‘We are not friendly with any team’: Goulding, United ready for Phoenix rematch

Melbourne United remain convinced they were hard done by in a fiery NBL cross-town clash against South East Melbourne Phoenix earlier this season, coming as star guard Matthew Dellavedova declared there is “a lot at stake” when the two teams meet again on Thursday night.

The league-leading United (9-4) face the third-placed Phoenix (8-4) in what shapes as a hostile Throwdown XIV at John Cain Arena. When the clubs last met in December, a rivalry starting to echo the days of the Melbourne Tigers and South East Melbourne Magic exploded when a Mitch Creek dunk on Dellavedova sparked a brawl and the ejection of Mason Peatling, the latter going after Creek for standing over Dellavedova and taunting him. Peatling was later controversially suspended for one game.

‘That’ Mitch Creek dunk over Matthew Dellavedova in December.Credit:Getty Images

In what was a 94-86 Phoenix win, there was further spice when United coach Dean Vickerman, frustrated during a time-out, labelled Phoenix captain Kyle Adnam, a former United championship player, as the “f—ing shittiest little defender in the league”. Vickerman later apologised.

Dellavedova was at training on Tuesday but sat out the drills open to the media, with Vickerman saying the guard had a virus. The NBA title-winner also insisted he will line up come game time, in a clash both clubs are eagerly awaiting.

“It’s an important game against another top team … obviously, they got us the first time,” Dellavedova said, adding the Creek dunk and celebration, which went viral on social media, had not bothered him.

“It doesn’t really bother me … cross-town rivals, competitive game early in the season, there is a lot at stake,” he said. “We play them three more times. All of them are going to be big games – we both are fighting for a good spot on the ladder. There is a lot at stake. It’s going to be competitive, it’s going to be physical.”

In a spiteful opening game, United court announcer Wayne Peterson was forced to offer an “unreserved apology” to Phoenix’ Chinese import Zhou Qi for a comment made during the game. He also had to step away from his duties for United’s next two home games, the fallout not forgotten by Vickerman.

“There were a lot of things happening in that game. Some of the outcomes of those – with the court announcer, with Mason, and how it was all dealt with – we didn’t really like. But that is not the chip on our shoulder right now,” he said.

“We are one down in the Throwdown, we play them four times, on our home court, you don’t want to lose to anyone on your home court twice, so there is good motivation there.”

United skipper Chris Goulding, who along with Jack White missed Throwdown XIII, said the two clubs did not “hate” each other, but declared United were not friendly with any rivals.

“I don’t know if we are having team dinners … but we are not friendly with any team in the league,” he said.

United and Phoenix players clash after Creek’s dunk.Credit:ESPN

“It’s just we play each other too many times. The league is too close. People finish outside the top four but a single basket or a single win and it has been that way for the past 10 years in this league. We are not friendly with anyone. I am not going to sit here and say I hate them, but they are the opposition. We will treat them as such.”

Melbourne United star Chris Goulding.Credit:Getty Images

The defending NBL champions are the team to beat right now. Dellavedova, with a rejigged shooting stroke, has had a mixed season of scoring, but had nine fourth-quarter points to steer United to victory over the Perth Wildcats on Saturday.

United’s firepower, led by Goulding, who is averaging 16 points per game, was again on show when they poured in 37 points in the second quarter, the highest scoring quarter of any side this season.

Dellavedova said United will also need to find a way to try and curb Creek, who is in MVP form, averaging 21.3 points per game (the second highest in league). Creek is also rebounding and finding his teammates in positions to score.

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