NBLxNBL1 Finals Preview (August 11)

Friday, August 11, 2023

The last weekend of NBL1 games is here, with eight grand final games on show and seven NBL players looking to claim a title.

Photo: Ian Knight Photography

Last weekend Ipswich Force were crowned this year’s NBL1 North champions over last season’s winners, the Gold Coast Rollers. NBL favourites Nathan Sobey and the Galloway brothers claimed a 2-1 victory in the series, after losing the opening game to Jason Cadee, Todd Blanchfield and company.

Blanchfield and Cadee tried to finish the series after Game 2, however Blanchfield's 40-piece and Cadee's 13 assists oculdn't see them over the line.. The NBL pair were over powered by the Force, Sobey put down 21 points with six rebounds and three assists, and shot at 70 per cent from the field.

Sobey then, once again, dropped 21 points en route to the Force's Game 3 win, while NBL23 Hawk Deng Deng dominated with a 40-piece of his own.

The NBL1 South Grand Final will see the ladder-topping Knox Raiders face off against the Sandringham Sabres. Raider Mason Peatling will face Sabres' duo Campbell Blogg and Ben Ayre in what looms as a feisty battle.

Tip-off between the Raiders and Sabres is 8pm AEST on Saturday night.

Malith Machar, a new Melbourne United recruit will face NBL veterans Mitch McCarron and Anthony Drmic in NBL1 Central’s grand final on Saturday. West Adelaide Bearcats’ McCarron and Drmic, along with Illawarra Hawks’ young rookie Lachlan Olbrich, will face the Forestville Eagles at 8:00pm ACST.

Melbourne's Malith Machar has led the Forestville Eagles to the NBL1 Central Grand Final against the ladder-toppng West Adelaide Bearcats.

NBL veterans Mitch McCarron and Anthony Drmic led the side - with exciting talents Lachlan Olbrich and Fraser Roxburgh in tow - to a 15-3 regular season record.

The Bearcats and Eagles will face off on Saturday night at 8pm ACST.

Both games will be shown live and free via Kayo Freebies.

NBL1 South
Saturday – Knox Raiders vs Sandringham Sabres – 8:00pm AEST

Knox Raiders
Mason Peatling

Sandringham Sabres
Ben Ayre
Campbell Blogg

NBL1 Central
Saturday – Forestville Eagles vs West Adelaide Bearcats – 8:00pm ACST

Forestville Eagles
Malith Machar

West Adelaide Bearcats
Lachlan Olbrich
Mitch McCarron
Anthony Drmic
Fraser Roxburgh