Phoenix Rises: South East Melbourne Breaks Drought with Thrilling Upset
In a season marked by turmoil, the South East Melbourne Phoenix have finally found their footing. With a spirited 93-84 win over Melbourne United, the Phoenix broke their long NBL drought and gave caretaker coach Sam Mackinnon a dream start.
A New Era Begins
Mackinnon took the reins after Mike Kelly’s departure last Sunday, and his impact was immediate. Despite losing star import point guard Derrick Walton Jr to a strained right hamstring in the second quarter, the Phoenix rallied to outplay the heavily favored United down the stretch.
Heroes Emerge
Captain Jordan Hunter led the charge with 20 points, while import Matt Hurt added 18 and revitalized guard Nathan Sobey chipped in with 16. The trio paved the way for the Phoenix to deliver a first-up win under Mackinnon’s guidance.
Turning the Tables
Melbourne United had looked dominant early, with Ian Clark and Chris Goulding leading the charge. However, the Phoenix boosted their physicality and shooting accuracy in the second stanza, turning a 10-point deficit into a five-point half-time advantage. Tom Vodanovich’s three triples off the bench were decisive in the turnaround.
Overcoming Adversity
Walton’s third-quarter exit posed a challenge, but the Phoenix refused to wilt. Sobey picked off an errant Jack White pass down the stretch and finished with a breakaway slam to increase the buffer to eight points.
United’s Late Surge
Melbourne hit back late, with Tanner Krebs’ triple scaling the lead back to 63-60 at the break. However, Hurt and Sobey came up with a series of big plays late to ward off any hope of a late Melbourne miracle.
Post-Game Reaction
“We couldn’t put enough pressure on the ball, which allowed them to get their spots a bit better,” United coach Dean Vickerman said. “Credit to their defence, they slowed us down and we didn’t create the advantages we wanted.”
A Bright Future Ahead
For the Phoenix, the win marks a new beginning. With Mackinnon at the helm, the team is looking to build on this momentum and create a brighter future. As the coach himself said, “It’s been a clearly well-documented tough year… Getting the group together, gelling and forgetting about last week, getting the chance to best imprint how I want us to play, our style, level of intensity and commitment, the guys have been fantastic.”
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