Sandringham vs. Dandenong
Saturday 8pm at Dandenong

The finals have arrived and no one knows it better than Sandringham and Dandenong, who meet in what is set to be a fiery qualification final on the Rangers' home turf. With one win a piece for the season, both teams will be taking the court with something to prove, and with the Championship firmly in their sights.

Dandenong coach Warren Dawson and Sandringham coach Vince Crivelli have spent this week preparing their teams for what is set to be a great game that follows three years of intense rivalry that is sure to show its face in the on-court competition.

"The game will be physical and will be a really good contest. I believe that the game will have plenty of emotion because there is a strong rivalry that has been established over the past three years," Dawson said in the lead-up to Saturday night's thriller.

Crivelli has similar views, stating that he believes that the match will be a tough game that features plenty of highlights. One of those will no doubt be seeing Simon Conn take the finals against the team he won with last year. It will be game on for ex-Ranger Conn, who will be wearing the orange singlet for the first time in the finals series. Conn has had another standout year with an average of 25 points per game, and Dandenong will face a tough task trying to keep him from under the ring.

"Personally, I believe Simon Conn will be a tough match-up. He is a very good player with a great understanding of the game. However, if we focus on our team defence hopefully that will help negate his presence on the court," Ranger Ash Cannan said.

Crivelli believes the Sabres' toughest opponents will lie in the three leading scorers of the season.

"I think (Dandenong) are a good team. I guess Hobba, Cannan and Inglima are obvious candidates but like us, they are a team that works well together so you have to focus on them as a group," Crivelli said.

The two teams last went head to head in Round 12, when the Sabres took a seven-point win over the Rangers with Simon Conn putting in an MVP performance of 28 points. In Round 7 it was the Rangers who took the win, with Brent Hobba top-scoring with 28 points, and with these two results behind them and two solid ends to the season, this match is sure to be a nailbiter and come down to how both teams perform on their night of nights.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Sabres 7 ahead of Rangers 4
Coaches Records: Vince Crivelli (Sabres) 150/43 (78%) / Warren Dawson (Rangers) 55/18 (75%)

Waverley vs. Melbourne
Saturday 7pm at Veneto Club

Four plays five in an elimination thriller that sees the Falcons travel to Tiger territory for a chance at taking the road to Championship glory one step closer. There have been two tight contests between these two teams when they have met throughout the season, resulting in one win a piece, and this game will prove a tough contest until the very last buzzer.

Both teams have had their own ups and downs throughout the season, but both coaches agree that that the two teams have come into some great form that will make for some great match-ups.

"We have a very good list which has taken some time to settle and therefore our season has been inconsistent, however, this is getting better at the right time of the season," Waverley coach David Santamaria said in the lead up to this week's game.

"Our season has gone well after a shaky mid-season when we went and came back from China. Now we've been playing good basketball and I'm really happy where we're at right now," Tigers coach Darryl McDonald said.

Both coaches indentify that they face some tough competition.

"Our defensive work will need to pick up to cover Melbourne NBL player Corletto and O'Hea who are great shooters... If Sedale Threatt is on his game, he can be very damaging. Big man Donaldson in the paint has been in good form also," Santamaria said when asked to detail the Falcons' toughest opponent.

McDonald said the Tigers would face tough opponents of their own, particularly in the form of Ivan Platenik.

"Ivan Platenik hasn't played against us this season, we know he is very active, he also gives them another option in offense," McDonald said.

It was the Falcons that took the win over the Tigers in Round 11, despite a high scoring performance from Daryl Corletto with 38 points. In the end Waverley proved a tough unit, with a combined points scoring effort that the Tigers couldn't beat, and a win will no doubt be on their minds when they take to the court this week.

In Round 5 it was the Tigers with an 11-point win over the Falcons, the strength in their squad lying in the performance of Matt O'Hea with 35 points ahead of his season average 22, and with these two competitors once again going to put on a game to remember, it will be up to the Falcons to rely on their recent form, and make it through another round of finals.

"In summary, it should be a very entertaining game with plenty of talented players in both teams. I think the team that plays very hard defence will win the game and I hope it is Waverley," Santamaria.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Tigers 5 ahead of Falcons 3
Coaches Records: Darryl McDonald Snr 25/15 (63%) / David Santamaria 6/3 (67%)

Hume City vs. Warrnambool
Saturday 8pm at Warrnambool

Warrnambool have gone from top of the ladder to third, the consequence which sees them face elimination in week one of the finals against late bloomers Hume City, who since Pierre Jallow entered the squad, have continued to go from strength to strength ending out the competition in sixth. With a huge crowd expected this game will prove a tight contest, and result in the winner going through to another tough elimination in week two, with the losers out of the finals race. With this on the minds of both players and coaches, this game is going to be a fierce one.

Warrnambool coach Adam Steere and Hume City coach Kevin Fleming are both aware of just how much is riding on this game, and both are sure that it will be a thrilling contest.

"This week against Hume we are looking forward to another tough match as they are a very physical side that relies a lot on intensity to unsettle sides," Steere said.

"Smith is instrumental in this team performing well so he is important to them as is the size and experience of Spears. Jallow has been good for them in this regard also."

Fleming said his boys would go into the game with a nothing-to-lose attitude and that Lester Strong would be their toughest opponent, with Tim Gainey, Bobby Cunningham and Shane Smith also quality players that would make for some tough match-ups.

"If I had to pick one (toughest opponent) I would have to say Lester, he is hard to guard and a quality inside player," Fleming said.

In terms of his team's strengths, he believes that the induction of Pierre Jallow in the team has been the instrumental force in the Broncos' turnaround.

"I think Pierre has given us an inside presence that we didn't have previously at the club," Fleming said.

Steere said his team's strength lay in the combination of Cunningham, Strong and Smith.

"The strength of our teams comes from experience in Cunningham, Strong and Smith. Between them there is a lot of finals experience and steady heads, so this is important to us and no doubt will influence the outcome of the game," Steere said.

Pierre Jallow said his team's strength lay in experience and motivation, with his personal strength lying in being able to help the team in whatever they need.

"We can only focus on one team at a time and Warrnambool has very good individual players and others that compliment them very well. We will consider other match-ups as they come, but right now we are totally focused on Warrnambool," Jallow said.

The Seahawks' Bobby Cunningham said his team were going to need to put the pressure on early if to get the win, with the game's outcome depending on how the Broncos start. When asked of his toughest opponent he said that without a doubt, it would be Greg Smith.

"I don't care what his numbers are like, he will be tough for any opponent," Cunningham said.

"Our team's strength this week is just being able to get a good lock when we need a good look at the basket."

The Seahawks have had two wins when the two teams have gone head to head previously this season, the first by six points in Round 1 and the second in Round 9 by a narrow four points in front of a Warrnambool crowd. With this in mind the Broncos are going to need to mentally prepare for the game at hand, with Fleming making this ending comment;

"I think this really could be the best Big V finals series in the competition so far."

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Seahawks 7 ahead of Broncos 3
Coaches Records: Adam Steere (Seahawks) 20/9 (69%) / Kevin Fleming (Broncos) 62/33 (65%)

CHAMPIONSHIP WOMEN

Hume City vs. Sandringham
Saturday 6pm at Sandringham

Game one of this three-game elimination series sees one play four in what promises to be a tight contest with both teams back to their full squads, and both hoping at a chance to take out the Championship.

The Broncos may have taken both wins when the two have gone head to head already this season, but Sandringham have proved their own dominance in the competition, with a strong second half of the season that has proved they will be tough competition for any team that meets them in the finals.

"Of all the teams we've played this season, our closest results have been against Sandringham. We've been fortunate to have come out on the winning side of the ledger in our home and away games in the regular season, and I expect the final series to be just as closely contested," Hume City coach Glen Milner said in the week leading up to the final.

Sabres coach Lori Chizik says that whilst her team are the underdogs going into the finals, they would certainly give their match against Hume City their best shot.

"Hume have beaten us in both games this season but we also feel that we were competitive in both and the games were still in the balance with only a few minutes to go. We haven't played Hume since May 12th, so I'm sure both teams have made some improvements and adjustments," she said.

Sabres star Tegan Fowler is coming into the finals after a stellar season that has seen her take out MVP honours week after week. She said Hume City would be the toughest opponent in the finals, but with the Sabres current form, they can rise to the challenge.

"Out of the three teams Hume City will be our toughest opponent as we haven't beaten them all year, however I think that we are in great form at the moment and we can rise to the challenge," she said.

"As an individual I think Sharin Milner from Hume City will be our toughest match-up - she is very agile and quick and we will require our guards to put as much pressure on her as possible to limit her performance," Fowler said.

Milner assured fans that they will be provided with a quality basketball contest over the next two weeks.

"While both teams have their share of go-to players - Fowler, Lough, Downie for the Sabres, and Milner, Burbridge and Penaluna for the Broncos - what will decide this final series will be team defense and the contribution of the respective benches. Our playing styles are not dissimilar, with Sandringham's preference to execute more in the half court counterbalanced by our more up-tempo game, although both teams place a premium on contesting shots and getting out on transition," Milner said.

Chizik knows that the Sabres are going to need to be all over the court to compete against the Broncos.

"Hume have been successful this year as they have a very even spread of scorers, they have both an inside and outside game, they go deep into their bench and they are well coached. They have been the bench mark all year and have justifiably finished on top. Players such as Milner, Pedro, Burbridge and Penaluna are all quality players and we will have to be switched on at both ends," Chizik said.

Milner capped off how the game would play out with the following statement:

"We look forward to a competitive finals series, and one that again showcases the great talent and level of elite basketball that the Big V Championship Women's competition represents. I also appeal to fans to come along and show their support of all four teams as they commence the tough road to a much sought-after title," he said.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Broncos 7 ahead of Sabres 4
Coaches Records: Glen Milner (Broncos) 51/32 (61%) / Lori Chizik 81/38 (68%)

Melbourne vs. Waverley
Saturday at 8pm

The Falcons lead the Tigers in head to head wins this season 2-1, and will be looking to make it three when the two clash in game one of the elimination finals that will determine the two teams to play off for the Championship for 2007. Both teams come into the playoffs with a strong season behind them, and the matches over the next two weeks are sure to be some of the most thrilling of the year.

Both teams will be coming into the game after a hard week of preparation, with the Tigers missing star player Michelle Brogan, who is in China on national duties. However coach Kelly Breazeale is confident that other members of the Tigers team can step up and perform in Brogan's absence.

"In her absence, we have had several players step up and assume different roles to keep us on the right track. Sarah Nobbs and captain Kelli Hayward are two to mention in leadership. Jodie Doull and Lou Tomlinson have become forces inside as well as Chelsea Burns and Ebony Just outside play," Breazeale said of this week's line-up.

Falcons coach Michael Dickens said Melbourne were a deep and talented team with multiple players with the ability to step up and hurt any teams that do not show them respect. In preparation for the week the girls will be training hard to prove tough competition for the roaring Tigers.

"We will be concentrating on consolidating all the hard work we have done in the season so far. There are always opportunities that present themselves and we will be working hard to improve on these," he said.

And as for Breazeale's take on Waverley?

"As for Waverley, they are a team that plays very well together and compliments each other's game. I think Tess Feery, Julie DeGroot and Carliegh Evans are players that can put the game on their back and carry it. Overall, the Falcons will out work most teams and with their experience you can't concentrate on any one player," she said.

With so much to play for, so much to prove and so many strong players to take the court, this game will be not be for the faint-hearted.

Big V Historical Information
All Time Head to Head: Falcons 7 ahead of Tigers 5
Coaches Records: Matt Dickens (Falcons) 41/25 (62%) / Kelly Breazeale (16/4 (80%)