Perth Wildcats storm into NBL grand final with a semi-final sweep of Brisbane Bullets

The Perth Wildcats have ended the season of the Brisbane Bullets to surge into the NBL grand final with a brutal semi-final sweep of their outgunned opponents.

Bryce Cotton of the Wildcats with the ball during the NBL semi-finals match between the Brisbane Bullets and the Perth Wildcats at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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Brisbane coach Andrej Lemanis was overwhelmed by emotion as he described how veteran Mika Vukona was prepared to risk a career-ending injury to play in yesterday’s (SAT) 84-79 NBL semi-final loss to Perth at Boondall.

Vukona was a late withdrawal from game two of the series after partially tearing his Achilles in the game one loss to the Wildcats on Thursday night.

Without the five-time NBL champion, the Bullets fought hard but were ultimately vanquished by the Wildcats who relied on their peerless play-off experience to keep the Bullets at bay in the tense closing stages.

Perth will play the winner of the Melbourne-Sydney semi-final series in the best-of-five decider while Brisbane’s season is over after their first play-off appearance since 2008.

Bryce Cotton drives to the basket during the Wildcats’ semi-final victory. Picture: AAP

Vukona went for scans on Friday night after pulling up sore following the series opener and Lemanis described the conversation when the results came back as “devastating”.

Lemanis broke down in the post-match press conference outlining the sacrifice Vukona was prepared to make.

“He’s got a partial tear in his Achilles and he didn’t want me to tell anybody. He was prepared to risk his career and play on it and hope that it didn’t snap,’’ he said fighting back the tears.

“That’s what it meant for him.

“I wasn’t prepared to let him do that. It’s too big a sacrifice. That’s who he is as a person. You can’t speak more highly of him.

Perth’s Angus Brandt gets down in the post. Picture: AAP

“I spoke about it with the team before the game. About how much it meant for him to be with this team and with his teammates and how much be believed in the fact that we could go and win a championship and for him to not be a part of that was killing him.

“He’s the emotional leader of the group who just makes some unbelievable plays at times particularly in games like this with his experience and ability to make things out of nothing and to drag people with him.’’

Vukona – who recently played for New Zealand in the last round of the FIBA World Cup qualifying games - did not appear on the team sheet before the match and was a no-show during the warm-ups before eventually appearing courtside wearing jeans.

Australian NFL player Jesse Williams (second left) and Bullets legend Leroy Loggins (third left) watch from the sidelines. Picture: AAP

Perth player Terrico White shoots the ball during the win. Picture: Getty

“We wanted to rest him during the FIBA window, he wanted to rest during the FIBA window ... we knew it was bad for him to go play, that was all the medical advice,’’ Lemanis said.

“Basketball New Zealand refused to let that happen and threatened him with a sanction which I thought was quite poor for everything he’s given to that organisation.’’

Bryce Cotton (19 points, 10 assists), Terrico White (24 points) and Nick Kay (16 points, 15 rebounds) were the stars of the show for the Wildcats.

For the gallant Brisbane, import Lamar Patterson (19 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals), centre Mat Hodgson (15 points) and Cam Bairstow (12 points, seven rebounds) were the best for the Brisbane.

Wildcats captain Damian Martin said qualifying for another grand final was especially satisfying after the mid-season slump when they lost eight of 10 games.

“It’s the buy-in, the belief, and that was tested this year. This year, more than any other, there were a lot of questions,’’ he said.

“People were worried about their jobs but as soon as Trevor (Gleeson) called us in and said this is the group we’re going with ... here we are preparing for a grand final series after what’s been a roller coaster season.’’