South East Melbourne Phoenix captain Nathan Sobey played a decisive role in his team’s 113-96 victory over the Illawarra Hawks at John Cain Arena on Sunday. The game was tightly contested in the first half, with the scores level at 35-35 during the second quarter, before the Phoenix seized control with a 24-4 scoring run. Sobey contributed eight points during a stretch in which his team scored 13 consecutive points, a pivotal sequence that helped establish a comfortable lead.

Sobey, who noted that he had not logged significant minutes earlier in the season, emphasized the importance of returning home and setting the tempo on their own terms. He said the team had focused on improving their approach after an underwhelming performance in their previous game against Perth, where they failed to apply pressure on both ends of the floor. As captain, Sobey described his role as facilitating the coach’s game plan and leading his teammates in executing it effectively.

The victory halted a potential four-game losing streak for South East Melbourne, a run that had been a source of frustration for the team. Sobey highlighted the significance of breaking that pattern, noting that while the team had been competitive in recent matches, they needed to translate close efforts into results. The win marked a positive turning point as the Phoenix aim to build momentum for the remainder of the season.