Eagles Rd 3 Preview | Away v Eastern Suns

The East Perth Eagles will be looking to head into the Easter break in winning form when they take on the Kalamunda Eastern Suns on the road in Round 3 of the NBL1 West season.

The Easter Thursday match ups provide the chance for the East Perth women's team to remain undefeated in 2025 and for the men's outfit to record their first win of the season.

The women's game commences at 6:30pm with the men's match to follow at 8:30pm at Ray Owen Sports Centre.

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WOMEN

The East Perth Eagles women couldn’t have been more impressive so far to start the 2025 season and look to keep that form going against the Eastern Suns on Thursday night.

With a new-look team in 2025 under a new coach in Tim Symons, the Eagles opened up with a home victory against the defending champion Rockingham Flames by 17 points.

East Perth backed that up last Saturday night in Mandurah with the eight-point win against a Magic team who had also won their opening two matches of the season.

The Eagles have also done that with gun recruit Emma Clarke still unavailable as she recovers from a knee injury but there has been plenty to like in what they have done.

Experienced leaders Tessa Morrison and Taylor Roberts are both back and performing strongly, but point guard Abby Cubillo, centre Sasha Goodlett and fellow new arrivals Madison Torresin, Awatea Leach and Akim Lual have been impressive contributors.

The Eagles now look to head into the Easter break with a 3-0 record when they take on an Eastern Suns team yet to record a victory in 2025.

The Suns lost in the opening night to the South West Slammers who ended a three-year losing streak in the process before Kalamunda lost a double-header last week firstly to the Perry Lakes Hawks away and then at home to the Willetton Tigers.

The Eastern Suns are back on their home floor at Ray Owen Sports Centre on Thursday night to host the Eagles and while they haven’t won a game, with Karly Murphy and Olivia Berry leading their charge, they are a dangerous opponent.

Torresin is in her second stint with the Eagles this season and the versatile import is averaging 12.0 points and 7.5 rebounds over the first two games, but won't be taking Kalamunda lightly.

"We need to go in there with the same mentality we have the last few games and the end goal obviously is the win, but we have to play together to make sure we get there," Torresin said.

"They might not have won a game yet, but you can't go into it thinking we're better or that it's just going to happen. We need to stick to our game plan and our strengths, and do what it takes to come out with the win."

MEN

The East Perth Eagles have still done plenty of things right over the first two games but now desperately don't want to start the new season 0-3 ahead of taking on a star-studded Eastern Suns.

The challenges don't get any easier for East Perth to start the new season after opening up against a Rockingham Flames with their NBL back court of Isaac White and Emmett Naar, and then taking on the defending champion Magic in Mandurah last Saturday night.

Now the task on Thursday night is facing NBL Grand Final MVP Terrico White and his Eastern Suns teammates including Marshall Nelson, Lewis Thomas, Travis Fee and experienced trio Seb Salinas, Rob Huntington and Reece Maxwell.

While the Eagles have lost those opening two games against the Flames and Magic, there has been plenty to like especially at the offensive end where they are the fifth highest-scoring team in the country and are creating the most possessions of any side in the NBL1.

Over those first two games the Eagles already have six players averaging double-figures in scoring – Lee Roberts (17.0), Max Rice (17.0), Taylor Young (16.0), Matthew Lang (14.0), Chier Maker (12.5) and Sharif Watson (11.5).

It's not the offensive end that's much of a concern for coach Carl Filpo, it's at the defensive end they need to rapidly improve especially coming up against a Suns team with the firepower of Nelson, White and Fee.

Against the Flames, White and Naar combined for 53 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists before it was Julian Pesava and Lachlan Bertram who combined for 65 points, 19 rebounds and nine assists for the Magic.

"We do have to focus on stopping those guards and at the end of the day you just have to stay in front of your guy, but we've also been working on our rotations and how we need to help and focus on the main guys," Filpo said.

"The Suns have Terrico as well and he hasn’t really gone off just yet, but it's going to happen at some point and we are very aware of that as well. It's down to all five guys, it's everyone that has to be part of what we do defensively and Marshall is one of the best players in the league obviously.

"He's capable of huge scoring efforts as well just like Isaac was and the same with Julian and Lachlan. It's absolutely a focus but we can't sleep on their other guys, they have a good team with a lot of experience and they play a really smart and deliberate game.

"They've had four games now and they try to wear teams which will be interesting because I feel like they're very different to Rockingham and Mandurah with their style of play," Filpo added.

"They almost wait for a mistake and then make you pay, and then mix it in with Marshall who can pull up to make shots from anywhere.

"We've been scouting and this is a really important game for us, we're well aware of that, and it'll be interesting if they can keep us to a low score like they have been doing, and if we can keep them down."

While the Eagles lost their first two games, Filpo did like the steps forward taken from the Rockingham to Mandurah hit out, and now sees a determination in the eyes of his players coming into the Thursday night match up with the Eastern Suns.

"The guys are really hungry for this one too and it would be good for the morale for the team if we are able to get it," Filpo said.

"We have probably had the best practice session of the year so far on Tuesday night so they are up and about, and there is a lot of belief there and we are also well aware that we're coming into a couple more tough games after it.

"So this one is super important to get it started and then the opportunity is there to keep it rolling. We're definitely up and about, and ready for it and have made some adjustments going into it."