Feature image via: Aaron Camua
The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles women kept their redemption NBL1 East quest in 2024 alive advancing to a preliminary final but Biwali Bayles and the Sydney Comets proved too strong in Sunday's men's semi-final match up.
RECAP NBL1 EAST | SEMI FINALS SATURDAY
RECAP NBL1 EAST | WEEK 1 FINALS
WOMEN
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (103) defeated Central Coast Crusaders (70)
The redemption quest in 2024 for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles is still alive as they moved into a preliminary final with the 103-70 home semi-final win over the Central Coast Crusaders.
The Sea Eagles have had that heartbreaking Grand Final loss to the Norths Bears in the back of their minds all the way through the 2024 season, but they found themselves in a must-win situation to stay alive on Sunday against the Crusaders at Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre.
After finishing the regular season in third place at 16-4, it was a dramatic qualifying final loss last Saturday for Manly Warringah in a Grand Final rematch to the Bears by just the three points.
That meant they were a team on a mission back home on Sunday, but it wasn’t going to be easy against a talented and experienced Crusaders team led by Leilani Mitchell, Mikaela Dombkins, Kristina Moore and Jasmine Forcadilla, and coming off a win over the Sydney Comets.
One team was going to advance to a preliminary final against the Newcastle Falcons with the loser to see their season over, and it was Manly Warringah starting the better to be leading 22-16 by quarter-time.
The Sea Eagles then took total control in the second term to open up an 18-point advantage and to still be on top 47-29 at the half-time interval.
Manly Warringah weren’t letting up and delivered another 32 points to 13 in the third period to lead by as much as 38. That lead grew to 39 in the fourth frame too and the home team went on to score the eventual 33-point victory.
The win means the Sea Eagles now take on Newcastle in Saturday's preliminary final with a Grand Final spot on the line with Brooke Flowers delivering 21 points, seven rebounds and two steals on 10/12 shooting from the field.
Zoey Miller also produced 19 points and eight assists, Bree Delaney 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, Alex Delaney 15 points, seven boards, four assists and two steals, and Kim Hodge eight points and seven rebounds.
It's the season over for Central Coast with Kristina Moore putting up 22 points, four steals and three rebounds.
Jasmine Forcadilla also had 15 points, four assists and three rebounds, Darneka Rowe 14 points, two boards and two steals, Leilani Mitchell six points, four rebounds and two assists, and Mikaela Dombkins five points, five boards and four assists.
MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 103 (Flowers 21, Miller 19, B Delaney 18)
CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS 70 (Moore 22, Forcadilla 15, Rowe 14)
MEN
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (62) lost to Sydney Comets (82)
With Biwali Bayles an unstoppable force once again backed up by Obi Kyei and the Sydney Comets momentum continued as they booked a preliminary final spot with the thumping 82-62 road win over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
Both teams put their seasons on the line in the semi-final on Sunday at Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre with the Sea Eagles trying to bounce back from a first up finals loss to the Maitland Mustangs while the Comets beat the Inner West Bulls.
Both teams were led by NBL level dynamic point guards too with Mason Bragg for Manly Warringah and Biwali Bayles for Sydney, and both put in strong performances, but it was Bayles who received plenty more help.
It was still a tight contest by quarter-time with Sydney only leading by two points but the Comets started to take over in the second period with 19 points to 12 to head into the half-time break leading 39-30.
It was then more of the Comets in the third quarter as they piled on 13 straight points to open up a 21-point lead.
That would prove to be a match-winning advantage with Sydney going on to score the 20-point road win to storm into a preliminary final match up next Saturday night against the Canberra Gunners with a Grand Final spot on the line.
Comets point guard Biwali Bayles continues to bang the door down for another NBL opportunity on the back of producing 34 points, 10 rebounds, six steals and five assists in the victory on the back of shooting 10/15 from the floor, a perfect 3/3 from three-point range and 11/11 at the free-throw line.
Former Adelaide 36ers NBL forward Obi Kyei also had 20 points, 10 rebounds and three steals with Anthony Mundine hitting three three-pointers for nine points, two boards and two assists, and Johnny Crnogorac 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots.
It was a tough way for the season to end for the Sea Eagles bowing out in straight sets after finishing the regular season in third spot with a 15-5 record.
They had won all 10 home matches during the regular season as well but it was a tough afternoon on Sunday shooting just 7/26 from three-point range and having 22 turnovers.
Mason Bragg still delivered a strong showing to complete his standout season with 25 points, 10 rebounds and four assists with 3/5 shooting from behind the three-point line.
He just didn’t get enough support in the finish with Matthew Eldridge finishing with nine points, nine rebounds and four assists, Zackary Kimball nine points, seven boards and two blocks, and Jonas Harper eight points and two rebounds.
MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 62 (Bragg 25, Eldridge 9, Kimball 9)
SYDNEY COMETS 82 (Bayles 34, Kyei 20, Crnogorac 10)
