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Zhou Vs Hurt
There was plenty of hype on the arrival of former NBA giant Zhou Qi and three games into his tenure, he lived up to it. On December 12, 2021, Zhou delivered an outstanding performance for the South East Melbourne Phoenix in their 94-86 victory over Melbourne United at John Cain Arena. He recorded a double-double with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, significantly contributing to the Phoenix's third consecutive win of the season.
Defensively, Zhou was formidable, amassing seven blocks throughout the game. His presence in the paint disrupted Melbourne United's offensive strategies, underscoring his defensive prowess.
This dominant display highlighted Zhou's seamless integration into the Phoenix lineup and his capacity to influence both ends of the court. His performance was instrumental in the team's success and demonstrated his value as a key player for the Phoenix.
Matt Hurt made an immediate impact on the Phoenix in his first season overseas. He was coined the ‘certified bucket getter’ and ‘unguardable’ by many experts around the league, and he lived up to the hype by claiming the club’s MVP award.
Alongside a number of individual accolades, the Minnesota native also broke Phoenix records, including a pair of games not seen in the Heartland before.
During his first trip to Gippsland, he strolled in and strolled out with 32 points on 14-20 shooting, but the week would get better just three days later on a road trip north to Cairns, where he dropped 33 points on 14-18 from the field.
No Phoenix player had posted back-to-back 30-plus point games until now, with Hurt doing it two more times in his 34 games with the Phoenix.
Dunk V Griss
It was the dunk heard around the world, and it catapulted the NBL into the stratosphere and straight onto ESPN SportsCenter. Throwdown XIII had arguably the most memorable moment to happen on an Australian court in the last ten years when Mitch Creek posterized Matthew Dellavedova in front of a packed crowd at John Cain Arena.
Thanks to a 2-on-1 fast break and a perfectly lobbed pass from Izayah Le’Afa, Creek slammed down a thunderous jam on Dellavedova – who admittedly did the best anyone could in the situation – to send the crowd into hysterics.
Creek’s animated celebrations drew retribution from Mason Peatling, inciting a bench-clearing brawl and seeing the United big suspended for a game, three Phoenix players fined, and a United coach financially reprimanded for his role in the melee.
On January 25, 2022, the South East Melbourne Phoenix brought big-time basketball to regional Victoria, lighting up Traralgon’s Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium in a historic showdown against the Cairns Taipans. The energy inside the packed arena was electric as the Phoenix looked to make a statement in their first-ever NBL regular-season game in the heart of Gippsland.
The Phoenix rose to the occasion, delivering a gritty, hard-fought win over a stubborn Taipans outfit. With timely shooting, relentless pressure, and the crowd behind them, South East Melbourne pulled away in the second half to seal the result. Key contributors stepped up when it mattered most, showcasing the depth and resolve of a team eyeing bigger things.
This victory wasn’t just about the scoreboard — it was about connection. The Phoenix not only tightened their grip on a strong NBL campaign but also etched themselves into the memory of a new legion of fans. Traralgon turned teal for a night, and the Phoenix didn’t disappoint.
Creek V Cook
The game was incredible, the stadium was electric, and the stars on both sides shone brightly. But in a double-overtime classic at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium, it was Mitch Creek who put on arguably the best performance of his 137 outings in the Heartland to drag the Phoenix over the line in one of the greatest games in recent NBL history.
All tied up at the end of regulation, and again at the end of period one of overtime, the game struggled to find a deadlock breaker. Derrick Walton Jr for the Kings was playing out of his skin, but matching him shot for shot was the Phoenix captain. In just the second time in 32 years, two players passed 45 points, with Walton Jr adding 10 assists and Creek’s 46 points paired with 10 rebounds.
The Phoenix victory after a missed shot from Walton Jr sent the crowd into raptures, but a time of debrief and reflection allowed the sheer magnitude of the individual performance to truly rear its head. To put it in perspective, the highest individual scoring effort after Creek’s 46 points is 36 points — by none other than Mitch Creek.
Tyler Cook’s short stay down under was nothing short of spectacular. In as an injury replacement for Alan Williams, Cook made an immediate impact—claiming MVP of the pre-season competition and making the highlight reel in each of his three regular season outings for the Phoenix.
But his most memorable act was posterising projected lottery pick Alexandre Sarr in front of the Fire Pit. In both of their second games, a perfectly timed Gary Browne assist saw Cook storm through the lane to meet Sarr at the rim, finishing with ferocity and aplomb. Sarr took umbrage to Cook’s celebrations and a mini scuffle ensued. But the damage was done, the posters were made, and the highlight reels were ready and waiting.
Sbc V Rowdy
Missing arguably five of their best six players—and having lost their previous four games—no one in the basketball world gave the Phoenix a chance. That is, except the Phoenix themselves. It was a shock victory that saw captain Mitch Creek become as emotional as it gets post-game, heaping praise on the shoulders of Kody Stattmann, Anzac Rissetto, Owen Foxwell, and Ben Ayre.
Whilst inconsequential to the NBL standings, the victory would be the sole win in the run home for South East Melbourne—and one remembered fondly for the sheer willpower that saw Mike Kelly’s team home at the State Basketball Centre.
On April 1, 2021, Ryan Broekhoff delivered a standout performance for the South East Melbourne Phoenix, scoring 26 points in a commanding 95–63 victory over the Illawarra Hawks. Coming off the bench, Broekhoff showcased his elite shooting touch, draining 7 of 11 from beyond the arc in under 22 minutes of action.
His entrance flipped the script for the Phoenix. Trailing by one early in the third, Broekhoff sparked a blistering 24–0 run with a flurry of threes, turning a tight contest into a blowout as the lead ballooned to 23 by quarter’s end.
The high-profile recruit hadn’t quite hit his straps—by his own admission—but on that night, the Frankston product reminded the league and the nation exactly what he was capable of when the flames were lit.
Comeback V Xmas
Just 26 points at halftime—against the lowest seed in the NBL post-season—and the Phoenix found themselves staring down the barrel of a straight-sets exit. Everything that could go wrong did, and the usually raucous Fire Pit fell eerily silent as Kendric Davis and Montrezl Harrell threatened to douse the flame of South East Melbourne’s Cinderella run.
Then came the spark.
A now-infamous halftime rev-up from former assistant Sam Mackinnon lit the fuse, and the Phoenix erupted. Down 21 in the final term, they mounted the greatest comeback in club history. Ben Ayre’s fearless 17-point cameo, Angus Glover’s timely 10, and a breakout 25-point, 9-rebound performance from Matt Hurt flipped the script—and the scoreboard.
For the first time in six seasons, the Phoenix played under the stars at John Cain Arena, flinging open the roof for a night billed as the “Christmas Spectacular.” With perfect Melbourne weather and a scheduled visit from Santa himself, the open-air setting set the stage for one of the most memorable atmospheres of the NBL season.
A crowd of 10,000 was treated to parachuting gift vouchers, seg-sleighs, and a high-octane halftime show from Birdman. But it was the laser show—dancing beneath the open sky—that truly stole the spotlight.
Playoff implications loomed large, and both teams knew it. With the Victorian night casting its glow, Matt Hurt and Derrick Walton Jr. shone brightest, guiding the Phoenix to a pivotal win in front of their home crowd—wrapped in holiday magic and sealed with star-powered execution.
Lamelo V First Win
A landmark moment in Phoenix history came on October 19, 2019, when the club notched its first-ever sellout at John Cain Arena. The occasion? A clash with the LaMelo Ball-led Illawarra Hawks that had the basketball world buzzing.
South East Melbourne led 53–46 at the half, and though the Hawks made a push in the third, the Phoenix held firm. Calm under pressure, they rode the wave of a record crowd to secure a famous early win in their inaugural season.
John Roberson was electric, dropping a double-double with 26 points and 10 assists, while Dane Pineau cleaned up inside with 10 rebounds. It was a coming-of-age night for the fledgling franchise—a sign they were here to stay.
For the Hawks, Aaron Brooks led with 23 points, while LaMelo Ball contributed 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Despite their efforts, the Hawks fell short, bringing their season record to 1-3.
A night etched into NBL folklore. In their very first game, the South East Melbourne Phoenix stormed into a sold-out Melbourne Arena and stunned crosstown powerhouse Melbourne United, 91–88. From the opening tip, it was clear — this wasn’t your average expansion team. This was a team with swagger, purpose, and something to prove.
Mitch Creek led like a man possessed — 28 points of unrelenting firepower, setting the tone as both heartbeat and hammer. John Roberson was ice when it mattered, burying the go-ahead triple with nerves of steel. Tai Wesley and Ben Madgen brought veteran poise.
Melbourne United — the city's crowned kings — threw everything back. Goulding's bombs, Trimble's drives, the muscle, the tempo, the experience. But on this night, none of it was enough. The Phoenix were simply hungrier, louder, and more locked in. In front of 10,300 rabid fans, the newcomers didn't just hold their own — they stole the spotlight.
Adnam V Roberson
On October 1, 2022, Kyle Adnam lit up John Cain Arena with a career-high 30 points, propelling South East Melbourne Phoenix to a gritty 84–79 win over the Tasmania JackJumpers. From the opening tip, Adnam was locked in—draining triples, drawing fouls, and keeping the defence guessing. He went 6-of-9 from deep and a perfect 8-of-8 at the line, providing the spark the Phoenix needed to open their season with authority.
But Adnam’s impact went far beyond the scoreboard. As captain, he brought energy and composure, directing traffic, lifting teammates, and responding every time the JackJumpers threatened. When the game tightened late, it was Adnam’s steady hand that steadied the ship. His four rebounds and four assists spoke to a complete performance, but it was his relentless scoring that defined the night.
This wasn’t just a personal best—it was a captain’s clinic. In a game that demanded poise and purpose, Adnam didn’t just rise to the occasion—he owned it. For a Phoenix side eager to launch with intent, their leader delivered a performance made for headlines and highlight reels alike.
Down six with 12 seconds left, fans began streaming out—convinced the Phoenix were done. What followed was pure basketball sorcery. A wild scramble, a tipped rebound, a desperate swing pass—John Roberson buried a triple that lit a flicker of hope. Then came the unthinkable: Dane Pineau deflected the inbounds pass into Roberson’s hands, and the sniper faked a hand-off before drilling a leaning, off-balance three to force overtime. The building exploded—Phoenix, from dead in the water to breathing fire in seconds.
In overtime, Roberson didn’t cool off—he combusted. Six threes in under four minutes. Fifteen points in the extra period. He finished with 32 for the night and scored 21 of the Phoenix’s final 23 in a run that defied belief. The Taipans tried everything—switches, doubles, full-blown blitzes—but nothing could douse the flames. This wasn’t just clutch. It was mythical.
Roberson’s rampage will go down as one of the greatest individual flurries in NBL history, but he had co-stars in the chaos. Adam Gibson turned back the clock with 25 points and five threes. Mitch Creek added 25 and nine boards. Pineau’s hustle lit the fuse. But this was Roberson’s night—a volcanic performance that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and carved his name into Phoenix legend.
Rowdy V Keifer
South East Melbourne Phoenix kept their season alive on June 13, 2021, with a gutsy 86–79 win over Melbourne United in Game 2 of the NBL semi-finals. Facing elimination, the Phoenix brought fire and focus, forcing a decider and showing the league they weren’t ready to bow out quietly.
Cam Gliddon set the tone early—knocking down tough shots, steadying the ship, and fuelling belief. Mitch Creek brought his trademark ferocity, attacking the rim and setting the physical tone, while Keifer Sykes took control late—cool under pressure, sharp on the handle, and clutch when it mattered most.
United, stacked and seasoned, made their runs. Jock Landale and Chris Goulding each threatened to take over. But Phoenix held their nerve. They defended with purpose, rebounded with hunger, and shut down rhythm before it could start.
The moment that sealed it? Mitch Creek, caught on the ref’s mic, jawing at the opposition: “See you in Game 3.” The Phoenix made history that night—pushing United to the brink, leading at halftime in the decider, and falling just short of their first Championship Series. But the message was clear: the Phoenix had arrived, and they were here to fight.
Keifer Sykes didn’t just fill the stat sheet on February 21—he filled every crack, seam, and need the Phoenix had in a commanding 99–83 win over the Brisbane Bullets. With 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, Sykes notched the league’s first triple-double of the season—a performance less about noise and more about nuance. Smart. Steady. Surgical.
His scoring came in bursts—never forced, always timely. When Brisbane threatened a run, Sykes silenced it with a bucket or set one up with precision. He moved the ball, manipulated space, and orchestrated the offence like a maestro. But what truly turned heads was his work on the boards. At just six feet tall, Sykes rebounded with the hunger of a power forward—boxing out, bodying up, refusing to concede an inch.
On defence, he was relentless—glued to the Bullets’ guards, disrupting rhythm and setting the tone. And in transition, Sykes pulled the strings—slowing things down, speeding them up, reading the room like a floor general in full command. This wasn’t just a triple-double. It was a masterclass in control.