Froling, Drmic lead Bullets charge over Phoenix

Brisbane Bullets fans can get excited over what ex-Adelaide pair Harry Froling and Anthony Drmic will bring this NBL season after they spearheaded a strong finish to beat a fast starting South East Melbourne Phoenix 108-98 on Friday night.

The Bullets did play a pair of pre-season matches in Adelaide against the 36ers a month ago but Friday's game for both Brisbane and the Phoenix was their first real chance to ramp up preparations for the 2021 NBL season now under a month away.

The Phoenix will open proceedings on January 10 against Melbourne United and their first hit out against real opposition got off to an impressive opening at Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre.

South East Melbourne went on a 10-0 run early in the game to take control. Kyle Adnam was feeling it early in a tantalising point guard match up with Nathan Sobey which did become particularly competitive as the game progressed.

Brisbane, though, finished the first quarter the better and a late Jason Cadee triple helped them lead 30-25 after one.

It remained a free-flowing and high-scoring entertaining affair the rest of the way with both teams showing their array of offensive arsenal that should have left both supporter bases encouraged by what they saw.

Little separated the two teams most of the rest of the game too with Brisbane leading 57-51 going into half-time and 85-81 by three quarter-time.

The game was still right up for grabs tied at 94-apiece with five minutes to go when Mitch Creek drilled another triple to complete his impressive night for the Phoenix.

The Bullets took over from there, though, starting with Drmic catch and releasing quickly on a mid-range jumper. Cadee then got out for a layup before Harry Froling knocked down a three-pointer to make the margin seven.

He then added another basket before fellow former 36er Drmic finished off from beyond the arc to help the Bullets to the 10-point victory.

The Bullets shot the ball tremendously with 58 per cent from the field helped by their ability to get inside where they scored 68 points in the paint.

Their starting five all had terrific nights and it's an interesting sidebar that all of them are former Adelaide players with Froling and Drmic the most recent new Bullets to join Cadee, Sobey and Matt Hodgson.

Drmic top-scored with 21 points to with four rebounds and four assists while nailing all three of his long-range attempts. Froling added 20 points and seven rebounds, Sobey 20 points, seven assists and six boards, Cadee 17 points and seven assists, and Hodgson 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Tanner Krebs showed encouraging signs with seven points too while Tyrrell Harrison contributed five points and three rebounds.

There was plenty to like from a South East Melbourne perspective as well and Creek immediately showed that he deserves to be an NBL MVP favourite by producing 31 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals on 12/17 shooting.

Adnam looked good too with 26 points while hitting 5/5 from three-point land while Yannick Wetzell was impressive with 20 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. 

Former Bullets Reuben TeRangi seven points, four rebounds) and Cam Gliddon (three points, three rebounds) didn’t have the games they would have hoped for. But they have a chance to do it all again when the two teams play on Sunday back at the same venue from 12pm Queensland time.

NBL PRE-SEASON

BRISBANE BULLETS 108 (Drmic 21, Froling 20, Sobey 20)

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX 98 (Creek 31, Adnam 26, Wetzell 20) 

BOX SCORE