AUS - Import delivers fairytale in game five

MELBOURNE (NBL) - The South Dragons fairytale is complete, but the white knight who delivered the final blow was quite unexpected. The NBL Grand Final was filled with exceptional individual quarters, from Olympians Mark Worthington, Dave Barlow and Chris Anstey, and former Atlanta Hawk Donta Smith.

But game five's hero was not an international with FIBA experience, nor an import with NBA experience. After averaging just 11ppg during the regular season and playoffs, import Tremmell Darden had earned his reputation as a tough role player who was particularly effective at the defensive end.

It turns out he had saved his best for last.

After the Melbourne Tigers had surged to an early 9-point lead behind point guard Nathan Crosswell, the Dragons came back with a late surge to take a 28-24 quarter time lead, thanks largely to Smith, whose open court dunk through traffic and buzzer beating three pointer concluded the period.

Smith (21 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists) then scored four consecutive baskets for South to open the second term, Melbourne force to scrap just to stay within striking distance, trailing 52-41 at the main break.

The Tigers closed to within seven early in the third quarter, and it appeared this game five, in front of almost 9000 fans, would be a thriller. In step Darden. The modest import hit fadeaways, dunks, three pointers and almost every other kind of shot on his way to 21 points for the quarter. He would finish with 31.

It was one of the all-time great NBL Grand Final performances. When three quarter time brought down the curtain on the Darden show, his South Dragons led 82-64, and their first ever NBL Championship was secured.

The final quarter was played out to the celebrations of the Dragons supporters, who had endured a five win, bottom placed season last year, and duly reveled in their team's amazing turnaround. The final score was 102-81, and a 3-2 series win.

Not surprisingly, Dragons and Australian Boomers coach Brian Goorjian was elated, and described this as the best of his record six NBL titles."The older you get you understand how important they are."

"And in this one we picked ourselves up off the canvas after Game Four when everybody thought we were down and out," he said. "We didn't win a road game all series, but we won the Championship."

Donta Smith was a late season addition for South, replacing the injured Cortez Groves. While he averaged a modest 14ppg, his unselfishness, athleticism and all-around game made him a fan favourite, and the clear choice for the Larry Sengstock Medal - awarded to the Grand Final MVP .

Smith became the first import to take out the award since Chris Williams in 2003.

As further reward for the Dragons last-to first season, Goorjian was named Coach of the Year, while point guard Adam Gibson was named defensive player of the year. Gibson had previously been Australian Boomers point guard CJ Bruton's understudy at the Brisbane Bullets, but showed this season he is a capable starter in his own right. Watch for him to be in a Boomers singlet in the near future.

Game five was officially the last NBL game ever, with a new Oceania league to emerge next year. It was fitting the 31 season old competition went out to a near capacity crowd, with the South Dragons playing basketball that was truly world class.

Australian and New Zealand basketball fans will be happy if the new league can match its predecessor for on-court style.

Paul Kennedy
FIBA Correspondent in Australia