Clipping the series with a three game sweep, the Melbourne Tigers toppled the near undefeatable Sydney Kings to take out the 2005/2006 NBL crown. One thousand and fifty eight days after residing in the harbour city, the Tigers are taking the NBL championship trophy down south and out of the Kingdome.
Winning the final game 88-83, the Tigers handed the Kings their lowest match score for the entire season. Living and dying by three pointers, the Kings were summarily rounded down in the grand finals series as the games slipped away and a fourth crown alluded their hands like many a rebound.
Denying the Kings a fourth consecutive title, the collective winning margin was a mere 16 points. Four in four for another force.
With the three game sweep, the three ring run of the Sydney Kings comes at the end of the nine year drought for the Melbourne Tigers. Three by three leaves nine.
Written on Wednesday, 1 March 2006