PRESEASON National Basketball League (NBL) matches do not come any better than this, with Melbourne United claiming a thrilling double overtime victory over the SEM Phoenix, with Akech Aliir the matchwinner in exciting fashion.

The two Melbourne-based teams locked horns at State Basketball Centre on Saturday night, with a big crowd turning out to see two sides that have made plenty of changes over the off-season. After a coaching change and the loss of franchise star Mitch Creek, it is shaping as the most drastic change in club history for South East Melbourne.

Something similar can be said for Melbourne, although it still has the bones of the team that finished on top of the table last season. The return of star forward Jack White after a stint in the NBA was a huge boost, but the departures of Jo Lual-Acuil, Ariel Hukporti and Luke Travers means it is a different looking United side.

It was as close a game as we have seen in the build up to the 2024/25 NBL season, with plenty of twists and turns, particularly in the closing stages of the match, but it was Aliir and Melbourne who got the last laugh with a one-point win.

Melbourne United (121) def. South East Melbourne Phoenix (120)

It was an exciting battle from the opening quarter, with the Phoenix taking a seven-point buffer on the back of shooting 50 per cent from the field and behind the arc. The new recruits such as Nathan Sobey were heavily involved and proved why many are expecting South East Melbourne to be one of the most damaging offensive sides in the NBL this season.

Dean Vickerman must have made the right adjustments at quarter time as United came out of the first break and scored the first 14 points of the second period. Ian Clark was a man playing with plenty of confidence, and was finding the bottom of the net. On the other hand, the Phoenix shot 3/22 in the term and trailed by 10 at half time.

South East Melbourne was the better side in the second half, gradually chipping away at the deficit to tie up proceedings in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. New addition Angus Glover repeated his antics for the Eltham Wildcats in the NBL1 by proving to be a clutch performer for the Phoenix, knocking down a deep triple to give his team the lead with just two seconds on the clock in a likely matchwinning play.

However, in one of the most remarkable plays in recent memory, United inbounded the ball to Clark behind the three-point line, and the NBA champion banked in a game-tying shot that rattled around the rim before dropping in, sending the game to overtime.

In extra time, the two teams traded blows and at the end of the first overtime period, they again could not be separated after a tense period. The game was tied late in the second extra period, and it looked as if the match was heading to a rare third overtime, before Aliir stepped up in a time of need.

Catching the ball at the top of the arc, the athletic big man stepped through traffic to get a clean look at the hoop, rode a bump from the opposition and slotted the floater through contact to give his team a one-point lead before heading to the line for an and-one opportunity. He cleverly missed the free throw intentionally to ensure time beat the Phoenix as United snagged a thrilling victory.

Fresh off winning the NBL’s Best Defensive Player award, Shea Ili again demonstrated why he looks set to take his game to the next level, posting 26 points and five assists in the win over the Phoenix, and appears determined to become a more prominent figure on the offensive end.

Clark had 15 points of his own – including the game-tying shot at the end of regulation – and returning big man Marcus Lee posted a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds off the bench.

For the Phoenix, forward Tom Vodanovich surprisingly top-scored for the match with 32 points on 11/16 shooting, showcasing he still has plenty to offer as a scoring option. Also impressing was Glover, who excelled off the bench and looks set for a huge campaign with 24 points on 5/8 3PT shooting.