Magic moves: Phoenix unleash their "unicorn"

Vrenz Bleijenbergh has been dubbed a “unicorn,” and he’s ready to prove why in his debut NBL season.

“The reason they call me unicorn is because I'm 6'10". I was a point guard in 2019 with Antwerp. You don't see a lot of point guards at 6'10". Of course, it helped me,” Bleijenbergh said on NBL Now.

Though the 24-year-old has moved away from the point guard role, his skill set remains as versatile as ever.

“I can run the two position, I can run the three position, even the four position,” Bleijenbergh said.

That’s a unique commodity for Josh King and the South East Melbourne Phoenix to have at their disposal.

“We like to play fast. We like to play different lineups. We like to catch the ball, take the rebound, go, play fast, play the same plays. I think it's going to be a good fit for next season,” Bleijenbergh continued.

“With multiple lineups, we're going to surprise a lot of teams.”

Over the past two seasons in Turkey, the former Belgian League champion and Finals MVP even had the chance to cross paths with Josh King during his time coaching at Darussafaka.

“Josh King the coach. We are on the same page. We like to play the same way. So yeah, it was a no-brainer actually,” Bleijenbergh said of the decision to join the Phoenix.

“I played in Turkey for the same team two years in a row and did very great there. That was also the reason I had a lot of interest in Europe. But when I was flying to vacation, one hour before I landed, my agent called me and said, ‘We have a job in Australia.’

“I know the NBL. I know the guys that played there. I played with a guy that went to the NBA. So for me, it was a little bit surprising because you have, I think, 34 imports in the whole league. I was really excited.”

One of those familiar faces is Jae'Sean Tate, the 2020 All-NBL First Team selection, who shared the court with Bleijenbergh during their time in Antwerp.

He also shared the floor with Tyler Cook, who made a strong impression during his brief stint at the Phoenix.

“He (Cook) didn't play a lot of games, but I asked him how it was living in Melbourne, how was it to live in Australia, and he said it's amazing. It's so professional,” Bleijenbergh said.

“It was great to hear from other guys how it is. Even though it was a no-brainer, it was like extra motivation to come over.”

Bleijenbergh said he’s eager to join a Phoenix squad that made a strong resurgence last season, with sights now set on reaching the Championship Series.

“I mean, it's very good you can bring players back. The bond in a team is also very important, so it's good that I joined a family that's already been together. If we can add two pieces to the puzzle and we can make a big puzzle, it will be amazing,” he added.