In one of the most remarkable turnarounds in NBL history, the South East Melbourne Phoenix rallied from a seemingly insurmountable 20-point deficit to stun the Adelaide 36ers 85-75 and secure their spot in the NBL Playoffs. The Sunday showdown at John Cain Arena saw the hosts overcome their lowest-scoring half in franchise history to engineer the biggest comeback of the NBL season, setting the stage for a scintillating Playoffs clash against the top-seeded Illawarra Hawks.
Phoenix Rise from the Ashes
The Phoenix found themselves in a deep hole early on, as poor shooting and suffocating defense from the Sixers saw them trail by as many as 20 points just before halftime. With their season on the line, the hosts managed a meager 26 points in the first half, their lowest output in a half since joining the league.
But as the saying goes, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. And finish strong the Phoenix did, as Matt Hurt exploded for 25 points and 9 rebounds after the break to spearhead the improbable fightback. Hurt’s heroics were complemented by a 17-point spark off the bench from Ben Ayre, while Owen Foxwell put the clamps on Sixers superstar Kendric Davis in the second half.
“These guys never stop fighting. I’m so proud of them,” Hurt said post-game. “Down 19 [at halftime], we had no energy, we had no lift. I take responsibility for that and I’m just glad we got the win because not many teams get to do it like that.”
Sixers’ Season Ends in Heartbreak
For Adelaide, it was a case of a game – and a season – of two halves. The suffocating defense and efficient offense that defined their first half all but disappeared after the main break, as finger-pointing and frustration set in on the visitors’ bench.
Sixers stars Kendric Davis (26 points, 6 assists) and Montrezl Harrell (17 points, 14 rebounds) were dominant early but could not stem the tide as the Phoenix mounted their charge. The loss also brings down the curtain on the 15-year NBL career of Sixers veteran Jason Cadee, a bitter pill to swallow for the retiring guard.
Playoffs Await the Phoenix
The Phoenix’s reward for their regular season Houdini act is a best-of-three Playoff series against the Illawarra Hawks, with a spot in the NBL Championship Series on the line. Based on the resilience and never-say-die attitude on display against Adelaide, the Phoenix will fancy their chances of making some noise in the postseason.
As the dust settles on a dramatic final day of the NBL regular season, the stage is set for what promises to be a fascinating postseason. And after their historic comeback, the South East Melbourne Phoenix have firmly established themselves as the team that simply refuses to be counted out.
