Phoenix cleared of COVID problems

SOUTH East Melbourne Phoenix is free to host Brian Goorjian’s high-flying Hawks on Sunday after receiving negative COVID-19 tests.

After facing the Wildcats in Perth last Friday night, Phoenix was forced to isolate on Monday as Perth entered a five-day lockdown.

South East Melbourne chief executive Tommy Greer confirmed on Tuesday that all the tests had come back negative.

South East Melbourne will be keen to test itself against the in-form Hawks at the State Basketball Centre from 3pm on Sunday.

Phoenix is 2-3 to start the season, but its win over the Wildcats in Perth was proof it can compete with the league’s best teams.

Goorjian’s defensively disciplined and offensively potent Hawks outfit won’t be easy to topple.

The team’s unbeaten 4-0 start to the season has propelled the Illawarra franchise to the top of the ladder at the end of a round for the first time since October 2016.

That is 87 rounds played since they last topped the table.

NBL officials will be breathing easier knowing that their only worry now is finding a home for Perth until the NBL Cup starts in Melbourne on February 20.

The Wildcats flew to Sydney on Monday and should receive clearance to enter Victoria for Sunday’s contest against Melbourne United in Bendigo.

Due to Perth’s lockdown, Friday’s game between Perth and New Zealand at RAC Arena has been postponed.

Thursday night’s scheduled game between the Brisbane Bullets and Melbourne United at Nissan Arena will now be played on Friday at 7.30pm.

The Cairns Taipans will now play New Zealand at the Cairns Pop-Up Arena at 5.30pm AEDT this Saturday.