Offseason Games Wrap: Ili, Waardenburg stand tall in OT thriller

Playing in their first game together since becoming Melbourne United teammates, Shea Ili and Sam Waardenburg helped New Zealand take down the Philippines in a FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifier on Friday evening.

Waardenburg finished with a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds), while Ili tallied 21 points and six assists in just 24 minutes, including two clutch free-throws to send the game into double-overtime.

The win means New Zealand have locked in their spot in the Second Round of World Cup Qualification. The pair will play one more game for the Tall Blacks on Monday night against Guam at 5pm.

Also thriving internationally was Jesse Edwards, who suited up for his first game of NBA Summer League.

The big-man played under nine minutes off the bench for the Milwaukee Bucks, but was able to make his impact felt with nine points, three rebounds and two blocks in a 97-83 win.

Closer to home, Tom Wilson and the Melbourne Tigers continued to roll, picking up two road wins against Hobart and the Northern Force in the NBL1 South.

Wilson averaged 18 points per game across the two victories, which kept Melbourne on top of the table with two rounds remaining.

Sitting just one win behind the Tigers is Christian D’Angelo (15 points, four rebounds, three assists) and the Nunawading Spectres, who improved their record to 15-5 at the weekend after taking down Diamond Valley on the road.

Still fighting for their chance to make the playoffs are Kyle Bowen (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Malith Machar (19 points, 10.5 rebounds), who split their games on Friday and Saturday, leaving them in 10th on the ladder with two rounds remaining.

In the East, a Fabijan Krslovic double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds, six assists) led the way for the Norths Bears, improving their record to an equal-best 14-3 in the conference.

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