Melbourne United players are using their own personal pain as motivation as they look to capture the NBL championship in game three of the finals series against Perth on Friday night.
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Coach Dean Vickerman said skipper Chris Goulding addressed the players on Thursday as they prepared for the match at John Cain Arena, which will be played in front of 5000 of their fans.
Holding a 2-0 lead, United have three home games if required to wrap up the title.
Many of the team battled COVID-19 in the preseason and they faced long stints on the road, including the past month due to the Victorian outbreak.
"It's been a crazy season that started in Cairns, not sure when we were coming home and we finished in Perth, also not sure when we were coming home," Vickerman said on Thursday.
"Chris was outstanding today; he talked about the sacrifices that everybody has made this year whether it be financially because of pay-cuts, being away from family, guys sacrificing some minutes - everybody has done a lot of things to try and win a championship."
Star forward Jock Landale revealed he'd turned his back on lucrative mid-season opportunities to play overseas to win a title with United.
Hoping to land a NBA deal after two tastes playing in its Summer League, Landale said he wanted to see the season through.
"There were opportunities around the world but I'm stoked to be here in this situation," the 25-year-old said.
"It would mean a lot (to win) - I came in at the start of the year verbalising outwardly how I felt about the year and the group we put together and while we didn't go through undefeated, the chance to win a premiership is massive.
"To be here on the final stage, playing in front of your home crowd and family and friends is special because it's something that as professional basketballers it's rare to do."
After losing a semi-final match to South East Melbourne to push it to a game-three decider, the Boomers big man said stopping the Wildcats on Friday night would be tough.
"Thinking back to game two, where we let it slip, it's so hard to close out a series because one team comes in feeling like they've got a bit of a cushion and the other team have their backs against the wall," Landale said.
"My mindset right now is that I've got to take it to another level and makes sure that rubs off on the other guys and we all recognise that we do have to step it up another notch because Perth sure as hell will."
Australian Associated Press
