IN WHAT was looming as a potential danger game in Round 12 of the National Basketball League (NBL), Nathan Sobey erupted on the offensive end to lead his SEM Phoenix to a 12-point win over the New Zealand Breakers.

Both teams were in strong form coming into Saturday night’s clash at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium, although the Phoenix were coming off a tough loss at the hands of the Tasmania JackJumpers on Wednesday night. In their path in this clash was a Breakers side that has proven dangerous over the past month, so it was another big matchup in the 12th round of the 2025/26 season.

The first half lived up to the hype, with not much separating the two sides in Gippsland and South East Melbourne leading by three points at the main change. However, the Phoenix were able to get on top in the second half, grinding out the match in gritty fashion, which proved too much for New Zealand, with the visitors falling by 12 points.

Continuing the most prolific season of his impressive career, Sobey proved to be the difference in an important matchup for the Phoenix, leading the way on the scoring front to prove a class above despite being in the twilight of his career.

South East Melbourne Phoenix (92) def. New Zealand Breakers (80)

Nathan Sobey – 36 points, seven rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block

It was a brilliant performance from Sobey, with the 35-year-old proving the best shotmaker in the game, as he has done so many times throughout the fixture, and was too much for the Breakers defence to handle on the night.

After a tight start to the match, Sobey broke the game open with back to back three-pointers which made up most of South East Melbourne’s run of eight unanswered points to put the Phoenix up by six points at quarter time. It was another example of how easily he can take over a game if he is given enough time and space, and the Breakers paid the price.

New Zealand put the clamps on the veteran guard to open the second frame, which resulted in the visitors briefly taking the lead in the quarter. However, Sobey got going once again, making his mark at the free throw line before nailing an and-one and converting at the charity stripe to see the Phoenix back up by three points at the main change.

The guard picked up exactly where he left off after half time, nailing another three-pointer to open the third quarter and ensure the Phoenix kept the lead. Another followed shortly after, before turning his attention to inside scoring for the remainder of the term. Sobey’s second finish through contact for the match helped put the hosts up by 11 points at the final break in what was a decisive period in the context of the match.

By three-quarter time, Sobey already had 27 points to his name and was the clear standout of the contest, but with the result still up for grabs, he did not slow down in the final frame. Another two long-range bombs followed in the final quarter, both of which sealed the match as the Phoenix star once again led his team to an impressive victory.

He finished the match with a whopping 36 points – over a third of his team’s score – on 12/22 shooting from the field and 7/16 shooting from behind the arc, where he looked to do most of his damage. It is shaping as a career-best campaign for Sobey, and could translate to team success in the coming months as well.