Elimination Final Eagles Wrap – Men

Saturday night didn’t quite go to plan in the finals return for the East Perth Eagles up against the Rockingham Flames, but it was a tremendous season of growth with the seeds planted for future success.

From the momentum Carl Filpo was appointed coach at the end of the 2022 NBL1 West season, he set about building a culture with the Eagles men's program that was all about creating an environment built for sustained success.

There were some growing pains in the way the season started in 2023, but there was a lot to like in the back end of last season and then that provided momentum to take into the off-season and in the planning of 2024.

Sebit Reath, Taylor Young, Lee Roberts and Lukas Milner all committed to return along with the retention of Nick Filpo, Anthony Filpo, Elijah Pawson, Nathan Drown, Michael Clare and Nigel Adonis.

Then there was the return of 2014 championship winner Sunday Dech along with the additions of David Okwera and Sharif Watson to put together a squad looking to return East Perth to finals action in the NBL1 West.

In the end, the Eagles locked away a first finals appearance in 10 years by finishing the regular season with a 13-9 record and ending up in sixth position thanks to the 31-point win at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre over the Goldfields Giants on the last day of the campaign.

There had been memorable moments right along the way during the season for the Eagles including a first win in Geraldton against the Buccaneers in 10 years along with two victories each against the also playoff bound Mandurah Magic and Joondalup Wolves.

That set up the Eagles to play host to an elimination final this past Saturday night at the newly opened Peter Campbell Basketball Arena with the opponents being the Rockingham Flames.

Rockingham were going to pose a significant challenge for East Perth, though, with the Eagles not having beaten the Flames also since that championship year in 2014.

After the Eagles did manage to take an early five-point lead, Rockingham took charge with a 10-0 scoring run and that ended up turning into a 15-point lead and they never looked back.

Rockingham's lead was out to as much as 18 points in the second quarter with them heading into the half-time break on top 51-41.

The Flames then outscored the Eagles 25 points to 21 in the third quarter and 28 to 19 in the fourth on the way to the eventual 104-81 victory to make it 17 straight wins against East Perth dating back to their last playoff battle in 2014.

It might not have been the finals return that East Perth was hoping for, but just to get back there for the first time in 10 years was a significant achievement with plenty to build upon moving forward.

Captain and point guard Taylor Young finished with 19 points, four rebounds and four assists with 3/6 three-point shooting while Perth Wildcats young big man David Okwera added 13 points, 12 boards, four assists and two steals.

Lee Roberts also had 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, Lukas Milner 10 points and three boards, and Sebit Reath 10 points and four rebounds.

Nick Filpo also ended up with nine points, two assists and two steals on the back of knocking down 3/6 from three-point territory on the night.

Sharif Watson added four points, three rebounds and three assists, and Nigel Adonis two points having made his lone field goal attempt.