NBL Round 25 (Regular Season): Sydney beat Melbourne Utd by three after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 25 in the NBL took place in Sydney. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of 3rd placed United (15-10) to fourth ranked Kings (15-9) 97-94 in the game for the third place. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Sydney made 7 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international Jaylin Galloway (198-2002) who helped to win the game recording 27 points and 5 rebounds (perfect behind the arc making all five shots). American point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) contributed with 23 points and 6 assists for the winners. Dutch center Jesse Edwards (211-2000, college: WVU) answered with 23 points and 8 rebounds (on 11-of-13 shooting from the field) for Melbourne Utd. Sydney moved-up to third place. Melbourne Utd lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the fourth position with ten games lost. Sydney are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Brisbane (#10) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Melbourne Utd will play against Tasmania JJ (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a home loss of second ranked Phoenix (16-8) against fifth ranked Wildcats (14-10) on Saturday night. Host Phoenix was defeated by Wildcats in Melbourne 107-97. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Phoenix. American forward Kristian Doolittle (201-1997, college: Oklahoma, agency: Pensack Sports) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and Dylan Windler chipped in 27 points and 8 rebounds. At the losing side the former international guard Nathan Sobey (190-1990, college: Wyoming) responded with 24 points and 8 assists. Phoenix's coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Wildcats have a solid series of three victories in a row. Perth maintains fifth place with 14-10 record. SE Melbourne at the other side keeps the second position with eight games lost. Perth will play against Illawarra H. (#8) in Wollongong in the next round. SE Melbourne will play on the road against the league's leader Adelaide (#1) in Findon and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 25 bottom-ranked Brisbane was beaten by Cairns on the road 88-83. Illawarra H. lost to NZL Breakers on its own court 96-101.



Cairns - Brisbane 88-83

The game between closely ranked teams ended with ninth ranked Taipans' (7-17) home victory over bottom-ranked Bullets (6-19) in Cairns 88-83. Cairns players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists. The former international forward Jack McVeigh (203-1996, college: Nebraska) stepped up and scored 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and American Andrew Andrews (188-1993, college: Washington) chipped in 18 points and 13 assists. Four Taipans players scored in double figures. At the losing side American guard Hunter Maldonado (201-1999, college: Wyoming, agency: Octagon Europe) responded with 31 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and the other American import forward Terry Taylor (196-1999, college: Austin Peay) scored 22 points and 8 rebounds. Cairns maintains ninth place with 7-17 record. Brisbane lost fifth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 19 games lost. Cairns will play against higher ranked NZL Breakers (#7) in Auckland in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Brisbane will play on the road against Sydney and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Brisbane: H.Maldonado 31+6reb+5ast, T.Taylor 22+8reb+1ast, T.Smith-Milner 9+2reb+3ast, J.Holt 8+4reb+1ast, A.Ducas 7+4reb, M.Norton 6+5reb+2ast
Cairns: M.Jack 25+6reb+6ast, G.Kyrin 19+5reb+1ast, A.Andrew 18+2reb+13ast, W.Samuel 13+3reb+1ast, K.Stattmann 6+2reb+1ast, K.Mojave 3+3reb+1ast

SE Melbourne - Perth 97-107

Very important is a home loss of second ranked Phoenix (16-8) against fifth ranked Wildcats (14-10) on Saturday night. Host Phoenix was defeated by Wildcats in Melbourne 107-97. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Phoenix. Perth made 19-of-24 charity shots (79.2 percent) during the game. American forward Kristian Doolittle (201-1997, college: Oklahoma, agency: Pensack Sports) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and his fellow American import Dylan Windler (201-1996, college: Belmont) chipped in 27 points and 8 rebounds. Five Wildcats players scored in double figures. At the losing side the former international guard Nathan Sobey (190-1990, college: Wyoming) responded with 24 points and 8 assists and American forward Wes Iwundu (198-1994, college: Kansas St.) scored 27 points. Phoenix's coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Wildcats have a solid series of three victories in a row. Perth maintains fifth place with 14-10 record. SE Melbourne at the other side keeps the second position with eight games lost. Perth will play against Illawarra H. (#8) in Wollongong in the next round. SE Melbourne will play on the road against the league's leader Adelaide (#1) in Findon and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
SE Melbourne: W.Iwundu 27+3reb+3ast, N.Sobey 24+4reb+8ast, O.Foxwell 9+3ast, J.Brown III 9+6reb+1ast, A.Glover 8+7reb+4ast, I.Clark 6
Perth: W.Dylan 27+8reb+2ast, D.Kristian 24+12reb+4ast, P.Elijah 18+2reb+2ast, L.Jo 12+3reb+2ast, H.Ben 11+2reb+2ast, R.Jaron 6+3reb+4ast

Illawarra H. - NZL Breakers 96-101

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 7th ranked Hawks (8-15) lost to eighth ranked Breakers (9-15) in Wollongong 96-101. NZL Breakers forced 19 Illawarra H. turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) stepped up and scored 23 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners and his fellow American import guard Izaiah Brockington (193-1999, college: Iowa St.) chipped in 20 points and 5 assists. At the losing side American point guard QJ Peterson (183-1994, college: VMI, agency: JCK Sports Group) responded with 22 points and 6 assists and international guard William Hickey (194-1999) scored 14 points and 6 assists. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. NZL Breakers moved-up to seventh place. Illawarra H. at the other side dropped to the eighth position with 15 games lost. NZL Breakers will play against Cairns (#9) on the road in the next round. Illawarra H. will play against Perth and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Illawarra H.: Q.Peterson 22+1reb+6ast, T.Harvey 14+6ast, D.Grida 14+2reb+1ast, W.Hickey 14+2reb+6ast, W.Lo Buluk 12+1reb, J.McGee 11+3reb+1ast
NZL Breakers: J.Parker 23+7reb+8ast, M.Sam 21+2reb+2ast, B.Izaiah 20+3reb+5ast, B.Robert 17+6reb, L.Karim 16+4reb+6ast, L.Robert 2+1reb

Sydney - Melbourne Utd 97-94

The most exciting game of round 25 in the NBL took place in Sydney. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of 3rd placed United (15-10) to fourth ranked Kings (15-9) 97-94 in the game for the third place. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Sydney made 7 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international Jaylin Galloway (198-2002) who helped to win the game recording 27 points and 5 rebounds (perfect behind the arc making all five shots). American point guard Kendric Davis (183-1999, college: Memphis) contributed with 23 points and 6 assists for the winners. Dutch center Jesse Edwards (211-2000, college: WVU) answered with 23 points and 8 rebounds (on 11-of-13 shooting from the field) and the former international guard Chris Goulding (192-1988) added 21 points in the effort for Melbourne Utd. Four Sydney and five Melbourne Utd players scored in double figures. Sydney moved-up to third place. Melbourne Utd lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the fourth position with ten games lost. Sydney are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Brisbane (#10) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Melbourne Utd will play against Tasmania JJ (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Melbourne Utd: J.Edwards 23+8reb+3ast, C.Goulding 21+4reb, T.Walker 16+2reb+6ast, T.Krebs 12+9reb+1ast, F.Delany 11+8reb+4ast, M.Doyle 10+7reb+8ast
Sydney: G.Jaylin 27+5reb, D.Kendric 23+3reb+6ast, D.Matthew 11+2reb+1ast, S.Tim 10+5reb+3ast, N.Kouat 10+4reb, B.Shaun 7+3reb+4ast