Palmerston coach Lance Godwin (left) and Christian Williams will battle it out with Uni Rebels opponents Jake Kirby and coach Malix Laurel in the Darwin League Men grand final on Saturday night. Source: News Limited

Palmerston and defending champion Uni Rebels will go head-to-head for the fifth time this season in tomorrow night’s Darwin Basketball Association League Men grand final.

Lance Godwin-coached Power will shoot for their first League Men trophy without dominant big man Shaq Hohipa-Wilson (torn ligaments in his left foot) and his father Robbie Wilson (calf).

“I’m feeling a bit of everything — excitement, nerves, all the things that go with being in a grand final — but I’m looking forward to the opportunity that only comes playing this game,” Godwin said.

“Everything we’ve done this year has been part of a process and if that process leads to us being successful then that’s the outcome.

“We wanted to finish top two, then get into the grand final, and the third aspect is being successful but we also recognise how tough this is.”

Hohipa-Wilson went down in the clubs’ semi-final clash a fortnight ago but Palmerston still fought back to beat the Rebels for the first time this season and move into the decider.

Only five players, including coach Malix Laurel, competed for Uni that night but each of them did their bit — with star import Tyler Jefferson (35 points) at the forefront.

Tomorrow night’s grand final will be their third game without league MVP Marcus Ch’ng, who ruptured his left achilles representing the association at last month’s Sultan Cup in Malaysia.

Lionel Oger was also a key member but is back in Belgium for personal reasons.

But the Rebels, unlike two weeks ago, will have seven players to call on, with Tom Uppena and pint-sized speedster Lance Schmidt back in the line-up.

“If you look at Tom’s output last game — he top scored for us — and add that to how we played Palmerston last time then that’s an extra 22 points, hopefully,” Laurel said with a laugh.

“We don’t see it as defending a championship, because after winning a championship it’s a whole new ball game and there have been different elements and challenges this time around.

“But if we can string together a fourth straight championship, including the Challenge Season ones, it would be nice with the younger ones, Jake (Kirby) and Lance, involved.”

Laurel won’t throw anything new at Godwin, instead relying on what has worked to this stage.

Schmidt and Kirby will man the point in Ch’ng’s absence, while Jefferson and Uppena will carry much of the offensive load.

Godwin must find a way to operate sans Hohipa-Wilson.

Aaron Simpson, an athletic tall capable of running the floor, becomes the contest’s X-factor. Simpson’s ability or inability to partially fill Hohipa-Wilson’s shoes could be decisive.

“They’re different types of players but Aaron needs to stand up, because he’s our only true big guy,” Godwin said.

“We know what we’re going to get out of Benny (Streeter) and Jesse (Bell) but the contribution of our next three to six players is really important.”

Laurel is prepared for the Power’s three-pronged guard assault of Bell, Tom Godwin and Streeter. He knows what to expect from Palmerston, and vice versa.

Both coaches will tell you, as they have all season, it is how their players react in crunch time that will decide who wins the title.

Marc McGowan tips Uni Rebels by four points

STORY SO FAR

Round 2: Uni Rebels 76 (Marcus Ch’ng 27) d Palmerston 51 (Aaron Simpson 22)

Round 9: Uni Rebels 71 (Tyler Jefferson 33) d Palmerston 55 (Tom Godwin 19)

Round 16: Uni Rebels 72 (Marcus Ch’ng 24) d Palmerston 65 (Shaq Hohipa-Wilson 24)

Semi-Finals: Palmerston 76 (Jesse Bell 31) d Uni Rebels 73 (Tyler Jefferson 35)

 

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