The Sydney Spirit showed some signs of life to notch their first win in a busy and controversial second round in the NBL.
A press conference slanging match, a first defeat for unanimous title favourites Melbourne and two nail-biting Townsville victories were also talking points to emerge from round two.
The West Sydney Razorbacks were re-launched as the Sydney Spirit prior to the start of the 2008-09 season in an effort to gain the support of Australia’s largest city after the demise of the Kings.
With poor crowds, predictions of a last place in the league and even talk of the Spirit being amongst the teams to be cut when the new NBL is formed next season, the side has been on a hiding to nothing.
But they at least opened their account with an upset 112-105 victory over the previously undefeated Adelaide 36ers at the AIS in Canberra last night.
Import guard Derrick Low finished with 26 points and seven assists for Sydney, who rebounded from a 99-89 defeat to the Sixers to start the round on Wednesday.
“It shows that we are growing,” Spirit guard Damian Martin said.
“We came out in the fourth (quarter) and actually executed, which was another sign of the development the players have on a mature level.
“It’s a huge relief, we’re just hoping (wins) can flow on now.”
There was controversy in Perth, where the Wildcats opened their account with a 94-80 win over the Gold Coast in a battle of two teams who were still chasing their first victory.
Afterwards, Blaze coach Brendan Joyce was furious at an article in the West Australian newspaper saying the recruitment of veteran Shane Heal would stifle the development of the second-year club’s younger players.
Heal, 38, showed he can still get the job done after pouring in 28 points in the defeat, while Isiah Victor (20 points) led Perth.
Joyce demanded the West Australian journalist leave the press conference after the match, which drew a stinging rebuke from Wildcats chief executive Nick Marvin.
“I decide who stays in the press conference, not you,” he said.
Renowned firebrand Joyce didn’t back down, showing his distaste at what he called “garbage” and “innuendo” in the article in a spirited defence of his team.
Joyce now has bigger problems to worry about, trying to get his last-placed club their first win, starting with a home match against the Dragons on Thursday.
The star-studded Tigers suffered their first defeat, losing 120-111 to the Breakers in New Zealand.
The Kiwi side, who signed CJ Bruton and Dillon Boucher in the off-season, are now the NBL’s only undefeated team after winning their opening two matches.
Townsville are also progressing nicely, staving off a Dragons comeback in a 91-89 win on Thursday before storming home from a 23-point second-quarter deficit to defeat Cairns 100-96 last night.
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