Froling delivers for Bullets against Creek, Phoenix

Harry Froling has again shown that he's ready to go to the next level this NBL season with the Brisbane Bullets helping to deliver his new team a 102-100 pre-season victory against the South East Melbourne Phoenix on Sunday.

The two teams put on an entertaining contest on Friday night also at Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre with the Bullets pulling away late to beat the Phoenix 108-98, and Sunday afternoon saw a similarly enthralling contest.

Defence wasn’t exactly the order of the day early on with the Bullets and Phoenix combining to put up 70 points in the opening quarter alone, but with scores close and the nets scorching, the Gold Coast crowd was staying entertained.

South East Melbourne were up seven late in the opening half but Brisbane then found a spark with triples from Jason Cadee and Tamuri Wigness to go on a 12-0 run to help them head into half-time leading 58-54.

The Phoenix were able to turn the tables once more and put in a better defensive quarter in the third to hold the Bullets to 14 points. They scored 23 themselves to turn a six-point deficit midway through the term to a five-point advantage by three quarter-time.

The game appeared destined to go down to the wire, though, and a strong move inside midway through the final period from Harry Froling put Brisbane back on top by a point.

Nathan Sobey and Kyle Adnam traded triples soon after to keep scores level but the Phoenix again pulled away to lead by five when Adnam again connected from deep and Cam Gliddon hit a pair of free-throws against his old team.

South East Melbourne still led by four with 2:30 left with Mitch Creek continuing his huge weekend, but Brisbane then found something again sparked inside by Froling. He scored first up and then set up Matt Hodgson for an impressive inside finish before Sobey got to the rack to put the Bullets on top.

Froling then got to the rim and scored again to make it a four-point game when he made it an and-one. That would be enough to secure the win even though the Bullets had a chance on the buzzer after a steal and prayer from Kendall Stephens.

Harry Froling sent another message that he's ready to go to the next level this season with the Bullets by delivering 30 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Nathan Sobey had another enthralling point guard battle with Kyle Adnam, and had 22 points, four rebounds and four assists for Brisbane with Jason Cadee contributing 13 points, eight assists and eight boards, and Matt Hodgson 10 points and nine rebounds.

Anthony Drmic had another nine points, five rebounds and five assists, and Tanner Krebs nine points.

Mitch Creek backed up a strong Friday night showing with another superb performance for the Phoenix with 29 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

Adnam added 18 points and six assists, Cam Gliddon 17 points, four steals and three assists, Reuben TeRangi 16 points, Kendall Stephens 10 points and four steals, and Tristan Forsyth 10 points and five rebounds.

Yanni Wetzell looked good on Friday night but had a game to forget on Sunday. He had four fouls before half-time and went scoreless and shotless with six rebounds.

The Bullets now continue to gear up for their 2021 season opener against the Cairns Taipans on Saturday January 16 at Nissan Arena while the Phoenix open #NBL21 against Melbourne United on Sunday January 10.

NBL PRE-SEASON

BRISBANE BULLETS 102 (Froling 30, Sobey 22, Cadee 13)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 100 (Creek 29, Adnam 18, Gliddon 17) 

BOX SCORE