Chance delivers blunt verdict on Anthony's ejection

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Melbourne United head coach Jacob Chance wants his players "living on the edge", but right now his superstar Cole Anthony ($300,000) is not – the 26-year-old American NBA point guard is way on the other side of it.

Anthony, a 355-game NBA veteran, overshadowed his own Throwdown 39-point record performance with an ejection with 7.4 seconds left in United's 102-95 win against South East Melbourne Phoenix in Round 9 of NBL27 on Saturday, November 14, 2026.

The ejection came after Anthony picked up a technical foul with 5:18 left in the third, with United up 75-56, then was assessed a flagrant after clocking Phoenix shooting guard Nathan Sobey ($379,600) with a wild elbow off a defensive rebound.

Anthony, who is the son of former NBA star Greg, then walked off rubbing his fingers together, the universal sign of money.

"We were very fortunate," Chance said.

"We've got a very experienced coaching staff. We've got a very experienced group. I've said all year I want my guys to live on the edge, and we're flexible with personalities; we're a very eclectic group in that sense in terms of what our group looks like.

"We aren't flexible with standards, and that's what we keep holding ourselves to account for. We're not always perfect, and we won't be for the rest of the year, but I want us on the edge. And what I like is it's not reactionary, like, we're not down 25. Like the other night in Adelaide, you see us double down. We're calm. We're collected. Did we get ourselves back into the game?

"We're up 25, and we're still the same version of us. I'd be disappointed if it was only when we're down the inverse of that. I want that competitive edge. I don't care where we are, who we're playing. That's a weapon for our group, and I'll keep encouraging it as long as it fits in the guidelines of our standards."

United led the struggling Phoenix 64-39 at the half and seemed to be cruising, but the Phoenix went on an 11-0 run after Anthony's technical and kept grinding back into the game.

"No, the answer is no," Chance answered when asked if he thought Cole was within those "guidelines".

"We challenge him to be better in those scenarios, and he knows that. So, well, you know, the important thing for him is, like, that counts as a personal foul. So, it gives an opportunity to then foul out or be out of games, which we've seen this year.

"So, yeah, the answer is no. And we challenge him to be better, put our arms around him and keep moving forward, which we have done all year.

"Our mantra all year is, Cole's been recruited for a reason. He's got a role in this team. When we put all the pieces together, guy next to me (Sam Waardenburg ($277,500)), Joe (Ingles), CG, list goes on, LT, was like, what's this last piece that we need?

"And we felt like we needed that perimeter scoring off the bounce, especially when you look at last year's two Grand Final teams, how do you compete with Kendric (Davis) and Bryce (Cotton) in those moments when the game slows down a little bit come playoff time? Hopefully we can get there, but that's, that's his role on this team. And then it's the, how do you find the continuity and not fight pressure over the course of 40 minutes, which I think he's doing really well.

"But if teams want to guard him straight up or not commit more shift support and he's got advantages, we're encouraging him to take it and be a creator for us. So, doesn't surprise me – 15-for-24, very efficient night. Dry up some of those turnovers, and he's had a really productive night."

South East Melbourne head coach Josh King called out his squad just three days earlier after the Phoenix were clobbered by the Illawarra Hawks 120-110 in the Ignite Cup. They responded in the second half against United.

"It was an excellent, excellent fight by South East Melbourne Phoenix," King said.

"I hope we can build on that second half; it's the best half of basketball I think we've played in quite some time.

"The guys were out there supporting each other. The goal for this game, okay, we want to win the game, but we weren't outcome-based here. We wanted to leave this arena tonight feeling better about ourselves than when we entered the arena, and I think we can do that."

The NBL issued all 10 clubs an edict that referees were off-limits – in-game and post-game after virtually every press conference to start the season has had a complaint about whistles.

"No comment," Chance responded when asked about the ejection.

"The league's been very clear about what I'm allowed to say, so I don't have any, I don't have any comment about anything to do with the referees tonight."

It's the third time United has beaten the Phoenix, now 4-9 and bottom of the ladder, in NBL27. United moved to 8-6 and third.

"Throwdowns are always fun," Chance added.

"They're always great games. We've beaten these guys two times in a row. We knew there was going to be a response and credit to South East even when I thought the game was done, and our young guys deserve to be out there. They've been really good in those moments. They had a little bit of a slip-up tonight.

"Just happy to get away. It's really difficult to beat a team three times in a row in this league and to come out of it 3-0 and knowing that we've got them again down the track is a pleasing thing."

Watch

NBL27

Melbourne United vs South East Melbourne Phoenix | Round 9 Highlights

Watch the highlights as Melbourne United take on the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Round 9 of NBL27 on November 14, 2026.

What you need to know

• Melbourne United beat the South East Melbourne Phoenix 102-95 at John Cain Arena in Round 9 of NBL27 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, in front of 10,175, moving to 8-6 and taking the season series 3-0, while the Phoenix fell to 4-9 with a fourth straight loss.
• Melbourne won the first quarter 30-22 and the second 34-17 and led 64-39 with a minute left in the half, but the Phoenix won the third 29-23 and the fourth 27-15 and got within 100-95 with 23 seconds left. Melbourne never trailed.
• Cole Anthony ($300,000) top-scored with 39 points on 15-from-24, including 5-from-7 from three, before being ejected with seven seconds left, while Nathan Sobey ($379,600) led South East Melbourne with 23 points and eight assists on 7-from-20.
• Melbourne out-rebounded South East Melbourne 47-34 and blocked 10 shots to two.
• Melbourne made 20-from-24 at the free-throw line and South East Melbourne 14-from-18, a six-point edge at the line in a seven-point game.

Milestones & Moments

• Cole Anthony ($300,000) scored 39, his second-highest total of NBL27 after his 40, and the NBL's match report called it a Throwdown record.
• Cole Anthony ($300,000) was ejected after a technical foul in the third quarter and a flagrant foul on Nathan Sobey ($379,600) with seven seconds left.
• Sam Waardenburg ($277,500) had his first double-double of NBL27, 16 points and a season-high 10 rebounds, in his 103rd NBL game.
• Fabijan Krslovic ($172,300) played his 248th NBL game, two short of 250.
• Shea Ili ($175,300) played his 296th NBL game, four short of 300.
• Nathan Sobey ($379,600) played his 342nd NBL game and moved to 5,477 career NBL points.

Melbourne United

• Cole Anthony ($300,000) top-scored with 39 points on 15-from-24, including 5-from-7 from three and 4-from-5 at the line, with seven rebounds and three steals, but turned it over five times.
• Sam Waardenburg ($277,500) had 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks on 5-from-7, including 5-from-6 at the line.
• Josh Oduro ($277,000) added 11 points and eight rebounds, five of them offensive, on 3-from-5, including 5-from-7 at the line, with two blocks.
• Luke Travers ($292,900) had nine points and seven rebounds on 4-from-9 in 30 minutes.
• Chris Goulding ($188,900) scored eight off the bench on 2-from-8, every attempt from three, and 2-from-2 at the line.
• Joe Ingles ($300,000) had seven points, five assists and four rebounds off the bench on 2-from-7, including 1-from-5 from three.
• Malith Machar ($69,000) scored seven on 2-from-5, including 1-from-4 from three, and 2-from-2 at the line in 17 minutes.
• Melbourne shot 35-from-70 from the field, 12-from-33 from three and 20-from-24 at the line, with 47 rebounds, 17 assists and 17 turnovers.

South East Melbourne Phoenix

• Nathan Sobey ($379,600) top-scored with 23 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals on 7-from-20, including 4-from-10 from three and 5-from-5 at the line, in a team-high 35 minutes.
• D'Shawn Schwartz ($277,000) scored 17 on 6-from-12, including 3-from-3 from three, with three steals.
• Dash Daniels ($115,000) had 14 points and five assists on 6-from-15, including 2-from-9 from three.
• Jordan Hunter ($224,800) scored 10 off the bench on 4-from-7, including 2-from-3 from three, with five rebounds.
• Yannis Morin ($277,000) had 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks on 3-from-8, including 3-from-4 at the line.
• Akech Aliir ($125,300) scored nine off the bench on 2-from-6, including 2-from-4 from three, and 3-from-4 at the line.
• Tanner Krebs ($150,300) had six points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals on 3-from-8.
• South East Melbourne shot 33-from-83 from the field, 15-from-36 from three and 14-from-18 at the line, with 34 rebounds, 20 assists and nine turnovers.