TWO teams will be one victory away from the 2015 SBL grand final after this weekend with the semi-final series' beginning between the Rockingham Flames and Joondalup Wolves, and the Goldfields Giants and South West Slammers.

The men's semi-final match ups begin on Friday night with the Nags Head Tavern & Bistro Rockingham Flames hosting the Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves at Mike Barnett Sports Complex with tip-off at 7.30pm.

Then on Saturday night, the Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants host the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers at Neils Hansen Basketball Stadium with tip-off also at 7.30pm.

Starting on Friday night, the Flames get the chance to start their series with the Wolves on a winning note by hosting Game 1 at Rockingham.

The Flames finished the regular season in fifth position in the standings and then managed to win Games 1 and 3 in the quarter finals against the Cockburn Cougars to advance to the semi finals and set up a match up with the Wolves.

The Wolfpack ended the regular season three games clear on top of the ladder to claim the minor premiership, but they certainly didn’t have an easy time of it in the quarter finals.

The Wolves squeaked by in Game 1 at Bendat Basketball Centre but then lost Game 2 at home setting up the deciding Game 3 last Sunday at Joondalup Basketball Stadium, which they were able to win 109-100.

For much of the season the Flames were right in contention for a top four position despite ending up fifth and with a team featuring Cooper Land, Taylor Land, Ryan Godfrey and Tom Remmerswaal they certainly have the ability to be a genuine title contender.

However, the Wolves are the deepest team in the competition with Trian Iliadis, Kevin Davis, Seb Salinas, Rob Huntington, Damian Matacz, Louis Timms, Ben Ironmonger, Joel Questel, Sean Easther and Jordan Wellsteed.

That sets up a fascinating semi-final match and during the regular season, it was the Wolves who scored two comprehensive wins beating the Flames in Rockingham 106-76 in Week 9, and then 111-78 on their home floor in Week 14.

Then on Saturday night, the semi-final series between the Giants and Slammers gets underway in Kalgoorlie with Goldfields looking to continue its hot run of form.

Despite missing playoffs the last two years and then losing the first eight games of 2015, the Giants finished the regular season in tremendous fashion to end up in seventh position and then to upset the second-placed Geraldton Buccaneers in two games in the quarter finals.

A strong case can be made that Goldfields' three stars Jay Bowie, Jacob Holmen and Mathiang Muo provide the best three-pronged attack in the SBL.

The Slammers have had an up and down season largely due to the availability of personnel, but were able to finish in third position at the end of the regular season and then to beat the Willetton Tigers in two games in the quarter finals.

The two teams first met during the regular season at Eaton Recreation Centre in Week 4 with the Slammers cruising to the 107-74 win but the Giants then turned the tables in Kalgoorlie in Week 13 recording a 118-113 victory.

WEEK 1 MEN'S SEMI FINAL SBL FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Nags Head Tavern & Bistro Rockingham Flames v Merriwa Tavern & Bistro Joondalup City Wolves, Mike Barnett Sports Complex 7.30pm

SATURDAY
Silver Lake Resources Goldfields Giants v Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers, Neils Hansen Basketball Stadium 7.30pm

Article by Chris Pike
Photo by June Halliday