Thanks, mball. Hope you get some response.

Week 2

Just finished watching the SDS v Caps men's game. Both camps with a shaky start with SDS at 1 and 1 and Caps at 0 and 1 before this one.

Brisbane led for most of the night in a tight contest. Biggest margin was 12 pts but well under double figures for most of the game. Capitals eventual winners 89/83

New signings? Where did the Brisbane Capitals find Uche Dibiamaka? In last week's loss, his debut in the NBL1 N, he showed that he could be a great get for the Caps. Tonight, he showed up again with 15 pts and 7 rebounds. Samuel McDaniel, who missed last week, returned for tonight's game with 22 pts, 5 boards, 4 ass and 6 stls. Matthew Johns also added 15 pts and 9 rbs between them.

Southern Districts Spartans had their own new signings. Back in Aus, Matt Hodgson made his return and Lutong Li made his Australian debut. Although Hodgson only had 4 pts, his 217(?)cm (7ft 2 inch) partner (Li) had 15 pts @ 80% from the field including 1 of 3 from 3 pt arc. Kyle Adman and Tamuri Wigness also new signings for the club top scored with 21 pts and 17 pts respectively. Both played over 30 mins. Blake Jones is the final new signing for SDS and he contributed 13 pts and 9 boards. That's a totally new starting 5, all good players, need to get better results, probably will.

Next week is a double for Caps @ Townsville then Cairns and SDS take on North Side Wizards.

Good write up RobT. Dibiamaka is from Adelaide and has graduated from college. This was on his IG:

We're thrilled to welcome Uche Dibiamaka to the Brisbane Capitals for the 2025 NBL1 North season!

Fresh off a championship run with Forestville in NBL1 Central — and a standout performance at the National Finals — Uche brings a powerhouse presence to our forward group. He can create his own shot, attack the rim with force, and stretch the floor with confident shooting.

From Coach Vandy:
"Uche comes to us from the NBL1 Central Champions Forestville, where he was a key piece for them in 2024. He’s a powerhouse forward who fits the mould of the player we want — someone who can create, space the floor, and bring physicality to both ends.
He’s been knocking on the door of bigger opportunities in WA and SA, and I have no doubt his presence will elevate our pace and defensive versatility. Uche is ready to break out in the NBL1 North."

Let’s go, Uche

My teams:
Cairns Dolphins have Mia Lloyd back and Cayla George to come in. Also two pairs of sisters, Teyhana and Taryn Bond and Teyla and Saje Evans, with a third Evans sister, Summah, just back from college. All daughters of former Opal, Jenny Evans nee Reisner. Will Summah sign as well?

Mia Lloyd with a triple double last weekend away vs Townsville and another on Friday night vs Gold Coast. Two wins and then a loss last night vs Logan.

Cairns Marlins have the very athletic Alex Higgins-Titsha, new PG Moses Nuangki (Adelaide), the Stattmann brothers, James Mitchell, Damon Heuir, local legend Curt Ahwang and still have Aron Farmer to come in.

Lost away to Townsville last weekend, then had an epic comeback win after 20+ points down against Gold Coast on Friday night, then a very tight win vs Logan last night.

Both teams stand at 2-1 now. Both teams have a pair of siblings (Dolphins two pairs!) and I wonder how often, if ever, that has happened previously?

Next game is next Saturday night vs Brisbane Caps (RobT's team) and that will be a huge test for the Marlins. I think the Dolphins will be there at the pointy end of the season.

Mackay would hope their couple late signings are going to make a big impact, looked below par both games this weekend. Also shocked Cairns women went down last night considering the addition of Cayla George and Caps still missing a few.

Have been impressed by Bris Caps, Gold Coast (Young Bradtke) and the Phoenix compared to 2024!

The double-header road trip north had me worried, I must admit. After round 1, seeing the northern teams dominate the top ladder positions, I expected a very tough weekend.

I thought that 1 from 2 would have been good. Of course, it's effing round 1. Means/meant nothing.

Brisbane Caps (men) came home 2 from 2 (the ladies were 1 and 1). Caps struggled on Friday with a come from behind win over T/ville, 82/71. A fairly ugly game from both teams missing everything for most of the game. A win is a win but not too many like that please. Saturday's dominant win, 111/75, over Cairns, had the Caps playing fab team ball. Charles Dickens said it with, "it was the best of days, it was the worst of days" as his opening for Great Expectations (I think??)
In that win over Cairns, Bris had 7 players playing between 21 and 23 minutes each with the others playing 15, 14 and 17 mins AND 6 players with double-figure scores, all between Izzy's 19 pts to Timmy's 10 and. Kops, who did not score, had 3 boards and 3 assists. How's that for a TEAM win? No super stars, no duds, a great game (for Caps' fans). Oh, and this bloke Uche, I want to see him at the Bullets as back-up for Prather, at the SF, and/or Sammy Mac at the SG. He would be good at either spot and somewhat like Prather and MacDaniel in his style of play. But this is about the Caps.

Even though it is still very early-season, I am keen to see what that has done for the ladder position. It's got to be easier climbing from say halfway rather than the bottom. Especially in a season of only 14 Rounds, no time to pussy around, most games will be must-win to have a chance at the pointy end. 3 from 4 should have the Caps primed for a successful assault on the season.
Ipswich by 7pts.
Next Sat, it's away to the South West Metro Pirates who have 1 and 2 after this round, having been beaten by Ipswich by 7 pts. SWM were also soundly beaten by Logan Thunder but had a 10 pt victory over Northside Wizards, the same team that beat the Bullets in round 1.

Firstly, just re-read last post. Must have been on something good, lost my way there (all thumbs with "cuts and pastes"). Sorry.

The full board of results and ladders from round 3 are finally up-to-date. Surprising results everywhere and Caps going from 9th position to landing on top of the ladder shows how fragile this conference is going to be this season.

Other results show teams losing to teams they "should" be beating. I am guessing that it is going to be a very tight and entertaining season.

Here's the up-to-date ladder at the end of Round 3 (men):

1st Brisbane Capitals (9th)
2nd Sunshine Coast Phoenix
3rd Gold Coast Rollers
4th Ipswich Force
5th Townsville Heat (2nd)
6th Northside Wizards
7th Mackay Meteorettes (1st)
8th Southern Districts Spartans
9th Cairns Marlins (3rd)
10th South West Metro Pirates
11th Logan Thunder
12th Rockhampton Rockets

Could not (easily) access last week's ladder but remember some of those positions and are in brackets.

PS: The NBL 1 site is showing the Mackay mens' team as Meteorettes and their ladies as Meteors, as above (another cut and paste). Isn't that the wrong way round?

Round 4 South West Metro Pirates v Brisbane Capitals. Another great night for the Caps ladies and men. Double OT for the girls while the boys won by 30.

Did not see the lady Caps' win which must have been a tough night at the office for both teams. Bris won 78 to S W Metro's 75, in 2xOT.

Here's what I got from a quick look at the stats.
For the home side, Bairstow had 19 pts, 11 rebs and 3 stls while Bea added 18 and 12. Champion contributed 15 pts.

Brisbane also had 3 players with double figures. Relf with 14 and 7 boards, Hansen with 12 and 5 but the star of this one had to be Ashley Arlen with 29 points and 20 rebounds in 44 mins.

The mens game may have been more watchable if the scores were hidden. Bris 35pts) belted the hosts (18pts) in the first 10 mins. The next 2 quarters were pretty much bucket-for-bucket. Both teams having mini runs but no real challenges. The later part of the 4th was where the Caps extended their lead to 30 pts and a final score of Bris Caps 115 to S W Metro 85.

Ladders positions for both of the Bris teams should stay the same as last week. Ladies around 9th while the men are sitting on top.

Next week, the Caps are at home to their cross-town rivals, the Southern Districts Spartans with a 2 and 2 win/loss record. South West has a bye.

Round 5. Bris Capitals v SD Spartans(men). An opening quarter with 64 points. That total, the result of an Uche Dibiamaka drive and lay up when the scores were at 27/32 for the Spartans. With the score now at 29/32, and with 7 secs to play, Cameron Thew (Bris) stole the inbounds pass, and gave a Timothy Soong an assist for a 3 pointer on the 1st quarter buzzer, scores all locked up at 32 each. Final score, Bris Capitals 114 defeated SD Spartans 107.

'Twas a good, even match, fairly physical from the start, lots of fouls called scores tight throughout. Tamuri Wigness led all scores with 30 pts and Kyle Adman had 22 for the Spartans.

The Caps were led by Sam Mac Daniels with 29 pts and Isaih Tueta's 24.

As there are no games today(Sunday) the ladder seems up to date and shows that Brisbane is still top of the ladder with 5 wins/1 loss Mackay at 4 and 2, are 2nd.