phoenix’s last two games due to an eye injury.

Cook has been a revelation for South East Melbourne since coming to the Phoenix as an injury replacement for Williams.

After winning the Ray Borner Medal as the MVP of the NBL Blitz tournament on the Gold Coast, Cook started his NBL24 campaign averaging 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per night.

The Phoenix will be without Ben Ayre on Thursday night due to an ankle injury.

DEPTH CHART
PG: Browne / Ayre / Foxwell
SG: Cummings / Kenyon / Rosendale
SF: Moller / Te Rangi / Stattmann
PF: Creek / Vague / Rapp
C: Cook / Gak / Rissetto / Williams (inj.)

THE FINAL WORD
After the final quarter frenzy which sparked Adelaide’s first win of the season against Illawarra Hawks in the PINK SLAM last round, the 36ers must continue their momentum into Thursday night’s match.

Adelaide can’t afford to start how they did against the Hawks, which forced head coach CJ Bruton into an early standing time out where he told his team exactly what he thought of the start to the game.

The 36ers should take confidence into this match and have already defeated the Phoenix this season, all be it in a pre-season match in Mount Gambier last month.

Building on last Saturday’s first win of the season is a must for the 36ers and Adelaide has to out their full focus into the Phoenix and should have no eyes looking towards Saturday night’s blockbuster against Perth Wildcats.