Buccaneers, Tigers set for royal rumble (Men's Preview)
Geraldton took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series with a 30-point home victory last weekend but Willetton will still be confident of advancing to the title decider with two home wins.
The winner of that series is expected to play Lakeside Lightning in the Grand Final, with the top seed leading Southside Mitsubishi Perth Redbacks 1-0 and having two chances to clinch the series at home.
A dominant performance from former Boston Celtics draftee Ben Pepper, who had 34 points and 15 rebounds, was crucial in third seed Geraldton’s big win in game one.
Pepper outdueled Willetton’s Daniel Johnson, who hit foul trouble early, but the Adelaide 36ers centre scored 45 against Geraldton in July and is capable of producing like that again.
The second seeded Tigers were 12-1 at home during the regular season and will be much tougher to beat this weekend, but the Buccaneers inflicted Willetton’s only home loss in April.
Geraldton only lost three times on the road all year and will be confident of continuing its run towards a second SBL championship, while Willetton is trying for its first title.
Lakeside thrashed Perth 114-92 in game one and will be confident of wrapping up the series at home, where the top seed was 11-2 in the home-and-away season.
Imports Ben Beran (30 points) and Luke Payne (29) were in tremendous form last weekend for the Lightning, which is aiming for back-to-back titles.
Jon Meriweather had 21 points for Perth and Jesse Wagstaff had 20, but the fourth seed will need greater production from its back court to cause an upset.
The Redbacks were the last side to win at Lakeside, with an 87-86 victory in round 15, but doing so twice to advance to its fifth Grand Final will be tough.
Click here to read the full game by game previews.
Article by Jacob Kagi
Photo by Grant Lauterbach, Helen Theoharakis, Marg Prior & Mick Cronin
Tickets for the Grand Finals are now available through Ticketmaster Click here to purcahse tickets online.
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