Tasmania, Melbourne eye NBL championship decider
Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth is channelling his team’s underdog spirit ahead of the deciding game of the best-of-five NBL championship series.
Melbourne United locked the series at 2-2 after pipping the JackJumpers 88-86 in the dying stages on Thursday night in front of a sold-out MyState Bank Arena in Hobart.
The two teams will again lock horns at John Cain Arena in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Tasmania are gunning for a maiden title in just their third season, while United are chasing their second championship in the past four competitions.
The JackJumpers stunned many with their run to the grand final series in their 2021/22 debut and also made the semis in their second year.
“No one expects us to be sitting here to begin with. Three years ago no one thought we’d be sitting here,” Roth said.
“Now we’re here again. We’ve earned the right to get to game five because we won on their floor (in game three).
“It’s exciting for these guys. But I don’t need a trophy to validate what we’ve done for three years. I’m so proud of them and what we’re doing here.”
United’s Matthew Dellavedova, a 2016 NBA champion with Cleveland, nailed a crucial lay-up with 7.2 seconds left on the clock to give his side the lead.
Ian Clark, who top-scored for Melbourne with 18 points, praised Dellavedova’s calmness.
“He is so level-headed. He’s the first one to bring guys in to say ‘next play’,” Clark said.
“I love our resilience. Even when they made runs and made big shots, we didn’t panic.”
Melbourne were too strong with a 23-point victory in game one, but since then just nine points have separated the two outfits.
“It’s been an incredible championship series so far,” United coach Dean Vickerman said.
“We’re incredibly privileged to go back to Melbourne and have one more shot at this thing.”
Vickerman heaped praise on Lual-Acuil Jr for a steal with seconds remaining to thwart a JackJumpers raid.
He brushed off concerns about captain Chris Goulding, who was limping towards the end of the game.
“Everyone’s got a little something right now, so it’s nothing to be worried about,” he said.
The JackJumpers will have to get the job done without American big man Marcus Lee, who was ruled out for the series after suffering an MCL tear in game three.
