BNZ Breakers Ride Momentum Into Season Opener After Gritty Win Over Melbourne United

The BNZ Breakers are heading into their NBL season opener full of confidence after grinding out a 90-86 win over Melbourne United in Melbourne, their third victory from four pre-season outings.

What made the result particularly impressive was the timing and circumstances. This win came less than 48 hours after the Breakers had already knocked off South East Melbourne Phoenix, and it came without several key players on the floor.

A Depleted Squad Still Found a Way

The Breakers were without star point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright and off-season signing Kouat Noi for the entire game. Things got tougher just minutes in, when American import Josiah-Jordan James went down with a hamstring injury after only a minute on the court.

Despite those setbacks, the team leaned on its depth and came out on top, a result that will carry plenty of weight heading into the regular season opener at Spark Arena on September 20.

Mennenga Leads the Charge

Big man Sam Mennenga was the standout performer of the night, finishing with a strong stat line across the board.

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Other
Sam Mennenga	26	5	4	1 block
Charles Bediako	14	5	3 steals	1 block
Izayah Le'afa	6	2	10	3 steals
Preston Le Gassick	6	4	5	-

Canadian centre Charles Bediako was a strong partner inside, and came up with a massive block late in the final quarter when the game was still very much in the balance.

Young Guards Step Up in Jackson-Cartwright's Absence

With their starting point guard unavailable, the Breakers turned to a mix of youth and experience to run the offence. Young guard Preston Le Gassick shared point guard duties with veteran Izayah Le'afa, continuing to develop as he gets more minutes in the NBL.

Le'afa's performance was especially notable given the context, this was only his second game back after months out with a broken foot. He finished with 10 assists and 3 steals, and his defensive presence was credited with lifting the team in key moments late in the game.

How the Game Unfolded

The Breakers weathered a slow start, and the early loss of James, to still lead 25-24 at the end of the first quarter, with Mennenga already on 9 points.

They pushed that lead out to 53-46 at halftime, with Mennenga up to 17 points and the team shooting an impressive 58 percent from the field. Melbourne stayed within touch thanks to veteran sharpshooter Chris Goulding, who scored 14 points in the first half alone, including 4 of 6 from three-point range.

Melbourne mounted the expected third-quarter fightback and briefly retook the lead, but the Breakers steadied and went into the final quarter up by three. From there, despite continued pressure from Melbourne, the Breakers held their composure and locked in defensively when it mattered most, a quality head coach Gordie Herbert will have been particularly pleased to see.

Mennenga Already Focused on the Bigger Picture

Speaking after the game, Mennenga was clear that pre-season wins, while welcome, are not the main goal.

"Pre-season results aren't really the most important thing, as long as we are trending in the right direction," Mennenga said.

He said the real target is September 20, the first game of the regular season at Spark Arena, and getting off to the right start in front of home fans.

"You want to start the right way, get the win at Spark Arena and give the fans something to cheer for," he said.

Mennenga also pointed to what he has seen from his teammates both on and off the court over the past week, describing the group as cohesive and putting in consistent daily work as they build toward the start of the season.

Melbourne United's Effort

For Melbourne United, Goulding was the clear standout with 26 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Fabijan Krslovic and Joe Ingles both chipped in 12 points, while Tom Wilson added 7 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals in a solid defensive shift.

What's Next

With two wins from their final two pre-season hit-outs, and encouraging signs from both experienced players and emerging talent, the Breakers now turn their full attention to their season opener at Spark Arena on Sunday, September 20.

For a squad that has had to navigate injuries and absences throughout the pre-season, the ability to still find wins under pressure will be viewed as a genuinely positive sign heading into what Mennenga has described as a big NBL26 campaign.

This article is based on a media release issued by the BNZ Breakers.