Otago complete their resurrection
EIGHT years after folding due to financial issues, the Otago Nuggets are kings of the
National Basketball League.
Otago completed a fairytale storyline, winning their first NBL title and their second trophy in three years after overcoming the Auckland Tuatara 81-73 in last night’s grand final.
The Tuatara were in their first season in the competition, but met their match in a classy Nuggets team. They silenced the Tuatara home crowd at Eventfinda Stadium on the North Shore, who were hoping to witness history.
Both teams surprised getting through to the grand final with the Nuggets seeded third and the Tuatara fifth.
The Nuggets will soak up this triumph for some time.
They took out the Covid-19 inspired NBL Showdown in 2020, but that success carried an asterisk with it not being a true home and away format and the Wellington Saints, Hawke’s Bay Hawks and Southland Sharks not involved.
To think the Nuggets disappeared from the NBL after the 2014 season due to financial problems and were in the wilderness for five seasons from 2015-19.
Returning for the Showdown in 2020, the Nuggets have thrived under head coach Brent Matehaere, who has done a tremendous job with the side.
American guard Keith
Williams delivered a grand final MVP showing, exploding for a game-high 34 points, to go with eight rebounds and two steals.
The 24-year-old, who is playing overseas for the first time after four years of college hoops at Cincinnati, looks a man with a bright future.
It was edge of your seat stuff in the final minutes and the key moment came with 54 seconds left when Otago’s American standout Tray Boyd stripped Siler Schneider of the ball and Williams scored at the other end to put them up 77-73.