Glover, Phoenix open pre-season on fire

Angus Glover might be frustrated his NBL1 South season is over but he looks ready for a big NBL27 based on his first up showing for the South East Melbourne Phoenix in their first pre-season 113-60 win over Japan's B League United.

It was the first pre-season hit out for any NBL team ahead of the upcoming season with the Phoenix playing host to the travelling B League representative team at the State Basketball Centre on Thursday night.

It was a South East Melbourne that included players from last season including Glover, Jordan Hunter, Ellis Biggar and Daniel Foster while Sydney Kings championship winner Hunter Goodrick pulled on Phoenix colours for the first time.

New signings Dash Daniels, Tanner Krebs, Skylar Mays, D'Shawn Schwartz, Pat Ryan and Nathan Sobey were among those unavailable, but the Phoenix dominated early and showed plenty of encouraging signs the rest of the way.

South East Melbourne raced out to a 15-1 start over the first five minutes including three-pointers to Kingsley Box, Hunter and Glover before they went into quarter-time on top 34-13 with 6/9 three-point shooting and forcing the B League team into seven turnovers.

The Phoenix had another 28 points to 20 in the second term to be leading at the half 62-33 with Deng Dut up to 10 points and Box nine while Glover was top scoring still with 13 and they were shooting 8/16 from the outside to 3/13.

It was another 20 points to 11 in the third period with Glover adding another eight and then 31 points to 16 in the fourth saw South East Melbourne shoot 12/18 from the field and 7/10 from downtown to secure the 53-point victory.

The Phoenix ended up shooting 52 per cent from the field and 19/35 from the outside with Glover delivering 24 points, five assists and three steals with 6/12 three-point shooting.

Sam Davidson had a strong NBL1 South season alongside Harry Froling at the Dandenong Rangers and impressed with 14 points, four assists and three steals.

Daniel Titus added 15 points and five rebounds with 4/6 shooting from deep out of the Hornsby Ku-Ring Spiders in the NBL1 East.

Jack King from the North Adelaide Rockets also had 10 points and three rebounds with Kingsley Box finishing with 11 points and three boards, Jordan Hunter 10 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, and Deng Dut 10 points and nine assists after his NBL1 South season at Keilor Thunder.

B League United will remain in Melbourne to play Melbourne United at Courtside Melbourne while on Sunday afternoon while the Phoenix will next be in action next Sunday against St Mary's College back at the State Basketball Centre.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 113 – B LEAGUE UNITED 60

South East Melbourne Phoenix

Angus Glover – 24 points, 5 assists, 3 steals, 6/12 3PT
Daniel Titus – 15 points, 5 rebounds, 4/6 3PT
Sam Davidson – 14 points, 4 assists, 3 steals
Kingsley Box – 11 points, 3 rebounds
Jordan Hunter – 10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists

B League United

Gakuto Arai – 12 points
Roy Igwe – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks
Hayato Wakugawa – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists

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