Elated Phoenix coach praises "intent"

South East Melbourne has endured its fair share of injury adversity in recent weeks, and the Phoenix pushed past an early injury to veteran wing Reuben Te Rangi to register a circuit-breaking win over Tasmania on Christmas night.

The Phoenix entered the clash off the back of a trio of heavy losses to Illawarra, Melbourne and Cairns, but turned things around with a gritty win over championship fancies Tasmania.

Alan Williams played through four early fouls to see out the game, while development player Anzac Rissetto had a career-best game with six points and six rebounds.

New recruit Abdel Nader continued to shake off the rust from his almost two-year absence from basketball, and head coach Mike Kelly praised the intent of his side against one of the best teams in the competition.

“Elation at how the guys did what they said they were going to do,” Kelly said after the game.

“Even though we had some mistakes the intent and the effort was fantastic and guys from everywhere stepped up.

“I think the guys just played tough basketball, they played the right way, they played for each other.

“You look down the line and Anzac Rissetto hasn’t been playing much and he’s got four offensive rebounds and he was out setting screens, I took his name because it’s at the top of the stats, but it’s a good example of guys playing with great effort.”

Injured forward Mitch Creek praised the efforts of the Phoenix on social media following the victory, and lauded it as an “absolutely monster win”.

Creek was one of a trio of South East Melbourne players missing from the win, alongside Gorjok Gak and Craig Moller.

Kelly says he hopes Te Rangi’s unavailability to play out the game won't see him join the club’s already extensive injury list.

“He landed hard,” Kelly said of the wing. “I think we’re hopeful it’s not too serious.

“He couldn’t really move once he got going again – he was OK initially and got on the bike – but he came back in and I think it was after the second quarter was when he locked up.”

The win has moved the Phoenix to fifth on the ladder. They next play Brisbane on December 30.