The South East Melbourne Phoenix continue to rise from the ashes of their early season struggles, scorching the hapless Cairns Taipans 97-74 behind a career-high 22 points from sharpshooting guard Angus Glover. The resurgent Phoenix have now won five of their last seven games to charge back into the NBL playoff picture.
Glover’s Sizzling Start Ignites Phoenix
Glover wasted no time heating up, draining four triples in the opening period to propel the Phoenix to an early double-digit advantage they would never relinquish. The home side shot a blistering 8-of-13 from long range in the first quarter to build a commanding 34-20 lead.
My teammates were finding me in great spots and the shots were just falling. It felt good to get in that rhythm early and help set the tone for the game.
Angus Glover on his scorching first quarter
Taipans’ Tumble Continues
The loss extends Cairns’ losing skid to seven games, leaving head coach Adam Forde searching for answers. The Taipans, now 3-8 on the season, remain mired at the bottom of the NBL ladder.
Prized rookie Taran Armstrong returned from an ankle injury but struggled to find his footing, finishing with 11 points on 33% shooting along with five turnovers. Import big man Sam Wardenburg kept Cairns within striking distance with 13 first-half points but was silenced after the break.
Phoenix Rising Under King
Since replacing Mike Kelly after an 0-5 start, interim head coach Josh King has the Phoenix soaring. The team’s 5-2 surge has vaulted them back into the NBL’s top six and within striking distance of a coveted playoff spot.
- Derrick Walton Jr, the Phoenix’s star import point guard, returned from injury to chip in eight points off the bench.
- Joining Glover in double figures for South East Melbourne were Matt Hurt (15), Jordan Hunter (14) and former NBA guard Nathan Sobey (14).
Taipans’ Frustration Boils Over
Cairns’ night went from bad to worse midway through the final quarter when starting guard Jonah Antonio was ejected after being slapped with two quick technical fouls. The sequence epitomized the Taipans’ mounting frustration during this prolonged dry spell.
We need to regroup, look in the mirror, and figure out what kind of team we want to be. No one is going to hand us a win, we have to go out there and earn it.
Taipans head coach Adam Forde on his team’s losing streak
Playoff Implications Abound
With the regular season entering its second half, every game takes on added significance in the race for the NBL’s four playoff spots. The Phoenix’s recent surge has them primed to challenge for the postseason while the Taipans’ tailspin leaves them with a mountain to climb to get back in the mix.
Both teams return to action in Round 9, with the Phoenix hosting the New Zealand Breakers and the Taipans looking to snap their skid on the road against the Perth Wildcats. As the season heats up, the pressure is on for Cairns to extinguish this losing streak before their playoff dreams go up in smoke.
