Pistons Repeat Champions
Tagged in: NBL
The Waikato Pistons have been crowned NZCT National Basketball League champions for the second year in a row after defeating the ecogise Nelson Giants 94-84 in game two of the final series in Te Awamutu tonight, wrapping the finals up in two games.
The Pistons got of to a good start taking the first quarter 28-20, largely thanks to a couple of threes from Rookie of the Year Thomas Abercrombie late into the quarter that kept a six point gap between the two sides.
The Giants came out firing at the start of the second quarter and in no time went on an eight point run that saw the sides tied up at 28-28.
The game then went back and forth with the Pistons just keeping their nose in front until Abercrombie bombed away from the three point line to nail a couple of big threes and hit three free throws from a foul on another three point attempt.
Abercrombie’s first half 20 points, Justin Bailey’s 13 and a Michael Fitchett three as the second quarter came to close put the Pistons up by 14, 55-41 at half time.
The Giants were unable to really close the gap in the third quarter as the Pistons maintained at least a ten point lead throughout the third. Bailey continued to cause the Giants problems scoring 10 points in the quarter.
Facing an 11-point deficit and the real threat of the final series ending in two games the Giants came out strong in the fourth and had cut the lead to four with a Tony Rampton dunk and one from the foul on the play midway into the quarter.
Just as it looked like the Giants might be about to rewrite the script Bailey had a quick six points that saw the Pistons lead back out to 10.
The Giants were gone and when Fitchett drained a three inside two minutes to play to take the score to 94-80 the black, yellow and red ribbons were going on the trophy for the second year in a row. The Pistons took the foot of the pedal in the closing stages for the final score to end 94-84.
Bailey lead all scorers on the night with 32 and in doing so took away the Final Series MVP trophy, which has been named after the late Murray McMahon, who would have been looking down proudly over coach Dean Vickerman and his team.
Abercrombie had a storming first half, finishing with 20 points on the night reinforcing the reasons why he cleaned up a number of the NZCT National Basketball League awards this season. Fitchett capped of a strong final series, scoring 15 points.
For the Giants, Phill Jones also showed his class and why he was voted league MVP scoring 24 points on the night. Rampton (20) and John Barber (19) worked hard all night but at the end of the day the Pistons were too deep and deserved to be crowned 2009 NZCT National Basketball League champions.
Game Two
Thursday, June 25
At Te Awamutu Event Centre, Te Awamutu
Waikato Pistons 94 (Justin Bailey 32, Thomas Abercrombie 20, Michael Fitchett 15) ecogise Nelson Giants 84 (Phil Jones 24, Tony Rampton 20, John Barber 19) Final
Live on Sky Sport 3
Referees - Dallas Pickering, Andy Thackray, Melony Wealleans
1Q: 28-20
HT: 55-41 (27-21)
3Q: 71-60 (16-19)
FT: 94-84 (23-24)
Pistons v Giants Boxscore (html 22KB)
