Playoff Openers Deliver: Bush Pushes ACN to the Brink, Lil Nee Humiliates W

The NBL postseason officially tipped off, and if Game One action told us anything, it’s that no storyline is safe and no rivalry is without fireworks.

Mr. Bush Nearly Stuns ACN

Fresh off his record-shattering play-in performance, Mr. Bush and the Herd rolled into Game One of their semifinal series against ACN’s Beef Negative with momentum on their side. And while the Herd ultimately fell short, Bush once again showed his meteoric rise isn’t slowing down. Bush fought tooth and nail against ACN, erasing early deficits and nearly pulling off another miracle. Down big early, he clawed his way back to within striking distance, forcing ACN to lock in late. The Herd fell 5–7, but the score doesn’t fully capture how close this game truly was. Bush’s relentless aggression and confidence kept ACN on his heels until the final turns. For Bush, a narrow loss against the league’s top seed only raises his stock further. For ACN, it was a reminder that while he’s been the season’s most dominant scorer, the Herd’s fiery rookie isn’t backing down. Game Two is shaping up to be a must-watch duel between rising star and established powerhouse.

Lil Nee Crushes Whittyquipo in Rivalry Rematch

Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket, Lil Nee and the Frost Falcons reignited their playoff rivalry with Whittyquipo and the SB Dragons — and it was nothing short of brutal. In what will go down as one of the most embarrassing postseason openers in league history, Lil Nee shut out Whittyquipo 8–0, a complete domination from start to finish. Whitty, who came into the series looking for revenge after last year’s tight three-game battle, was left stunned and scrambling. Nee, already crowned MVP, looked every bit the part, dismantling Whitty’s defense and piling on goal after goal. What was supposed to be the “historical rematch” between the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds instead became a showcase of just how far apart the two truly are right now. For Whitty, the loss raises massive questions: can he regroup, or is this the end of the Dragons’ season? For Lil Nee, the statement is clear — he isn’t just here to defend his reputation, he’s here to steamroll anyone in his way.

What’s Next

Herd vs. Beef Negative Game Two: Can Bush even the series, or will ACN put an early end to the Cinderella run?

Frost Falcons vs. SB Dragons Game Two: Can Whitty rebound from humiliation, or will Lil Nee end the rivalry in a sweep?

The opening chapter of the NBL playoffs couldn’t have been written with more drama: one game a nail-biting duel, the other a shocking rout.