Sosa’s fiery verbals rile Ware
EDGAR Sosa’s final act of an epic heavyweight showdown between the Breakers and Melbourne on Friday night has surely lit the fuse for today’s rematch.
Just how explosive the outcome will be remains to be seen, but if it’s anything like Friday’s top-of-the-table Australian NBL playoff preview, won 89-83 by home side Melbourne, then it should be a dandy.
Sosa’s frustrations were writ large at the conclusion of a captivating back-and-forth game that saw Melbourne claw back deficits of 14 points (early) and eight (late) to coast home on a 14-0 finishing burst, and claim a rare victory over their Kiwi rivals.
The win all but sealed the minor premiership for coach Dean Vickerman’s men (18-7) and left the 15-10 Breakers, with three to play, locked in a tight battle with Adelaide (16-10) and Perth (15-11) for the No 2 finishing spot, and home semifinal advantage.
The expressive Breakers point guard put in an excellent shift to finish with 22 points on eight-of-17 shooting, including a sizzling six of 10 from beyond the arc.
But his temperature had been building throughout after he had been well shackled following a 16-point opening quarter, picked up an annoying ankle injury that slowed him, and then got drawn into a verbal battle with chirpy Melbourne import guard Casper Ware.
Ware was a nemesis all night and didn’t mind telling the Breakers so. He led all scorers with 27 points and was awarded a remarkable 17 free-throws to help get him there. It was though, at times, he was a protected species, with any hint of contact whistled in favour of a player who was dishing plenty out.
So when the game ended and the players walked through the traditional handshake line, Sosa could not help himself, giving Ware a shove when he presented. That cued more words between the two, with Sosa’s discontent clear to all.
Breakers coach Paul Henare made his feelings plain on Ware’s high free-throw count.
‘‘That free-throw count (28-13 overall) is extremely lop-sided. ‘‘Casper Ware shoots 17 freethrows: he was a hot iron, wasn’t he? You put a hand on and you’ve got to take it off straight away, otherwise he’s going to the line.’’
Melbourne and former Breakers coach Dean Vickerman said he was not worried about any repercussions at Spark Arena on Sunday (3pm tipoff).
‘‘They were both great,’’ he said. ‘‘They’re both great players, both elite in this league. Sosa is a guy who will talk, and Casper comes from an environment where he’s willing to talk as well. Those guys will talk to each other, but I’m sure it won’t spill over.
‘‘It will be a great competitive environment for those two.’’
The Breakers will be licking their wounds.
Big centre Alex Pledger copped a knee to the ribs in the opening minute and sat the game out. He will be fitness tested, while Kirk Penney didn’t even travel to Melbourne with a tight calf, and will also be reassessed. Sosa has been confirmed as a definite starter.
The Breakers did plenty positive against a team they have owned in recent years, winning 10 of their previous 11 matchups. But they fouled too much, coughed up some crucial offensive boards at the end and simply ran out of puff, going scoreless over the last six minutes. A 20-8 advantage in second-chance points was crucial in the home side’s comeback victory.
‘‘We’ve tried to be better in our execution down the stretch but I don’t think it was there,’’ said Henare. ‘‘We settled too much for tough jumpers, rather than staying on the front foot. We got good stuff all night once we got the ball in the paint.’’
The Breakers understand the importance of finishing second and getting that first semifinal at home, on the back of the Fiba international window.
One final point: if Spark Arena is as empty as it’s been in recent weeks, Auckland’s basketball fraternity needs a giant kick up the backside.
Friday was a high-quality, high-intensity, dramatic, physical affair that set the scene perfectly for a potential semifinal matchup. Today should be more of the same.
‘ It will be a great competitive environment for those two.’