Beaten Dellavedova’s amazing gesture as Hawks crowned NBL champions
By Jasper Bruce
Matthew Dellavedova selflessly handed his NBL championship series MVP trophy to rival player Will Hickey after the Illawarra guard iced the decisive game-five win over Melbourne United.
Jeering rang out at WIN Entertainment Centre when NBL legend Larry Sengstock announced United guard Dellavedova as the MVP of the series despite United’s 114-104 loss in the winner-take-all decider on Sunday.
Dellavedova had been United’s most consistent player in the best-of-five series, guiding the team to a game-three win in Wollongong that put them 2-1 ahead.
But it was energetic guard Hickey who inspired the Hawks to the game-four and game-five wins that sealed the Hawks’ first title since 2001, and second in their 47-year history.
On Sunday, Hickey (21 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists) recorded 12 first-quarter points to help Illawarra erase a 10-point deficit and finished just shy of his first triple-double.
When NBA champion Dellavedova took to the stage to accept the Sengstock Trophy as the championship series MVP, the guard immediately paid tribute to Hickey.
Matthew Dellavedova hands over his Finals MVP award to William Hickey.Credit: Getty Images
“Davo, this belongs to you,” Dellavedova said referencing Hickey’s nickname and gesturing with the trophy.
Still clearly devastated by the loss, Dellavedova walked from the stage and strode into the crowd among the Hawks’ championship winners.
Cheers of “Davo” rang out as Dellavedova handed his MVP trophy to former United development player Hickey, who reluctantly accepted it. Dellavedova finished game five with five points and a team-high seven assists to his name.
The championship is only the second in 47 years for the NBL’s last remaining foundation club, and first since 2001.
Sunday’s result sealed United’s second consecutive 3-2 championship series loss after the perennial heavyweights fell to Tasmania in game five last year.
United came out of the blocks faster in this decider, hitting four of their first six attempts from deep and building a 10-point lead in the first quarter.
Hickey was inspirational for the Hawks with 12 first-quarter points after starting in place of Kell, who shone once he returned from the knee injury that rubbed him out of game four.
Illawarra would’ve held their breath when Kell hobbled after falling when Marcus Lee fouled him in the first quarter, but the American import played on.
Illawarra celebrate after their championship victory.Credit: Getty Images
Kell tied the game at 26 with a jump shot on the Hawks’ last possession of the first quarter before helping his side to a 12-2 run in the second that put them ahead.
Veteran Todd Blanchfield (eight points, three rebounds) beat the buzzer with his second three of the quarter to restore a 10-point lead for Illawarra at the half, and the home side never trailed again.
With a total of 441 games under his belt, 33-year-old Blanchfield had previously been the most-capped active NBL player without a championship win.
In the absence of injured centre Sam Froling, NBA prospect Lachlan Olbrich (12 points, four rebounds) was excellent as early foul trouble hampered fellow Hawks big man Mason Peatling.
Tyler Harvey celebrates with coach Justin Tatum.Credit: Getty Images
Olbrich threw down a demoralising block on NBA champion Ian Clark (15 points) as United were scrambling for points in the third quarter.
He then put up a hook shot that gave the Hawks what was then a game-high 13-point lead.
Fighting to reassert themselves in the contest, United went more than five minutes in the third quarter without a field goal.
They missed seven consecutive attempts in that time, with Dellavedova also uncharacteristically butchering both free-throw attempts.
It didn’t help United’s cause that Lee and Clark spent time on the sidelines with apparent arm injuries in the third quarter.
Chris Goulding (21 points, three assists) finished as United’s top-scorer, with Shea Ili adding 20 on return from a concussion lay-off.
But when Kell raced down court for a lay-up that made it a 13-point game with 70 seconds remaining, the Hawks officially looked home.
They also became the first team to win at home in this series. This was also the third consecutive championship series in which the loser of game one took the title in game five.
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