Full power Phoenix win big at Blitz

The South East Melbourne Phoenix appear more ready for NBL27 to start than anyone and with all their players on deck, began the CODE Sports NBL Blitz in Bendigo with the opening night 101-84 win over the Sydney Kings.

The Phoenix had already played pre-season games against Japan's B League United, Saint Mary's College, Melbourne United and Cairns Taipans ahead of taking on the Kings on the first night of the Blitz at Bendigo's Red Energy Arena.

South East Melbourne also had their full squad available including new import trio Skylar Mays, D'Shawn Schwartz and Yannis Morin while the defending champion Kings weren't quite as ready to roll.

Sydney were still without Championship Series MVP Kendric Davis while both Torrey Craig and Matthew Dellavedova didn’t suit up through illness.

The Phoenix took over the contest with 35 points in the second quarter which set up the eventual 17-point victory with new import guard Skylar Mays especially impressive with 13 points, six assists and five rebounds with 3/5 shooting from the outside.

The Kings came out and delivered a strong opening quarter to be leading 28-25 by quarter-time with Makuach Maluach up to nine points while they attempted the only seven free throws in the first 10 minutes.

South East Melbourne then caught fire in the second frame by putting up 35 points on the back of shooting 16/20 from the foul line with Sydney managing just the 18 points while going 5/11 at the charity stripe.

That saw the Phoenix leading 60-46 by half-time with Akech Aliir having 11 points, Dash Daniels eight and Skylar Mays eight with Xavier Cooks up to nine points for the Kings and Jason Spurgin seven.

It was another 19 points to 17 in the third quarter in favour of South East Melbourne and then after Sydney did close back within eight after a Tyler Robertson triple early in the fourth, the Phoenix responded.

They scored the next 10 points including three balls to Mays and Tanner Krebs on the way to the eventual 17-point win even while going 14/50 from behind the three-point arc.

Akech Aliir ended up top scoring with 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals with Skyla Mays adding 13 points, six assists and five boards.

Angus Glover had another 12 points, three assists and two rebounds, Dash Daniels 11 points and seven boards, Nathan Sobey 10 points, seven assists and four rebounds, Jordan Hunter nine points and three boards, and Yannis Morin eight points and four rebounds.

It might have been a loss for the Kings, but there was plenty to like from those who took their opportunities with the defending champions including the returning from college Jayden Stone who had 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Jason Spurgin is fresh off a standout NBL1 East season on a Sutherland Sharks team that made the Grand Final and he had 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Tyler Robertson was part of that run at Sutherland too and he had 11 points and four rebounds with 3/7 three-point shooting with Makuach Maluach contributing 11 points and two boards, and Andrew Carr 11 points, two rebounds and two steals.

Then there was Xavier Cooks with 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists in his 25 minutes.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 101 – SYDNEY KINGS 84

SE Melbourne Phoenix
Akech Aliir – 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Skylar Mays – 13 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds
Angus Glover – 12 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds
Dash Daniels – 11 points, 7 rebounds
Nathan Sobey – 10 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds

Sydney Kings
Jayden Stone – 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Xavier Cooks – 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
Jason Spurgin – 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
Andrew Carr – 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
Tyler Robertson – 11 points, 4 rebounds

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