Glover and Phoenix romp to huge win

Angus Glover is a man on a mission coming into NBL25 and completed his pre-season with the South East Melbourne Phoenix with another strong showing to wrap up the NBL Blitz in the 101-49 win against the Adelaide 36ers.

Neither team came into the last game on the Gold Coast at full strength and with the Phoenix missing back court stars Nathan Sobey and Derrick Walton Jr, the Sixers were without virtually their entire starting five.

DJ Vasiljevic, Kendric Davis, Isaac Humphries, Jason Cadee, Jarell Martin and the yet to arrive Montrezl Harrell were all missing for Adelaide so while you can't read a lot into the 52-point win for the Phoenix, there was still plenty to like.

Glover was a key part of two NBL championships at the Sydney Kings including a heroic performance in the decider in 2023, but he fell out of the rotation last season and as a result was looking for a fresh start.

He found that with South East Melbourne and on the back of leading the Eltham Wildcats to a historic NBL1 South championship, looks ready to fire in NBL25 having already showed his big shot capacity in the double overtime pre-season Throwdown with Melbourne United.

Then on Friday night to close the Blitz for the Phoenix on the Gold Coast, he hit a couple more big three-pointers and finished with 14 points to go with six rebounds and five assists in 18 and-a-half minutes.

Ben Ayre is another member of that South East Melbourne back court who put up 15 points with 5/9 three-point shooting along with five assists while new import Joe Wieskamp had another 11 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.

Next Star Malique Lewis put up 10 points, four rebounds and two assists with Jordan Hunter contributing 10 points, six boards and four assists, and Majok Majok nine points and 10 rebounds in only 14 and-a-half minutes.

Considering the players missing, you can't read too much into the result for Adelaide with Nick Marshall fresh off an NBL1 South MVP season with the Mount Gambier Pioneers providing 14 points and eight rebounds.

Jacob Rigoni added 12 points and six rebounds for the 36ers, Keanu Rasmussen five points and four boards, and nominated replacement player Tom Kubank five points and five rebounds including a nice early three-point make.

Both teams now head to Perth for the start of the NBL season with the Phoenix up against the Wildcats on Friday night while the Sixers take on the Sydney Kings next Sunday.

HUNGRY JACK'S NBL BLITZ

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 101 (Ayre 15, Glover 14, Wieskamp 11)

ADELAIDE 36ERS 49 (Marshall 14, Rigoni 12, Kubank 5, Rasmussen 5)

BOX SCORE