Bulla Recap: Landale stars as United storms home to book Grand Final ticket

Melbourne United are off to the 2021 NBL Grand Final!

Jock Landale simply wouldn’t be denied as the superstar big man inspired a furious Melbourne comeback against South East Melbourne in the series-deciding Game Three at Qudos Bank Arena on Tuesday night.

United struggled early and the Phoenix took advantage, jumping out to a 9-2 lead after three and a half minutes of play.

The ball movement that we’ve come to know from Melbourne this season eventually got going through the middle stages of the quarter as Landale scored in the paint twice to make it just a three-point game, 11-8, with 4:20 remaining in the term.

Yannick Wetzell scored important buckets for South East Melbourne, while Keifer Sykes found his groove late in the quarter and helped the Phoenix go on a run to end the quarter with a 10-point lead, 24-14.

Scotty Hopson ensured his presence was felt by attacking the paint, but Izayah Mauriohooho-Le Afa hit a pair of triples to have the Phoenix up by a game-high 17 points, 32-25, after 90 seconds of play in the second quarter.

With the game slipping away, Landale answered the call for United by sparking a 7-0 run. He first connected on triple, before Hopson and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. scored with dunks.

Landale wasn’t done, scoring a three-pointer, then driving to the paint and getting the job done. With three minutes to play in the half, Landale drained another triple – his third of the quarter – and cut it to a 10-point deficit, 40-30.

It was a game-changing stretch of play from Landale.

After Landale did the heavy lifting to get Melbourne back in the game, it was Mitch McCarron who closed the first half in fashion, further dragging United back. He converted an and-1 play, before slicing through the Phoenix defence for a dunk and then dished out an assist to Sam McDaniel who drilled a corner triple.

After trailing by as many as 17 points, Melbourne finished the quarter strongly to stand just five points adrift at the main break, 45-40. Landale (15 points and 5 rebounds) and McCarron (5 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists) were standing tall for United, while Sykes (13 points) and Creek (10 points) were dominating for the Phoenix.

After digging deep to finish the second quarter, Melbourne continued to push hard to start the second half as their defensive intensity lifted noticeably and McDaniel was doing all he could to annoy Sykes.

Goulding scored from long-range to get Melbourne’s scoring underway in the third term. When Landale scored on back-to-back offensive trips and then David Barlow connected on his first triple of the game, United had fought all the way back to level the scores at 50, three minutes into the third term.

A pair of Goulding free throws handed Melbourne their first lead of the game, 54-53, with just over three minutes to play in the term. Back-to-back buckets Hopson buckets, including a beautiful spin move, saw United head into the final break with a one-point lead, 58-57.

Melbourne started the fourth quarter impressively, with McCarron, Landale and Lual-Acuil Jr. all scoring in a 6-0 run to have United boasting a seven-point lead, 64-57. Reuben Te Rangi and Creek scored triples for the Phoenix, but Landale – as he did all game long – scored at will and continued to keep the foot on the pedal.

McCarron finished a hard drive to the bucket with a nifty lay-up and when Goulding drained a triple with three minutes on the clock, Melbourne boasted an 11-point lead, 77-66.

Te Rangi scored two triples down the stretch, but McCarron answered with a fadeaway jump shot. Creek scored to have the Phoenix back to within six points, 80-74, with 40 seconds on the clock, but Yudai Baba stepped up to the plate and delivered a dagger triple that sent Melbourne to the Grand Final.

Baba’s triple was the game-clinching moment that sealed an incredible comeback win for United, 84-74, who now head to their third NBL Grand Final Series in the last four seasons.

Having dominated all season long, Landale produced a masterpiece performance when his team needed him most. With their backs against the wall, down 17 points in the second quarter, Landale willed United home with 27 points (11/13 FG, 3/3 3FG), 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.

McCarron (11 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists) was sublime in the big moments, while Goulding (14 points, 2 assists and 2 steals) and Hopson (9 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists) were also vital.

Te Rangi (22 points and 6 rebounds) got hot late for the Phoenix, while Creek (19 points and 9 rebounds) and Sykes (15 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds) also finished in double figures scoring.

Having booked their ticket to the Grand Final, Melbourne now turns their attention to the Perth Wildcats. The two best teams of the regular season will now meet in the decider and it’s time to unite, Melbourne.

Get behind your team as United strives for Championship glory. It all starts on Friday night, when Melbourne travels west to take on the Wildcats in Perth. Tip off is at 8:30pm (AEST).