After conquering the Big V Championship Division, the Dandenong Rangers are aiming to take the national title.By Paul Pickering
THE Dandenong Rangers laid the foundations for a tilt at the Australian Basketball Association’s (ABA) National Championship title with a 30-point demolition of the Bendigo Braves on Saturday night.
Having accounted for the South East Australian Basketball League champions, the Rangers are now just two wins – and three days – away from securing the jewel in the ABA crown.
Dandenong will meet the Sydney-based Sutherland Sharks in a semi-final clash at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) on Saturday night, with the winner to play either the Geelong Supercats or Cairns Marlins in the national final on Sunday afternoon.
In an ominous sign for the Rangers’ opponents, the Big V Championship Division premiers were actually below their best for much of Saturday night’s game – and trailed at half-time by three points.
Coach Warren Dawson said his charges were too tentative in the first half, with noted shooters inexplicably turning down open opportunities.
“Our mindset wasn’t aggressive enough early in the game,” he said.
“I felt we had plenty of opportunities to be further ahead but didn’t convert.”
After a minor defensive adjustment – and a major rev-up – at half-time, the Rangers returned to their suffocating best in the third term, restricting the Braves to just six points while piling on 33 of their own to break the game open.
Dandenong’s big three of Vince Inglima (27 points), Ash Cannan (26 points, 13 rebounds) and Brent Hobba (20 points, 15 rebounds) were as dynamic as ever, yet the lack of point production from the rest of the squad was a concern for Dawson.
“We normally get stronger contributions across the board, but I suppose it’s a positive when there’s things you can improve on and you’ve still won by 30,” he said.
Dawson’s staff are now busily scouting the Sharks ahead of Saturday’s semi-final.
“It’s never easy when you’re in different states and you don’t see them play, but we’ve talked to a number of different coaches from around the place and we saw them play in the nationals last year,” he said.
“We know that they’re going to push it up and down the floor and take a lot of threes.”
The Sharks line-up is headlined by Sydney Kings young guns Cameron Tovey and BJ Carter.
Dandenong’s semi-final will start at 5pm, allowing the winner to sit back and watch the Supercats and Marlins go at it immediately afterwards.
The grand final will be held at MSAC on Sunday at 2pm, with tickets available at the venue.
