Phoenix owner Romie Chaudhari issues ref apology ahead of SEM’s play-in game against Perth
South East Melbourne owner Romie Chaudhari has been in the midst of the drama this season, and on the eve of the Phoenix’s play-in clash with Perth Wildcats, has issued an apology.
South East Melbourne owner Romie Chaudhari has unreservedly apologised to NBL referee Nico Fernandez and his family over an extraordinary social media attack.
The NBL hit Chaudhari with a $10,000 fine after he posted on Twitter a photograph of Fernandez and labelled the French national “exceptionally bad” and a “front runner for worst ref ever, by a mile.”
The post came following SEM’s January 31 loss to Perth and, ahead of Tuesday night’s NBL play-in game against the Wildcats, the contrite Phoenix owner told Code Sports he’d written to Fernandez “conveying my deepest apologies” to both he and his family.
“I fully accept responsibility for my actions, which were in poor taste and not reflective of the person I am or want to be,” Chaudhari said.
“There is nothing I’m more passionate about than the Phoenix and, while I will always support and defend the club, in this case, it was done in an inappropriate way.
“Nico, if you read this, I hope you and your family can please forgive me.”
While Chaudhari has never shied away from calling out issues in the NBL, he admitted he got this one wrong and apologised to the Phoenix community.
“This isn’t the way a leader acts and I aim to be better in the future,” he said.
Chaudhari, coach Josh King and Phoenix fans were incensed after the one-point loss in their last meeting after the Wildcats enjoying a 21–10 free throw advantage — which added up to a 51-20 split across their past two at RAC Arena this season.
While, thanks to Aussie pop princess Kylie Minogue, Tuesday night’s game will be played at Perth HPC, instead of RAC, there remains a fear of ‘home cooking’ given the sold out clash will be a powder keg, amid thousands of Wildcats members missing out on tickets due to the move.
King, though, says he’ll treat the play-in, which could set up an all-Melbourne semi-final against United, “like any other road game.”
“It’s a reward to play in the postseason, but now It’s more from the head up,” King said.
“Everyone’s good, everyone knows each other, It comes down to ‘how disciplined can you be? Can you follow a game plan? Can you pay attention to the small details?’.”
“And then you’ve got to play well, make shots, play loose and free.”
The clash pits two of this season’s three MVP finalists in Phoenix’s young import big man Matt Hurt and Perth’s brilliant all-time great Bryce Cotton.
King revealed if the Phoenix do manage to book a place in the semi final, hamstrung import point guard Derrick Walton Jr was a “good chance” of being healthy and back on court by then.
NBL SEEDING QUALIFIER
PERTH WILDCATS (3rd) v SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX (4th)
Tuesday, February 11, 9.30pm AEDT (6.30pm AWST), Perth HPC, Mt Claremont
‘Crazy’: Coach lashes NBL as Phoenix left scrambling
South East Melbourne coach Josh King has hit out at the NBL after the Phoenix were left scrambling to find a place to practice in Perth ahead of Tuesday night’s play-in clash with the Wildcats.
The Phoenix fly out Monday but did not secure a training spot until late Sunday after working the phones. The state’s courts are at capacity for domestic and representative competitions.
King has coached in the US college system, Germany, Czech Republic and Turkey and said there was an expectation for the league to provide a training venue for an away game.
“You’ve got a playoff game, you’d expect the league to say ‘hey, you guys need a practice time?’,” King told Code Sports.
“Everywhere I’ve been, the day before, they have to provide you with somewhere you can practice.
“That’s crazy that the league doesn’t provide, the day before a playoff game a place for you.
“We leave Monday, go to Perth and just to get a little workout in, but it’s a playoff game and we don’t have a place to practice.”
The game was confirmed after Saturday night’s loss to Melbourne United and South East Melbourne’s operations team were forced to race the clock to find somewhere for the team to get a workout in ahead of the game.
“It just baffles me. We didn’t know for certain until tonight (Saturday) but we had a pretty good idea, day off, let’s travel, let’s practice, let’s shootaround, let’s play,” he said.
“We’re a really good league but that’s the stuff that needs to (get better).”
Asked about the situation, a NBL spokesman said: “Clubs organise their training arrangements during the regular season and NBL Finals. If asked, the NBL is willing and ready to assist any team in finding a training venue. The South East Melbourne Phoenix have organised a training facility for this week.”
Aside from the venue hitch and a season-ending loss to United, the Phoenix are back in the post-season for the first time since 2023.
After Perth dropped the ball on scheduling and Kylie Minogue refused to budge on giving the Wildcats access to RAC Arena, the game will be played on the old Challenge Stadium, a venue that provides a similar atmosphere to what the Phoenix experience at their Heartland home State Basketball Centre.
A win would ignite the cross-town rivalry with United, booking an all Melbourne semi final at John Cain Arena.
The Phoenix hold a double chance courtesy of finishing fourth, so a loss would mean they’d come home Sunday to face the winner out of Thursday night’s eliminator between Sydney and Adelaide.
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