Imports lead Phoenix to impressive NBL win

Steve Barrett |

Import John Brown has impressed in his NBL debut for the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Import John Brown has impressed in his NBL debut for the South East Melbourne Phoenix.

Behind import debutant John Brown’s defensive masterclass, South East Melbourne Phoenix have started their NBL campaign with a comprehensive 114-77 trouncing of the Cairns Taipans.

Brown (14 points) demonstrated why he is regarded as the early fancy for the league’s Best Defensive Player award by chalking up six steals on Saturday, including five in the first half.

Behind Brown’s smothering example, the Phoenix dominated the first two quarters 23-15 and 36-20, Cairns coughing up 12 first-half turnovers.

Hunter
Import Hunter Maldonado scored 16 points in opening win for the Phoenix. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Angus Glover (18 points) and new American Hunter Maldonado (16) lit it up off the bench for the Phoenix, who had seven players score in double-digits in an even display.

“That’s the style we want to play,” Phoenix coach Josh King said.

The focus of playing on the defensive side of the ball was what I was most happy with.”

“We want our DNA to be a defensive team.”

First-gamer Reyne Smith (19 points) and marquee recruit Jack McVeigh (18) led the way for the underhanded Taipans, who predictably struggled, with captain Sam Waardenburg sidelined until December with an ankle injury and import point guard signing Andrew Andrews not yet available.

After a messy opening on offence, the Phoenix locked in at the other end, their Brown-led full-court press troubling Cairns.

The Phoenix pressed home their advantage in the second stanza to pull ahead by 24 points at the main break.

The Taipans’ stagnant, error-riddled offence continued to have no answers for Brown, who started the third term by notching his sixth steal.

Jack McVeigh
Gun recruit Jack McVeigh battled hard, hitting 18 points for the Taipans. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

There was no let up in the fourth, the relentless Phoenix proving they will be a force to be reckoned with this season, piling on further pain on the hapless visitors as the margin ballooned to 39 points late.

“The arguments you make about Bryce Cotton, about what he does offensively, are the arguments you’re now making for John Brown and how good he is defensively,” Cairns coach Adam Forde said.

“The first half wasn’t a true reflection of what this team is.”

AAP