Big V: Waverley Falcons win premiership
Despite being reigning champions, the Falcons were heavy underdogs to the Wildcats, who rocketed from a bottom side in 2010 to title favourite in 2011 on the strength of signing NBL stars Cameron Tragardh and Tommy Greer along with former NBL players Gerard Leonard, Adrian Sturt and Liam Norton during the offseason.
Entering the series the Wildcats had the edge on the Falcons and the swagger of a side that believed the championship was their right.
But the Falcons regained the poise and dogged efficiency that marked their 2010 title to win an overtime thriller 113-111 in game 1 of the grand final series last Saturday week at Waverley Stadium. They then sealed an unthinkable sweep in game 2 of the series 75-73 at a packed-out Eltham High School on Saturday night.
To win the series was a remarkable feat, but to sweep the Wildcats was another thing altogether.
Falcons captain Simon Blennerhassett said the win was proof you didn't need a team of NBL players to claim the Big V championship.
"It's more to do with team play," he said.
"You don't have to have NBL-calibre players to win this league. It comes down to playing as a team and not relying on individual talents."
The Falcons trailed into the final minute when star forward and series most valuable player Ivan Platenik (20 points, 10 rebounds) made a basket and was fouled on the play. His missed free throw would have handed the Falcons a slim lead. Instead, it was rebounded by athletic Falcons guard Daniel Dillon (11 points), who scored to give his side a two-point lead with just seconds left on the clock. The Wildcats' subsequent attempt rimmed out, handing the Falcons their second straight title.
Falcons coach Eric Minerve, who will return as coach in 2012, described the title as tremendous and praised his players for their determination and discipline in keeping to a strict game plan to restrict the Wildcats stars.
"Being able to win it twice, both times as serious underdogs, is a massive achievement for the guys and for the club," he said.
"We had a strategy to disrupt them but it always comes down to the players and how they execute the game plan.
"We have veteran guys who have been there before and had that inner belief and confidence."
? The Falcons Youth League women won the Big V Youth League women's championship with a two-nil sweep of Melbourne Tigers.
The Falcons women beat the Tigers 76-64 on Saturday night in game 2 of their best-of-three series to claim the title.
First-year Falcons coach Elias Palioyiannis said his players had found their best form to beat the Tigers, who were minor premiers and championship favourites.
"It was a coin-flip series," he said.
"They were favourites but we were quietly confident.
"Our depth was the difference in the end, we defended their best player very well and outran them by rotating our players."