NBL Matchday Review: Brisbane Bullets vs South East Melbourne Phoenix

Alexander Bebendorf

Saturday afternoon in Brisbane, and it was finally time to step into another side of Australian sport. After AFL, hockey, football, and NRL, today's basketball game offered a familiar rhythm but with a distinctly local twist. The Brisbane Bullets were hosting the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 4:30 pm, an early-season clash promising a fast, high-intensity spectacle on court.

The NBL

The NBL, Australia’s premier professional basketball league, is steadily growing in both profile and quality. It was founded in 1978, and today features nine teams from across the country, plus one from New Zealand. Today's home side, the Bullets, have been champions three times, most recently in 2007. Their opponents, South East Melbourne, only joined the league in 2019, and have yet to either finish higher than fourth or progress beyond the semi finals.

Heading into today's matchup, the Phoenix sit third on the ladder with a 4–2 record, while the Bullets are in seventh at 3–5. While the season remains young, a win would be valuable for both, especially Brisbane. Both teams had played just two nights prior: SEM secured a comfortable home win, while Brisbane mounted a dramatic 24-point comeback in New Zealand, making for a taxing travel turnaround. Fatigue, momentum, and early-season form all promised a fascinating contest, both on the scoreboard and in how the players and fans brought energy to the court.

Getting There

Buying tickets was refreshingly easy: just a few clicks through Ticketek, with prices ranging from an accessible $15 to a staggering $740 for premium courtside seats. The drive to Boondall was smooth, the venue sitting conveniently just off the highway. I initially eyed the 4000-space carpark warily, anticipating a dreadful time leaving afterwards. However, exiting was surprisingly smooth, and I was back on the highway in no time. For those relying on public transport, Boondall Station’s short walk away made for a handy alternative.

What surprised me most, though, was the security. It was easily the most thorough I’ve encountered at any Australian sporting venue so far: metal detectors, detailed bag checks, and a noticeably heavy presence. The queue moved steadily enough, but the intensity was striking.

Rating: ★★★★★

Smooth access and clear logistics, coupled with the pleasant surprise of an unexpectedly-fast exit.

The Venue

The Brisbane Entertainment Centre is, simply put, fantastic. Opened in 1986 and holding 11,000, it’s the third-largest arena in the NBL and remains an outstanding basketball venue. The steep seating gives everyone a superb view of the court, and the air-conditioned interior made for a welcome change from a day that felt like an ominous preview of the coming summer. Cleanliness was impeccable: polished floors, spotless seats, and a bright, modern atmosphere. Of all the facilities I’ve visited so far in this series, this one stands out as my favourite.

Rating: ★★★★★

Exceptionally maintained, comfortable, and perfectly suited to basketball. Easily the best venue experience of the series so far.

Food and Drink

The culinary spread was surprisingly broad for an indoor arena. Alongside the usual burgers and chips were more ambitious offerings: Moroccan lamb, roast pork, rib fillet, lasagne, dim sims, wraps, and even gluten-free options. It was a step up from the usual stadium fare, though the lines between quarters could be lengthy.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Diverse and well-organised food service with real quality behind it.

Crowd and Atmosphere

Attendance was moderate, maybe half capacity, but the energy early on was lively. The mix was classic family-friendly NBL: kids in Bullets jerseys, and plenty of crossover NBA merch (Steph and LeBron were well represented).

There were some charming traditions too: everyone stood and clapped in rhythm until the opposition scored their first points, and before every Bullets free throw the crowd raised their hands together. A hype man kept the chants rolling, particularly “DE-FENCE!”, while the fan cams and mid-game contests (including a half-court shot challenge) added a layer of fun.

That said, as the game slipped away in the fourth quarter, the energy waned noticeably. The buzz of the opening minutes faded into a more disengaged atmosphere as Phoenix pulled away.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

A warm and welcoming family crowd with clever fan engagement. However, limited numbers and a lopsided scoreline kept the atmosphere from soaring.

The Game Itself

The opening minutes were, frankly, dreadfully ugly for Brisbane. Before anyone had even settled into their seats, the scoreboard read 12–1 to South East Melbourne. The Bullets looked rattled: passes went astray, layups clanged off the rim, and they couldn’t sink anything, even from the free-throw line. It took almost four minutes of game time for them to score a basket from open play.

But to their credit, they regrouped after an early timeout. A couple of defensive stops and a few made shots brought the margin back to 14–12. The first quarter closed at 23–20 to the visitors, not bad considering how dire it had looked five minutes earlier.

Early in the second quarter, Brisbane even tied it at 26–all and briefly went ahead 30–26, forcing Phoenix into a timeout. Their defence tightened up, and for a stretch it looked like they might ride the momentum. Yet that would be the high point of the match, as SEM weathered it calmly, retaking control through superior ball movement and reliable shooting. At halftime, they led 46–39, but it still felt like anyone’s game.

The third quarter changed everything. It was an agonising 10 minutes of fouls, free throws, and stuttered play. The rhythm completely disappearing, neither side found flow, but Phoenix simply executed better in the chaos. Brisbane’s missed free throws piled up (a problem all night), and their turnovers returned. What had been a competitive contest suddenly ballooned into a 20+ point margin, the visitors leading 83–61 at the final break.

By the fourth quarter, the air went out of the building. The crowd’s earlier chants and applause quietened into murmurs, and even the announcer’s energy couldn’t lift them. Brisbane managed the occasional nice move, but SEM cruised home without strain. The final score, 109–86, reflected both their control and the Bullets’ inconsistency.

The game had moments of tension and promise, but it was let down by technical sloppiness and a heavy foul count that made the third quarter feel genuinely endless. Anyone used to American or European basketball would have noticed the gulf in quality. Yet there was still something honest about it, a reminder that this league, for all its growth, remains a work in progress.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

A scrappy, foul-heavy contest that lost its rhythm after halftime. Exciting in flashes, but too uneven to truly grip the crowd.

Final Thoughts

Basketball in Australia is clearly growing, and the NBL provides a polished, family-friendly product, even if the quality on the court isn’t elite. The Brisbane Entertainment Centre impressed me more than any venue I’ve seen so far, and the event itself was handled smoothly and professionally. But on-court performance and the half-empty stands held it back from matching the electric energy of rugby league or even soccer nights.

Still, as an afternoon out, it’s hard not to appreciate the comfort, accessibility, and spectacle. The NBL definitely delivers an enjoyable experience, just not a transcendent one.