South Spotlight | Chinese stars deliver Tigers win

Featured image: @xnp_photography

Chen Mingling and Yang Shuyu combined for 37 points, 17 rebounds and six assists as the Melbourne Tigers scored a crucial NBL1 South win over the shorthanded Sandringham Sabres 74-66 on Thursday night.

It was another packed house Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre and a lot of those were there to see the two Chinese stars for the Tigers and they certainly didn't leave disappointed with the pair instrumental in the crucial win for the Tigers.

The Sabres were once again without a string of key players led by Steph Reid, but also Madi Ryan, Klara Wischer and Maddie Angus, and they still fought hard but just had a rough shooting night.

Melbourne built a lead as big as 17 points in the third quarter and despite Sandringham getting back within four late, the Tigers did enough to secure the eight-point win to improve to a 13-8 record with the Sabres now 14-6 having lost three in-a-row.

>> SOUTH WRAP | WOMEN'S FIRST NATIONS ROUND

By the end of the night, Melbourne saw off the charge late of Sandringham despite the absence of some of their stars to end up shooting 45 per cent from the field to 29 but the Sabres stayed in touch with the 21/26 at the foul line to 8/11.

Chen Mingling delivered 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in the win for the Tigers with Yang Shuyu adding 18 points, seven boards and three assists with 4/6 three-point shooting.

Eve Braslis also had 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists for Melbourne with Isa Brancatisano contributing eight points, eight boards and three assists, and Hannah Giddey eight points, seven rebounds, five blocks and two assists.

The Sabres dearly missed Steph Reid, Klara Wischer, Maddie Angus and Madi Ryan, but battled valiantly with Funda Nakkasoglu finishing with 22 points and three assists while Lucy Cochrane contributed 11 points, nine board and two assists.

Isis Lopes also had 10 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists, and Lili Long seven points, 13 boards and three assists.

Both teams were locked into finals coming into the match up with the Tigers trying to rise higher than eighth and the Sabres clinging to a spot in the top four, and it as Sandringham starting the better to lead 22-19 by quarter-time.

Funda Nakkasoglu was showing the way with eight points already while Chen Mingling had eight as well for the Tigers.

After the Sabres got back up six in the second quarter, Melbourne responded with a 12-0 run and had a seven-point lead of their own and by quarter-time were on top 37-33 with Mingling up to 12 points and Yang Shuyu eight.

By half-time the Tigers were shooting at 43 per cent to just the 31 per cent from Sandringham who were staying in touch thanks to going 8/8 at the foul line 3/4 from Melbourne.

The Tigers then took further control in the third quarter with the lead growing to 17 and by three quarter-time they were on top 58-46 while shooting still 49 per cent with the Sabres getting back down to 27 having gone just 3/16 for the term.

Even with 20 points to 16 in favour of Sandringham in the fourth quarter, the Tigers had the answers and after the margin was back to four Mingling completed a three-point play to steady Melbourne who went on to win by eight.

The Tigers now just have one game remaining in their regular season next Saturday night at home to the Eltham Wildcats. The Sabres back up hosting the Ballarat Miners on Saturday before finishing next Friday against the Northern Force.

NBL1 SOUTH 2026 SEASON | FIRST NATIONS ROUND

MELBOURNE TIGERS 74 (Mingling 19, Shuyu 18, Braslis 13)

SANDRINGHAM SABRES 66 (Nakkasoglu 22, Cochrane 11, Lopes 10)