'Cheatham' Code: Zylan's dunk of year contender

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One of the NBL's leading rebounder Zylan Cheatham offensive boards instantly turned into a dunk of the year candidate as he detonated a monster follow in the Adelaide 36ers statement 94-81 road win against the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Round 10 of NBL26 in Melbourne on Saturday, November 22, 2025 in Melbourne.

American Cheatham, 30, chased down a missed Bryce Cotton wing three, took off in the middle of the key, caught the ball in his left and hammered it home over the top of Phoenix bigman Jordan Hunter.

"He’s a beast," 36ers head coach Mike Wells said.

"We ask him to do a lot — handle the ball, help us function offensively, guard multiple guys.

"We kept changing his matchup, switching him into different coverages. There’s nobody like him in the league — defending, rebounding, guarding smalls and bigs, handling it.

"Glad he finally got some highlight dunks and put-backs — we’ve been waiting.

"He’s a luxury late — when the ball goes up, he’s usually above everyone. Sometimes we switch him onto a small so he has a free run at boards.

"Really proud of our defense down the stretch."

The 36ers trailed by as many as 11 points but Dejan Vasiljevic's explosive 22-point performance off the bench and his timely threes, including a dagger, eventually proved too much for the Phoenix in the second versus third battle before the FIBA break.

"We talked about keeping our poise — easier said than done, because they’re all over the place and the pressure mounts," Wells added.

"The pressure maybe affected how we looked in the half court because we couldn’t get into the offense we wanted.

"But you’re trying to weather the storm. You know it’s going to come, especially on the road.You try to set your team through defense and rebounding, which then gives you a chance to run and get organised offensively.

"Then you can find shooters and things open up."

Vasiljevic said he wasn't bothered about coming off the bench.

"Just trying to win a championship," he said.

"If that means play, don’t play, start, come off the bench — it’s the same. I come in, do my work, trust the process, and do what I do best.

"I’ve won two championships in five years. Wouldn’t mind a third in six, hopefully a fourth in seven. I want to be known as a winner — I’ve said that a lot."

The 36ers moved to 11-3 while Phoenix dropped to 9-4 behind league leaders Melbourne at 12-2.

Key Details

• Result: Adelaide 36ers 94 def. South East Melbourne Phoenix 81
• When: Friday, 22nd November 2025
• Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne
• Attendance: 5,906
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Dejan Vasiljevic (Adelaide 36ers) starred with 22 points, one rebound and shot an outstanding 7-from-12 from the field, including 6-from-9 from beyond the arc in 21 minutes.
• Nathan Sobey (South East Melbourne Phoenix) scored 26 points, four rebounds and three assists, shooting 9-from-21 from the field in 35 minutes.

What Happened

The 36ers established their authority early, building momentum through efficient shooting and strong defensive pressure. Adelaide's balanced offensive attack proved too much for the Phoenix, who struggled to match their visitors' intensity throughout the contest. The 36ers shot an impressive 53.73% from the field compared to Phoenix's 43.06%, setting the foundation for their dominant victory.

Dejan Vasiljevic provided the spark off the bench for Adelaide, delivering a masterful shooting display that left the Phoenix scrambling for answers. His six triples from nine attempts showcased exceptional accuracy from downtown, while Bryce Cotton orchestrated the offense with 19 points and nine dimes. Isaac Humphries dominated in the paint with an outstanding 6-from-7 shooting performance for 12 points, while Zylan Cheatham controlled the boards with 16 rebounds in a complete all-round display.

For the Phoenix, Nathan Sobey carried the offensive load with 26 points but struggled with efficiency, managing just 42.86% from the field. Jordan Hunter contributed 20 points and 12 boards in a solid double-double performance, though his 3-from-8 shooting from beyond the arc highlighted the team's struggles from deep. The Phoenix connected on just 29.73% of their three-point attempts, a poor showing that cost them dearly.

Adelaide's superiority on the glass proved decisive, out-rebounding Phoenix 43-33 and controlling second-chance opportunities. The 36ers' interior presence, led by Cheatham and Humphries, limited Phoenix's scoring chances in the paint while creating extra possessions. Adelaide also capitalised from the charity stripe, converting 14-from-18 free throws compared to Phoenix's 8-from-10, demonstrating their ability to draw fouls and convert under pressure.