Eagles Preview – Round 3

The East Perth Eagles have just the one fixture in Round 3 of the NBL1 West season and it's back to familiar surroundings against an old opponent for a host of players against the Perth Redbacks.

Round 3 of the NBL1 West season will see the Eagles take on the Redbacks at Belmont Oasis on Saturday evening with the women's contest opening proceedings with tip-off at 5pm before the men's match up follows at 7pm.

Adding to the intrigue will be having new East Perth stars Bri Bailey and David Okwera coming up against their former Redbacks team for the first time since joining the Eagles in 2024.

It looms as a Saturday night opportunity for the Eagles to make a statement too up against two Redbacks teams entering Round 3 yet to win a game this NBL1 West season.

The Eagles women are also yet to taste victory so far in 2024 with two losses to the unbeaten Warwick Senators and then another last Friday night to the Kalamunda Eastern Suns in an exciting contest where both teams combined to score 205 points.

The Redbacks, meanwhile, have lost their opening two matches against the Joondalup Wolves and Mandurah Magic before they play away to the Willetton Tigers on Friday night to open Round 3 before hosting the Eagles on Saturday evening.

That sets the stage for a fascinating match up for both teams at Belmont Oasis with Bri Bailey playing for the Eagles against the Redbacks for the first time.

The sharpshooting guard played the first 49 games of her NBL1 West career with the Redbacks after making the move from Queensland, but has now joined East Perth in 2024 and started the season well including putting up 15 points last Saturday against the Senators.

East Perth coach Craig Allen and his daughter, and Perth Lynx development player, Sarah Allen are also coming up against their former team on Saturday night in their second seasons at the Eagles with Cameron Flynn also back with East Perth in 2024 after a stint with Perth.

It doesn't end there either with Taylor Roberts and Ella Dimanlig both at the Eagles in 2024 but having spent time previously with the Redbacks.

Then in the men's contest on Saturday night, all the signs are pointing to a terrific match up with the Eagles taking on the Redbacks.

The Eagles broke through for their first win of the season last Friday night on the road to the Eastern Suns while having lost their other two matches so far to the Warwick Senators who are undefeated.

There is plenty to like about what East Perth is building, though, with a back court of Sunday Dech, Taylor Young and Jerami Grace, and with Perth Wildcats NBL big David Okwera now joining Sebit Reath and Sharif Watson up front.

There's good depth too with Nic Filpo, Noah Straatsma, Anthony Filpo and Michael Clare so the Eagles will take on the Redbacks confident of a second win of the season.

It won't be easy, though, with the Redbacks coming into the 2024 season with high expectations but yet to record a victory meaning they will be especially desperate to open their account on Saturday night.

It's a Redbacks team featuring the likes of Joe Cook-Green, Ioannis Dimakopoulos, Tevin Jackson and Miles Gibson as well so they aren't lacking in talent nor experience.

Like the women's contest, East Perth has plenty of former Redbacks talent coming up against their old team on Saturday night too including Grace and Okwera.

Okwera came into the Eagles team for the first time last week and across the two games against the Eastern Suns and Senators delivered 39 points, 24 rebounds and 11 assists.

Now he will take on a Redbacks team he played with for nine game last season and he can't wait for the challenge, and especially to go up against their captain Tevin Jackson.

"It's definitely going to be an exciting game and I definitely had this one circled on the calendar," Okwera said.

"I'm looking forward to it and I love coach Nixy so going against his game plan will be fun and I'm looking forward to trying to get that win against them.

"I got along great with that whole squad last year and all of them are still my boys, but if I had to say there was someone I was most looking forward to playing against on that team it would probably be Tevin Jackson.

"That's my guy, he's my dog and I've known him since I was probably 15 years old. So going against him is going to be fun."