Giants in box seat for home final & double chance

The Goldfields Giants’ season-long quest for a top-four finish to the men’s NBL1 qualifying series has come down to a simple objective — win this Saturday night on the road against East Perth.

Already guaranteed a return to the playoffs for the first time in two years, the Giants last Saturday put an exclamation mark on the club’s final qualifying game on court one before a move to new facilities in 2025 with an inspired victory against Warwick, 91-70.

It was a result that broke a four-game winning sequence for Warwick and lifted the Giants into fourth position with one game left of the regular season.

A top-four finish carries a home final at Niels Hansen Stadium and a double-chance in the first week of the playoffs.

Goldfields, whose 13-8 win-loss record puts them a game clear of Mandurah, East Perth and Rockingham, have won nine of their past 11 games and victory this weekend will cement a pivotal top-four position.

Against Warwick, the Giants trailed early but made their move with a 28-9 run in the second period that set-up an eight-point lead before breaking it wide open in the last quarter with a 12-0 run.

In yet another showcase of their value to the Giants, imports Randy Bell and De’Sean Parsons combined for 47 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists.

It was complemented by Kon Anguik’s 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and four steals, while captain Jerome Reid put up 14 points and four rebounds.

With the squad in the box seat to finish fourth, Giants interim coach Lennon Smartt said the onus was on the players to ram home the advantage with a big showing this weekend.

“Our destiny is ultimately in our own hands, starting in Perth this weekend,” Smartt said.

“What I’m pleased with is that we’re locked in to the top-six which ensures us a home final, regardless of other results.

“Should we finish fifth or sixth, we’d get a do-or-die (elimination) final but it would be at home.

“Better still, if we win this Saturday we finish fourth and get that second chance in the playoffs.

“That’s big for us.”

Amid the Giants’ season-best form, Smartt said the group had more to give.

“We were still without our starting centre Mayo (Manylok Malek) so he’ll be back this weekend, provided he gets through some sessions and passes those fitness tests,” he said.

“That’s another piece coming in and we’re trending, but we haven’t peaked yet.

“I believe there’s still more to give from everybody which is exactly where we want to be.

“Everyone’s fine and we should have the full group available this Saturday night for the first time in well over a month.”

Ladder:

Geraldton (19-2); Joondalup (15-6); Willetton (15-6); Giants (13-8); Mandurah (12-9); East Perth (12-9); Rockingham (12-9); Warwick (11-10); Perry Lakes (8-13); Lakeside (7-14); Eastern Suns (7-14); South-West (6-15), Cockburn (5-16); Perth (5-16).