Captain hits winner at the buzzer
Inspirational New Zealand Breakers captain Tom Abercrombie added to his legacy with the game-winning triple on the buzzer against the Cairns Taipans to win 76-73 in basketball’s NBL Cup on Wednesday night.
The game might have not reached any great heights most of the way, but it ended with the finish of the NBL season so far in a dramatic and frantic final two minutes between the Breakers and Taipans at John Cain Arena in Melbourne.
The Breakers had opened up a 19-point lead early in the third quarter and that was despite really only using six players with Rob Loe back home, Lamar Patterson out injured and Corey Webster joining them as a late defection with a sore knee.
That didn’t deny them, though, and they were terrific to open up that lead after dominating the first half. But it showed even greater character to then withstand the fightback from the Taipans and to win the game on the buzzer.
The Taipans were getting closer and closer, and broke level with 40 seconds remaining on a tough floater in the paint from Scott Machado.
Rasmus Bach then put New Zealand back in front with a three ball that was answered in kind by Mirko Djeric who drilled his from metres beyond the arc.
The Breakers had one last shot to avoid overtime but the Taipans denied Tai Webster a good look on his drive. However, Abercrombie grabbed the tipped offensive rebound, got out beyond the threepoint line and spun to rise to release the shot.
It was all net and the Breakers won the game in the most remarkable of fashions as Abercrombie added to a legacy that already includes four championships and a Grand Final MVP. He’s likely to end his career leading most, if not all, categories at New Zealand.
It’s a moment that Abercrombie will always remember.
“It was obviously an awesome feeling and any time you can hit a game winner you remember it,” Abercrombie said.
“It wasn’t exactly how we drew up that last play but I just had to make up for my mistake on that last play to try and pop it in. I was lucky that it kind of floated toward me and I was able to catch it in rhythm and let it fly.
“I was a little bit worried I didn’t get it off in time but I got swamped pretty quick and didn’t have a chance to look up and check. But my team-mates were obviously pretty confident and it was cool.”
Not only did Abercrombie hit the winner, but he had his best game of the season too with 20 points and three rebounds on 7/12 shooting.
Webster battled foul trouble and shooting woes but still had 16 points, five rebounds and four assists with Colton Iverson adding 15 points and 11 rebounds, Finn Delany nine points and Bach nine.