South Finals | Frankston earn a shot at glory

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The Frankston Blues have broken through for a first NBL1 South Grand Final appearance with a strong all-round showing to knock off the regular season champion Melbourne Tigers 82-79 in the preliminary final.

The Blues have been knocking on the door in the NBL1 South having reached semi finals in 2022 and 2023, and a preliminary final in 2024, and they even got all the way to the championship game at the National Finals in Melbourne back in 2022.

They then faced a big test against the Tigers at Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre on Saturday night but they were up to the task to now lock away a Grand Final spot as they attempt to win their first silverware since the SEABL South conference win in 2009.

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The Tigers did have their big home crowd behind them, but the Blues weren’t overawed and opened up an early eight-point lead and were still on top 27-24 by quarter-time with Dibaji Walker and Austin Shelley scoring eight points each.

Melbourne turned things around in the second frame, though, and took control of the preliminary final to the delight of their home fans with 29 points to 15 including completing an 11-0 scoring run.

Tom Wilson added another seven points to be up to 18 at the half and the Tigers went into the break leading 53-42 to be on target for a second straight Grand Final appearance.

Melbourne were shooting 20/35 from the field to 15/34 from Frankston going into half-time despite Walker and Jeremy Combs combining for 24 points for Frankston.

The lead for the Tigers was 12 early in the third frame but then the Blues hit back with 18 points to 11 overall in the quarter and by three quarter-time the Melbourne lead was back to 64-60.

Frankston then took over in the last quarter and an 8-0 run saw them eventually end up opening up a seven-point lead by the time Shelley scored straight out of a time out with just over a minute to play.

The Blues were able to complete the deal with three clutch free throws from Jack Stanwix sealing the deal before he intentionally missed a fourth to allow time to expire.

It's a breakthrough Grand Final appearance for Frankston with Dibaji Walker top scoring with 19 points and six rebounds with 6/10 shooting from the floor, 2/3 from downtown and 5/8 at the foul line.

They also had to do it down the stretch without Jeremy Combs who had fouled out after 14 points, eight rebound and three steals with Austin Shelley producing 18 points, four boards and two assists.

Tom Garrett also had nine points despite fouling out in under 14 minutes with Jack Stanwix adding eight points and two rebounds, and Kynan Philippe eight points and three boards.

Melbourne went ever so close to a second straight Grand Final appearance after last year's loss to the Sandringham Sabres with Tom Wilson finishing with 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as he now focuses on a second NBL season at Melbourne United.

Jack Purchase added 17 points and 11 rebounds, George Blagojevic 13 points, eight boards, two steals and two blocks, and Michael Wearne eight points.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | PRELIMINARY FINAL

MELBOURNE TIGERS 79 (Wilson 25, Purchase 17, Blagojevic 13)

FRANKSTON BLUES 82 (Walker 19, Shelley 18, Combs 14)