Feature image via: June Halliday
There will be a battle between the unstoppable force and the immovable object in week one of the NBL1 West Conference Finals.
After registering a 15-7 regular season record, the Willeton Tigers will travel to Geraldton to face the Buccaneers in the weekend’s second qualifying final. The winners will earn a place in the conference’s final four, while the losers will face potential elimination in the Semi-Finals.
Some ?????? hops on @SEMelbPhoenix's Gorjok Gak ?
— NBL1 (@NBL1) June 2, 2023
Watch #NBL1West via https://t.co/NEk1I7kIKG or the NBL1 App ? & ? pic.twitter.com/0grx0ToZFx
The battle within the war looks set to come between Willeton’s newly minted Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBL1 West First Team member Gorjok Gak, and Geraldton’s offensive powerhouse duo of Malik Meunier and Zac Gattorna.
Meunier, like Gak, earned a place in the competition’s all-tournament team following his electric regular season, while Gattorna boasts an NBL title with the Sydney Kings to his name.
“We know Zac can come in and change the game,” Gak said of his opponent.
“If we limit him and use our guys to play our tempo, we’ll be alright. I think it’s just us playing how we play. Our play style is getting stops and playing defensively, so we need to make sure we do that.”
While Gattorna can draw on his title-winning experiences with the Kings last season, Gak’s partner in crime holds one of the most impressive resumes in Australian basketball. Former Olympian and four-time All-NBL First Team selection Mark Worthington came out of retirement to participate in this season with the Tigers.
Despite having not stepped onto the court in a playing capacity since 2017 the now 40-year-old hasn’t skipped a beat in his return campaign. Worthington averaged 11.2 points and 3.1 assists per game across 14 appearances this season. 'Wortho' came within touching distance of registering vaunted shooting splits of 50 percent from the field, 40 per cent from three, and 90 percent from the field.
“It’s been great playing with Mark, I actually had no idea who he was before coming here," Gak said.
“It was cool to come and meet him and get to know him over time. It’s a little bit different with NBL1 because you don’t practice every day but over time – over these four months – we’ve built a great relationship and he’s someone who I now see as a mentor.
“Through the season he’s been staying in my ear, telling me to keep working hard no matter who the competition is. It’s just been great to have him.”
Gak linked up with the Tigers following a difficult season with the Brisbane Bullets. He made 25 appearances for the ninth-placed Bullets, where he averaged 4.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. But he’s been a different beast for the Tigers so far this West season, and has credited his insatiable appetite for the game for helping him improve.
He’s since signed for the South East Melbourne Phoenix, but has unfinished business in Willeton before heading to his new side.
“After having a taste of the NBL last year, I was just hungry to improve,” Gak said.
“As soon as my season with Brisbane finished I took about two days off and then went right back to work.
“I think I’ve had a great NBL off-season. I’ve changed my body and I’m ready to come in and make a difference for the Phoenix.”
Watch Gorjok Gak's Willetton Tigers this weekend in the First Round of the NBL1 West Finals against the Geraldton Buccaneers on Saturday, from 7:00pm streaming via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App here.
