Off-season Games Wrap: Aliir fires away from deep

Melbourne United’s newest signing has showcased exactly why Dean Vickerman has brought him into the fold for NBL25, dominating across the NBL1 across the weekend.

Starting on Friday evening, Akech Aliir couldn’t be stopped, first dropping a 30-point, 10-rebound at home against Kyle Bowen and the Knox Raiders.

The 204cm Development Player equalled what was a season-high five three-pointers in the eight-point win.

It didn’t take Aliir long to top this effort however, as he connected on six triples just two evenings later against the Melbourne Tigers as part of a 35-point performance.

While this wasn’t enough to secure Mt Gambier the victory, the Pioneers remain on top of the conference table heading into the final round.

Closely behind Aliir on the table are the Sandringham Sabres and its collection of United stars, who sit in third place following a weekend of split results.

Despite getting 53 combined points from Tanner Krebs, Tom Koppens and Campbell Blogg on Friday evening against the Ballarat Miners, the Sabres came up short, going down by 14 points.

They were however able to salvage a win from their two games, bouncing back on Sunday to take down Keilor on the back of a career-high 30 points from Koppens.

Further down the table, Bowen and Knox will be fighting for their playoff lives in the final round of games.

After going down to Aliir and the Pioneers, Bowen stuffed the stat-sheet on Sunday afternoon against Geelong, helping the Raiders to a 13-point victory.

Knox’s season will come down to a final-round showdown with the Keilor Thunder; the teams sit in ninth and eighth place respectively, on 13 July at State Basketball Centre.

Across the ditch, Rob Loe and Flynn Cameron battled it out in the NZNBL’s penultimate round, with Loe taking home the 1-point victory after a near buzzer beating layup the Tuatara.

Loe scored 13 points in the winning effort, while Cameron tallied 19 points to go along with three blocked shots.

Auckland and Taranaki sit in second and third respectively with one round remaining.

RESULTS 

Friday

Sandringham Sabres 85 def by Ballarat Miners 99 

Tanner Krebs - 22 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

Campbell Blogg - 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal

Tom Koppens - 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists

Mt Gambier Pioneers 93 def Knox Raiders 85

Akech Aliir - 30 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks

Kyle Bowen - 13 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist 

Saturday

Mt Gambier Pioneers 86 def by Melbourne Tigers 91

Akech Aliir - 35 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

Sunday

Auckland Tuatara 77 def Taranaki Airs 76

Rob Loe - 13 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block

Flynn Cameron - 19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks

Knox Raiders 88 def Geelong United 75

Kyle Bowen - 9 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks

Sandringham Sabres 83 def Keilor Thunder 72

Tom Koppens - 30 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists

Campbell Blogg - 17 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block

Tanner Krebs - 7 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block

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