Pirates and Braves face off in blockbuster CBL decider

Echuca will be hoping fortune favours them this time around against a Braves outfit chasing its second consecutive CBL title.

The Pirates will be looking to add another flag to the collection following their 2018-19 championship triumph, a 10-point overtime thriller against Mildura.

Tenace — aiming for his second title as Pirates coach — said the opportunity to prove the mettle of Echuca basketball once more would be driving his team in the mammoth clash.

“It’s a bit of clarity, a bit of truth, and a bit of assurance that (2018-19) wasn’t a one-off,” he said.

“A bit of belief that this association can match it and be successful in basketball.

“The proof in the pudding is that of the 15-strong squad, all bar two are from our junior Pirates system.

“You couldn’t get any more local than that.”

Echuca will come into the decider at full strength and with its starters firing.

Luke Rosendale, the 2018-19 grand final MVP, has shown a liking for the big stage and is averaging 16 points per game in a productive season.

Forward Liam Tenace has also been prolific, posting five consecutive double-figure scores and averaging 18 points for the season leading into the final.

Tyler Phillips and Staci Richardson have been arguably the competition’s stand-out talls and will ensure another physical contest, a game-style Echuca has employed to great effect.

With such an even spread of contributors, Tenace is convinced any number of his players can be the hero if the contest goes right to the end, pointing to last week’s win over Macedon.

“They’re big-moment players,” he said.

“Obviously if they have to draw something out to win the game, Bendigo’s defence will go to Luke Rosendale, which will open the door for a Tyler Phillips or Staci Richardson.

“If it’s close, I have faith. If we’re down, I have faith.

“The semi-final was proof of that; a couple of times we were 10 points down but we just kept working back.

“They got the jump on us early in quarters but we just kept grinding back.

“We’ll bring that (physical game) again — we like it that way.”

But while Echuca has lost just two games for the season, Bendigo has the wood over the Pirates after its seven-point victory in round four.

Off that contest, Tenace knows where his team will need to improve if it is to topple the Braves.

“I thought our offence was a little bit predictable last time,” he said.

“We wanted to bully them into the paint because we thought we had a size difference, but we were doing that too early.”

For the reigning premier, it has timed its run perfectly.

Bendigo led at every change in last week’s semi-final against Maryborough, eventually coming away a 16-point victor.

NBL 1 Brave Jack White looms as the danger man for Echuca to tackle, and Tenace admits Bendigo’s penchant for outside run can stretch the stronger Pirates.

“Bendigo is a harder match-up,” said Tenace.

“They don’t want to match you physically.

“They rely on outside run, shooting and speed. They’re pretty tall but they don’t have our strength.

“It’s hard to pinpoint match-ups because they’re an evenly spread scoring side and all contribute.”

But whatever Saturday night’s result, Tenace will take pride in Echuca’s accomplishments this season.

“I wish I could say I’m taking it like any other game, because I’m not,” said Tenace.

“It’s a relief, really, because we’re there and I’m proud of everyone for getting where they are.

“It would be fantastic to get a win, and I think we can, but at the end of the day we just have to be proud of our achievements.

“To put into perspective, we’re not a big association.

“We’re a small association, playing one with 100,000 people at its back and a really good (basketball) program.

“It’s a good effort to get there, and to play a professional organisation.”

A strong Echuca cohort is expected to make the journey to Maryborough, and tickets are available through the Basketball Victoria website.

The grand final will also be available to watch via the CBL Live Game Centre on the Basketball Victoria website.