New Zealand Breakers Win NBL Title Over Cairns

In a terrific Game 2 of the NBL grand final series, the Breakers claimed their fourth championship in five years with an 83-81 victory over Cairns Taipan.

It’s the Breakers’ ninth straight playoff victory and ends a drought of 14 years since the last time the lower seeded team won the grand final.

The Breakers had shaded a quality, high-intensity first half 44-39, but not before the Taipans made it clear they were not going to roll over in this closeout contest for their hosts. It stayed close, right through to the dramatic, fairytale finish.

Highlight of the game was the clutch fade-away, title-winning jump-shot from ice-cool big man Ekene Ibekwe. He launched his trademark, arcing jumper that found the basket, and launched pandemonium at the Events Centre.

“I just felt comfortable in stopping and popping,” Ibekwe said afterwards. “I make that shot nine times out of 10, so I shot it.”

After winning Game 1 in Cairns on Friday night, today’s victory completed a 2-0 sweep of the Taipans and a second straight post-season sweep for the Kiwi club, who also achieved the feat in the 2012-13 season.

Article Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, Marc Hinton, March 08, 2015.

Image Source: Facebook/NZBreakers