Yudai Baba shines as Melbourne United remain undefeated

It was a grind all game long and when it mattered most, Melbourne United’s defence got the job done as they claimed a nail-biting win over the Perth Wildcats at Bendigo Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Yudai Baba and Jack White came up with massive plays down the stretch as United made it five wins in a row to start the season, despite losing superstar Chris Goulding to a calf injury in the third quarter.

The first quarter was a defensive fight, with both teams struggling to find any offensive groove. White and Mitch McCarron scored early for Melbourne, but it was Perth who held a six-point lead, 10-4, at the halfway point of the opening term.

United’s second unit turned things around. Sam McDaniel checked into the game early and he had a strong impact draining a three-pointer, while Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. and Baba connected on shots too. With the pace of the game lifting, Melbourne began to settle in and at the first break, Perth held a slender lead, 14-13.

After struggling to score in the first quarter, it was Baba who stepped to the fore early in the second quarter to drain two three-pointers, before Jock Landale and Goulding also connected on triples to give United a 26-19 lead after three minutes of play.

The Wildcats answered the challenge and went on an 8-0 run to retake the lead as Bryce Cotton and John Mooney got busy. Scotty Hopson scored a pair of key buckets late in the quarter and Goulding drained a spectacular corner three over Cotton in the final minute of the half, but Perth was able to keep the ascendancy and enter half time with a five-point lead, 42-37.

Landale (10 points and 3 rebounds) and Baba (8 points) were impressive for United, while Cotton (15 points and 4 assists) and Mooney (11 points) were pacing the Wildcats.

United came out with improved intensity to start the second half, but the Wildcats were able to keep their lead and build on it, owning an eight-point lead, 52-44, at the halfway point of the third quarter.

Just as Melbourne was making its move, Goulding went down with a calf injury and wouldn’t return to the game. Despite losing Goulding, United stayed the course and McCarron stepped up with two key shots late in the quarter, while David Barlow connected on a triple as time expired to level the scores with a quarter to play.

With it all on the line, McCarron and Baba were everywhere in the fourth quarter with harassing defence and adding plenty on the offensive end too. When McCarron scored courtesy of a beautiful one-two play with Landale at the halfway point of the fourth, Melbourne held a six-point lead.

Having already had a huge impact on the game, Baba continued his reign of terror on the defensive end with a massive block on Cotton, before forcing another turnover on the next possession and finishing it on the other end with a stunning spin move and layup which had United boasting 10-point lead.

Trailing by 10 points with just over three minutes remaining, Perth came again with Cotton leading the charge, as he so often does. A 7-0 run by Cotton had the Wildcats just three points behind with two minutes remaining.

Baba fouled out of the game with 53 seconds on the clock and was met with a standing ovation from the Bendigo crowd. Leading by two points, Hopson had a chance to ice the game as the seconds ticked away, and although his shot missed, White skied in for the big offensive rebound which gave Melbourne another possession.

The result was Landale got to the line and calmly drained a pair of free throws with two seconds left in the game to give United a hard-fought four-point win, 75-71.

Baba (14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks) showcased his full arsenal with game-changing energy and defence. Landale (16 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists) and McCarron (13 points) were both crucial down the stretch, while Hopson (9 points and 6 assists) and White (7 points and 8 rebounds) played key minutes.

Cotton (24 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists) and Mooney (15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists) led the way for Perth.

Riding a five-game winning streak, Melbourne will look to make it six wins on the trot when they take on the The Hawks in Wollongong on Wednesday night.

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