A Heartland Mateship Rekindled

They say patience is a virtue and that was certainly the case for South East Melbourne.

On the eve of the NBL23 season, they announced that a fan favourite and one of the most talented big men this league has seen in recent years was returning for another season. Zhou Qi re-signed with the Phoenix, filling their final roster spot, and was set to arrive in the coming weeks.

The Heartland fans were certainly up and about, but it’s possible no one was more excited than Phoenix star Mitch Creek.

You see, Creek and Zhou developed quite the bond last season and have stayed in touch. In speaking to South East Melbourne Phoenix Media the day Zhou’s signing was announced, Creek said: “Me and Zhou are family now. The last couple of times I’ve been talking to him it’s ended with ‘I love you’ from him to me and me to him.”

That’s quite the endorsement from Creek. It speaks to the importance of relationships in professional sports and undoubtedly, Zhou’s positive experience last season and his ongoing friendship with Creek were a factor in him signing on to return.

Creek was genuine about his affection for the 7’1 Chinese star and explained exactly how close the two have become over the past year.

“I think it started last year when we were just spending time together,” Creek explained to NBL Media.

“Obviously, you can have a love for different people on different levels and there’s a lot of time and respect we’ve given each other, and we show each other.

“We stay in touch, we text, we call; we do a variety of different communications whether it’s sometimes video call or audio message, or you’re sending memes to each other or tagging each other in posts because that person’s done something well. Like his World Cup qualifiers and some of the performances he’s put on.

“But, it’s something that just builds over time. Like any great relationship, it’s not something that can be forced. It’s just a mutual respect that turns into something where you enjoy being around each other.

“And it doesn’t matter how long goes by, it’s just like it was yesterday since we last saw each other and that’s exactly how it’s been since he’s back in the last 48 hours.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">a ??? re-signing in every sense of the word.<a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SEMelbPhoenix</a> have added a familiar face to their <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> roster bringing back <a href="https://twitter.com/officialzhouqi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@officialzhouqi</a> on a one-year deal. <a href="https://t.co/APVRUV1lFN">pic.twitter.com/APVRUV1lFN</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1574535677932613632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Despite joking that Zhou might move in with Creek and his housemate and former teammate, Adam Gibson, Creek explained that’s not the case, joking that they’d need to cut a hole in the roof of their spare room to fit in his friend.

However, it was clear that Creek knew all too well the significance of Zhou’s return.

His experience, size and knowledge of the Phoenix system and the league were all going to work in their favour and Creek described Zhou’s signing as ‘astronomical’ for the club.

“I think anytime you have someone like Zhou in the league, it’s going to special,” Creek said.

“Regardless of whether he’s here, he’s somewhere else or he’s abroad, he’s always going to have that impact. Not just on your team directly, but also on the league.

“So, I think in general, retaining someone of his calibre, the people that he touches with his presence, his ability to play at both ends of the court and to be a huge factor, I’m excited.

“So, to have someone like that, already acclimated to the team, the culture, yeah a few new faces, but when the majority of the family stay the same, it’s very easy to slide back into and it does feel like home.”

That familiarity with the league, how it’s officiated and who some of the opponents he will face are, gives Zhou a solid head start given the late stage he’s coming in at. It will make his acclimation smoother and faster, which is part of the reason he’ll be in uniform this Saturday when the Phoenix host the New Zealand Breakers.

And while it is never ideal to miss pre-season, it was a necessity for Zhou.

“Zhou had to have time off,” explained Creek.

“He had pre-season, then our season, then he went to play China basketball commitments non-stop.

“He’s come and he hadn’t touched a ball for a few weeks. It was really funny cos he shot a hook shot, very first shot, from about three feet away and he threw it over the ring and he nearly hit me in the head. And his next couple weren’t much better.

“You know we were laughing, having a giggle and giving him some shit, but honestly within about 45 minutes of practice, hook shots, put backs, dunks, blocking shots, that’s going to come naturally for someone like Zhou who’s so talented.

“But, it’s the conditioning that’s the biggest thing, so we have to be professional about how we manage his load and how we recover his body.”

Zhou’s play for the Chinese national team may have played a part in the Phoenix re-visiting their ability and desire to re-sign him.

He was dominant for China in the FIBA qualifiers a few months ago, going for 16 points and 17 rebounds in one game against the Boomers. He also averaged 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in two games against Chinese Taipei that weekend.

The Phoenix coaching staff, as well as Creek and his teammates certainly paid attention to how China used him and that just may help them in terms of how best to play with him and off him this season.

“I think the first half of the year, we didn’t do a great job of throwing it inside and letting him go to work,” said Creek of Zhou last season.

“And when we did, we didn’t really move well off the ball as well as we should have. I think towards the end of the season, he really highlighted his strengths. And he really felt comfortable in the league once he figured out how the game’s officiated, what you can get away with, and all those different things play a part.

“I thought his last ten games were just exceptional. Arguably, he was our best player. He was just efficient, he played a great role, he deterred a lot of shots, he has a high IQ.

“Mate, I tell you what, he walked into training yesterday, first session, and he knew every play from last year like water off a duck’s back. It was just smooth. To see that is special.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;??&#39;? ???? ?? ???? ??? ???? ????.&quot; ?<a href="https://twitter.com/officialzhouqi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@officialzhouqi</a> re-joins the team for practice less than 24 hours after arriving back in Melbourne.<br><br>? Tickets for Saturday&#39;s game ?? <a href="https://t.co/8p9UgBx9XF">https://t.co/8p9UgBx9XF</a> <a href="https://t.co/MFGaKSEhYv">pic.twitter.com/MFGaKSEhYv</a></p>&mdash; South East Melbourne Phoenix (@SEMelbPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix/status/1579629117858713600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And that sort of dominance, coupled with that high basketball IQ, has Creek very excited to play with Zhou again. Creek knows that Zhou’s presence will help him personally in terms of drawing defensive attention, which creates more space for Creek. He’ll also help defensively and on the boards, and give Simon Mitchell the flexibility to deploy different line-ups.

Creek has played mostly power forward last year and early this season. Last year it was alongside Zhou or Brandon Ashley. This year it’s been Alan Williams and Dane Pineau. But with Zhou in the team as well as Williams, it means they could go big – very big.

But Creek knows it will take some time for them to figure out which combinations will work best.

“It’s going to be a bit of a feeling out process,” Creek admitted.

“He’s not Zhou Qi of end of last year straight away. We know it’s going to take a few weeks as it does with everyone. He’s just travelled across the world, he’s just had a month off; it’s going to take a week or two to really get his feet under him.

“If he comes off the bench, he gets to feel his way into the game, he’s against the second unit and it’s not as much pressure for him to go and perform and be a starter straight away. If that’s how it goes, I think that’s perfect right now.

“But down the line, we might go big-man ball. You might even play Trey [Kell] at the one, Rowdy [Ryan Broekhoff] at the two, me at the three, Sauce [Williams] at the four, Zhou at the five, and say ‘good luck scoring over the top of this bloody jungle.’ You just don’t know.

“We’ll assimilate ourselves and see what we can do, because we can really mix it up now that we’ve got some horses back.”

Those horses include Trey Kell and Ryan Broekhoff who are both expected to start. Gary Browne is not back yet, but along with Zhou, that’s four significant pieces of their core, whether starters or off the bench.

The Phoenix sit at one win and two losses so far, which, given the injuries they’ve faced, is not a bad start, but not where they want to be, so getting some reinforcements is welcome.

Those that have been available have done a good job of holding down the fort, but they won’t keep playing as big a role when those starters return and are free of any restrictions.

Just how long it will take to build some cohesion amongst the group once everyone is back is anyone’s guess, but Creek is confident it will be relatively seamless.

“I don’t think it’s going to take any time,” said Creek.

“Guys are flowing well, Rowdy’s moving really well and playing at a high level even at training now, and Trey’s coming in. The biggest thing for everyone is going to be match fitness and not doing too much too early.

“You’re playing guys who are first year guys, but guys who are earning their spots and that’s how deep our team is. You’ve got to share it evenly, you’ve got to understand your role, you’ve got to accept it and you’ve got to do whatever is necessary for the team. You’ve got to sacrifice for the benefit of the group.”

One shining example of that is Anzac Rissetto, who Creek wanted to shout out.

“He’s been by far one of the best teammates to come in and accept a role and to be excellent at it,” Creek said of Rissetto.

“He’s a positive vibe. Just a guy who is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team and make his team whole. He’s a big factor for us.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Creek with the set ?<br>Zhou with the get ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/10PeachAu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@10PeachAu</a> + <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/bN9PdAWSRV">pic.twitter.com/bN9PdAWSRV</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1502876169217081348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

But the biggest factor could be Zhou. He’ll make his season debut on Saturday and Creek can’t wait to throw that first lob to his good friend.

“Mate, I’m pumped,” Creek said.

“Coming off a short roll from Kyle or Trey or Rowdy or someone and just throwing one up. If he doesn’t dunk it, I’m going to spear tackle him out of bounds; he’d better catch it.

“So, if Zhou reads this, ‘you’ve gotta %^&*$# catch it!’”