IT WILL be a tall order for the Tasmania JackJumpers to kick off Round 12 of the National Basketball League (NBL) in an Ignite Cup clash, tasked with heading across the Bass Strait to take on SEM Phoenix.

The Phoenix are fresh off one of the most impressive wins of the 2025/26 season, and one that firmed them as one of the big threats to the championship in the coming months. It was the ultimate test to pass, and now they will be looking to carry that momentum into the second half of the fixture.

In their way tonight at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium are the JackJumpers, who will be desperate for a win after slipping down to seventh following a loss last weekend, but face a tough challenge taking down one of the form teams of the competition.

South East Melbourne Phoenix vs. Tasmania JackJumpers

Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium
Wednesday, December 10 @ 7:30pm

The Phoenix made a stirring statement at John Cain Arena on Sunday afternoon, dominating crosstown rivals and ladder-leaders Melbourne United and claiming a 25-point win in the Throwdown Series, sending a message to the remainder of the NBL that South East Melbourne is well and truly among the biggest threats to the title.

Having built their success on defensive identity, the Phoenix will be coming up against a team that they have the wood over, winning 10 of the 13 clashes between the two sides. If South East Melbourne can get the job done at its home away from home and continue to build on last week’s result, it makes the title race even more interesting.

One of the most unsung heroes for the Phoenix this season has been import John Brown III, who plays his role to perfection under coach Josh King. The forward may not rack up the most points – that honour belongs to veteran guard Nathan Sobey – but he is one of the biggest effort players in the NBL. He scraps defensively, hustles hard for boards and both ends and works immensely to make life easier for his teammates, and is thriving for South East Melbourne.

The JackJumpers have consistently been a dangerous team in the NBL since their inception, but are in the midst of a tough campaign this year. Suffering their 10th loss from 16 games when they were bested by the New Zealand Breakers, the team from the Apple Isle slipped down to seventh after 11 rounds and need a win to stay in touch.

The JackJumpers are admittedly a better team on the road than at home this season, so that will work in their favour tonight, but it will need to be an improved effort from Tasmania. Putting time and effort into slowing down Sobey is a must, while the JackJumpers simply must function defensively as a unit, as the Phoenix are one of the most productive scoring teams in the NBL.

So much of Tasmania’s offensive production relies on import duo Bryce Hamilton and David Johnson, and the pair have not quite been able to gel yet. Both are more than capable of taking over a match with immense scoring ability, and if they can both get going early against a tough defensive Phoenix side, it may put the pressure back on the home side.