Phoenix leave it late, down 36ers in NBL

Fraser Barton | April 22, 2022

Cameron Gliddon has sparked a memorable fourth quarter comeback for the South East Melbourne Phoenix after they clawed back a 15 point deficit to prevail 94-91 over Adelaide at John Cain Arena.

It was the Phoenix’s turn to enjoy a late surge after they fell to the JackJumpers in their last outing at home.

Trailing the duration of the contest until the final two minutes, Gliddon’s three pointer tied the game at 89-89 before Izayah Lea’fa nailed one of his own to give the home side their first lead of the night with 77 seconds remaining.

Adelaide thought they’d levelled the scores when Sunday Dech (20 points) hit a tough jumper from the corner but his foot was on the line before Lea’fa went to the stripe with Adelaide in the bonus.

Making both, the 36ers went down the floor and had two great looks to send the game to overtime, but Daniel Johnson’s attempt missed the iron then Todd Withers’ shot wouldn’t fall.

Gliddon finished with a game high 24 points, on 6-11 from beyond the arc while Brandon Ashley had a 14 point double-double to go with 11 boards.

The win handed the Phoenix just their third win from their last 11 outings after they fell out of finals contention with a late season slide.

“Brandon Ashley and Glizzo (Gliddon) I thought gave us a real boost tonight, bit of pop off the bench which we’ve been missing for a long while,” Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell said.

“Three point baskets are so important in this league and it’s been a big hole for us for the last six weeks, we’ve really struggled from the perimeter.

“Glizzo straightened us up tonight, it was fantastic.”

Adelaide coach CJ Bruton was disappointed after his side couldn’t close out the game and said their defensive lapses and rebounds cost them.

“You give up 18 offensive rebounds –  and we’re the best offensive rebounds team in the competition – you got to do your job,” Bruton said.

“And I thought that there was multiple times that we could have got the ball, we didn’t try and go get it and so you don’t deserve the win. 

“It comes down to who wants it more, and clearly they did and got over the line with it.”

Both teams have one game to play in the season with the 36ers facing bottom of the ladder New Zealand on Saturday and the Phoenix flying west to battle Perth.