Breakers resilience "contagious": Maor

The New Zealand Breakers have secured their place in the Play-In Game by defeating the Sydney Kings on Wednesday night, and head coach Mody Maor says the sacrificial mentality of each of his players has spread throughout the club.

Will McDowell-White took to the floor just two weeks after suffering what initially looked to be a serious shoulder injury in the side’s Round 20 win over Brisbane, while Zylan Cheatham overcame a painful ankle roll to star in the narrow victory.

The win comes after an injury-hit regular season for the Breakers, which has already seen All-NBL First Team nominee Anthony Lamb scratched from the entire Finals series and beyond.

“I’m happy to single out Will, but it won’t be fair because he did it today, Lambo did it a month ago, Parker (Jackson-Cartwright) did it before, Mantas (Rubstavicius) did it before that, Finn (Delany) multiple times and I’m probably forgetting somebody and I’ll feel bad about it,” Maor said post-game.

“Like everything – good and bad – it’s contagious when it goes through a team and when everyone starts sacrificing for the betterment of their teammates, then the player or person next to him is more comfortable doing it, and all I can say is thank you for doing it.

“These guys are so tough. They care about all the right things, they care about each other, and they’re battle tested, because this season has been tough and we’ve seen everything and been through everything.

“Once I walked into the locker room at half-time, I knew we were winning the game because there was no sign of anything but determination and being focused on the task. It was fantastic and I’m really proud.”

Cheatham said with what the side has endured this season, he was never going to sit the game out.

“Seeing the stuff we’ve been through and the injuries we’ve had there was nothing that was going to not let me play that game,” he said. 

“Aside from Will, even having Anthony Lamb on my mind. He obviously would love to be here and we talked to him before the game, and finding that inner energy to dig deep and finish, I just wanted to be out there for my guys and this organisation and having that feeling of all the fans at Spark Arena and all that type of stuff plays into these decisions.

“You’re trying to find something to dig deep and finish it out.

“Right now I’ve still got a little bit of adrenaline, so I can’t really gauge it too well but obviously it was a painful thing. I haven’t really rolled an ankle since high school, so I’m feeling pretty sore right now, but I’m confident I’ll be alright.”

The victory has extended the decorated career of Tom Abercrombie by at least one further game, following the Breakers stalwart’s retirement announcement earlier this season.

Abercrombie came off the bench to play 10 crucial minutes for his side, and was a key component in the defensive lock-in that halted Sydney’s momentum in the second half.

Cheatham says his side is determined to send their captain out the right way.

“It’s an unspoken thing,” he said.

“Obviously we know the cards we’re dealt and we all love Tommy, we want to win this championship for him. It’s just a matter of executing, playing our best ball, putting our best foot forward and living with the results, and I think he feels the same way.”

The Breakers will travel to Wollongong to face the Hawks on Monday night in the Play-In Game.