Lemanis hits out after win over Breakers

The drought-breaking win came in the most dramatic of circumstances, with Lamar Patterson sealing the result with an ice-cool three-pointer in the final minute.

Lemanis offered a rare glimpse of emotion to defend the team against those who have questioned his position along the tightrope run to the finals.

‘‘There are a lot of naysayers out there and people who want to bag at every possible moment,’’ Lemanis said.

‘‘I don’t care about people like that – I’m much bigger picture than that.

‘‘For people who are experiencing it for the first time, and having to deal with all that sort of stuff, it’s hard to see people go through that.

‘‘When you get some success and those people are rewarded for staying the course . . . that for me is tremendous reward.’’

The Breakers went close to causing heartbreak, with centre Shawn Long leading the Breakers with 23 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.

Patterson delivered in the second half to finish with 23 points and eight rebounds.

But the grunt work was done by veteran forward Mika Vukona, whose 14 points and seven boards came in the toughest battleground against New Zealand’s bigs.

Tension peaked when the visitors levelled with less than three minutes remaining.

Patterson hit two clutch buckets and, combined with desperate defence, the Bullets were home.