It wasn’t enough to snatch a late win but Perth’s composure and game management to stay in their clash with New Zealand despite trailing by six with just 20 seconds to play shows why they’re a perennial title contender.

Apart from never giving up, the Cats actually gave themselves as sniff stretching the final 20 seconds of the game over around five minutes real-time, sending the Breakers to the line three times to shoot six pressure free-throws to get the win.

Compare that to Illawarra’s approach against Cairns in the earlier match on Sunday. The Hawks did incredibly well to come back from 21 points down midway through the third quarter but their failure to foul when trailing be four with 29 seconds to play was baffling.

Instead Cam Gliddon was allowed to dribble on the spot at half-court virtually undisturbed for almost 15 seconds before finally getting the ball inside to Nat Jawai who the Hawks finally sent to the line to shoot two and seal the win.

Like New Zealand, the Taipans had probably already done enough to earn the win, but Perth’s approach showed an  in- game awareness that has thus far eluded the Hawks this season.