New Year’s Eve belonged to the home crowd early on at the Cairns Convention Centre, but by the final buzzer it was South East Melbourne Phoenix who had the last word. Led by a masterclass from Nathan Sobey, the Phoenix pulled away in the second half to defeat the Cairns Taipans 111–96 and spoil the annual celebration for the locals.
Regardless of Jack McVeigh and Sam Waardenburg combining for 48 points, Cairns could not keep pace once the Phoenix found their rhythm after half-time.
The Taipans came out firing in their traditional New Year’s Eve fixture, riding the hot hand of McVeigh to take a 28–21 lead at quarter-time.
Cairns continued to control the tempo in the second quarter and still held the advantage at half-time, giving fans hope of an upset against one of the league’s in-form teams. However, costly mistakes began to creep in, with turnovers slowly shifting momentum away from the hosts.
Phoenix flip the switch after break
South East Melbourne turned the contest on its head after half-time. The Phoenix poured in 35 points in the third quarter alone and outscored Cairns 63–44 across the second half, using relentless defensive pressure and pace to wear the Taipans down. Their ability to force turnovers and dominate second-chance opportunities proved decisive as the game slipped out of Cairns’ control.
Nathan Sobey was the difference. The veteran guard finished with 31 points, 10 assists and four steals in a flawless performance that featured zero turnovers. He capped the night with a tough three-pointer in the dying seconds, claiming his dominance in one of the most efficient games of his 316-game NBL career. At 35, the Tokyo Olympian continues to show he is playing some of the best basketball of his career.
Sobey was well supported by his teammates. Jordan Hunter added 19 points, five rebounds and two blocks, including a crucial mid-court scramble late in the game that killed off Cairns’ final comeback hopes.
Owen Foxwell chipped in with 17 points and six assists, while Wes Iwundu and Brown III provided strong two-way contributions.New signing Ian Clark also made an impact in limited minutes, scoring nine points in just his second appearance for the Phoenix.
Taipans left to lament turnovers
For Cairns, McVeigh finished with 26 points and five rebounds, while Waardenburg added 22 points, six rebounds and two blocks in a tireless effort from the frontcourt. Andrew Andrews endured a mixed night under Phoenix pressure but still managed 17 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, with Mojave King adding 14 points.
Ultimately, the Taipans’ 22 turnovers proved too costly, gifting the Phoenix extra possessions and control of the game.
The win lifts South East Melbourne to a 14–7 record and back into third place on the ladder, ahead of the Sydney Kings. It was also their first victory in the Ignite Cup in-season tournament. Cairns, now 5–16, remain at the bottom of the table and are still searching for their first Ignite Cup win.
The Taipans open 2026 on the road against the Illawarra Hawks on Saturday, while the Phoenix continue their road trip with a clash against the Sydney Kings on Monday night.