36ers ready to stop new-look Phoenix

Adelaide 36ers will host South East Melbourne Phoenix on Thursday night at the Entertainment Centre, with both sides looking to open their winning account for the NBL25 season.

The Phoenix will arrive in Adelaide after dropping their first three matches of the season, most recently an 81-79 loss to New Zealand Breakers in Auckland on Sunday.

After an off-season which saw South East Melbourne recruit NBL championship winners Derek Walton Jnr, Angus Glover, Jordan Hunter and Tom Vodanovich, as well as adding Nathan Sobey, the talent on paper is as good as any in the NBL.

South East Melbourne have winners right across the floor, with a number of marquee match-ups worth admission alone in what shapes to be a crucial contest for both sides.

READ MORE

• DJ says 36ers must rebound for home opener
• Harrell shines, but 36ers fall to Taipans
• Steph changed Kendric's career path

THE KEY
Sobey was brought in by the Phoenix across the off-season to give the side an added scoring punch, and he delivered against the Breakers on Sunday.

The 2021 Tokyo bronze medalists showed why he is one of the best scorers in the league, with a game-high 24 points to go with four rebounds and four assists.

The former Brisbane Bullets and Adelaide 36ers swingman can score from all areas on the court and will be a huge assignment, most likely for Sunday Dech, across the 40 minutes.

Partnering Sobey in the backcourt this season for the Phoenix is Sydney Kings NBL23 championship winner Walton Jnr.

This gives South East Melbourne a big one-two punch at the guard spot, Kendric Davis will no doubt go head-to-head with Walton Jnr, which will go a long way in outcome of this match.

THE SECRET
South East Melbourne moved quickly to replace Mitch Creek in the off-season, by signing import pair Matt Hurt and Joe Wieskamp.

Hurt signed with the Phoenix after spending last season in the G League with the Memphis Hustle, where he averaged 19.6 points and 7.0 rebounds on 40 per cent three-point shooting.

The 24-year-old had 20 points in the loss to the Breakers, and can stretch the floor from the power forward position.

Wieskamp, who coupled 10 points with 12 rebounds against New Zealand, played 29 games as a rookie in the NBA for San Antonio Spurs in 2021/22 and combined his time at the Austin Spurs of the G League before playing at the Wisconsin Herd and Raptors 905 in 2022/23 along with playing another 10 NBA games for the Toronto Raptors.

The swingman went on to split the 2023/24 G League season with the Texas Longhorns and Maine Celtics, and now is in the NBL for his first attempt at playing internationally.

DEPTH CHART
PG: Walton Jnr / Foxwell / Ayre
SG: Sobey / Glover / Fennell
SF: Wieskamp / Lewis
PF: Hurt / Vodanovich
C: Hunter / Majok

THE FINAL WORD
After spending the entire pre-season and first two games on the road, the 36ers return home for the first time in NBL25.

Coming off two defeats to the Taipans in Cairns and to Sydney Kings at HoopsFest in Perth, the new-look Adelaide 36ers will be unveiled in front of our loyal members, fans and supporters.

Montrezl Harrell has showed his impact after just two games and expect his production to increase against a Phoenix side desperate for a win.

South East Melbourne are staring at a fourth straight loss to open the NBL25 season and the home side has to expect the Phoenix to come out firing.

The Davis-Walton Jnr match-up will be intriguing, while how the 36ers combat the import duo of Hurt and Wieskamp stretching the floor at the offensive will be countered with a dominant inside display.

Never underestimate the effect Angus Glover and Owen Foxwell can have on the outcome of this game, you can catch all the action on ESPN via Kayo Sports.