Torrey Craig was crook on the bench, Matthew Dellavedova threw up on the plane from Sydney and wasn’t in the building and Kendric Davis wasn’t in the country.

The Sydney Kings were never going to match it with a near-full-strength South East Melbourne outfit in their Code Sports NBL Blitz opener in Bendigo, going down 101-89.

But there were some glimmers of hope from the Kings’ new brigade as the Phoenix showed why they are set to be one of the deepest teams in the NBL.

KENDRIC CLOSING IN?

It’s been a rough off-season for the Kings.

Injured defensive dynamo Bul Kuol packed his bags for Adelaide and they let former NBL Sixth Man of the Year Kouat Noi leave for New Zealand in the belief Jaylin Galloway was in the Harbour City for at least another season.

But he packed his bags for Cairns, strong man Keli Leaupepe did his knee for a second year in a row and star big man Xavier Cooks was busted for a second time using an illicit substance.

Add to that, Davis has been stranded in the US due to a ‘passport issue’.

That was after he told Sydney their request for him to return to the club on August 2 for pre-season training was too early and he wanted more time at home in the US with his family.

The Kings now say they’re expecting him to touch down within the week.

Good news if it happens.

DASH’S HOME-TOWN DELIGHT

Bendigo-born Next Star Dash Daniels switched clubs and changed his mindset in the off-season, entering his move to the Phoenix with a simple philosophy: “just keep shooting”.

And, with a number of NBA scouts in the building to get eyes on the 2027 draft prospect, the teen showed early signs that mantra is going to pay off.

In 35 games at Melbourne United last season, Daniels never made more than two three-pointers in a game — and never attempted more than 4.

By quarter time against the Kings, Daniels was 2-of-4 from deep, hit another during the third and nearly brought the house down at Red Energy Arena when he nearly made one from behind half-court on the three-quarter-time buzzer.

“It’s good to be back home,” Daniels told the crowd, post game.

Daniels said he was going to “catch up with some of the boys” after training on Thursday.

Daniels’ battles with Kings back-court rookies Jayden Stone and Will Johnston were particularly enjoyable to watch, the 18-year-old giving no quarter defensively forcing the two college-returnees to dig deep.

Daniels finished with 11 points and 7 rebounds — and a slightly wayward 3-9 from deep — but it was the confidence to keep launching that stood out.

Keep that energy all season, young fella.

MAK’S PURPLE PATCH

Given the departures of Noi and Galloway, it’s a good thing the Kings stumped up some $300,000-plus per season for ultra-athletic wing Makuach Maluach.

The former Melbourne United development player has found a home in Sydney under a coach in Brian Goorjian who he loves playing for.

And, particularly in the first quarter, Maluach showed why he is worth every penny as someone who can take a big leap for the Kings this season.

Nine points and a steal in the first 5 minutes of the game included a three-ball and a pair of free throws as the Ugandan-born wing put an early stamp on the contest.

TAIPANS v WILDCATS

The Code Sports NBL Blitz opener in Bendigo produced a thriller between Perth and Cairns — even if both teams shot it like Storm Troopers trying to take out a member of the Rebel Alliance.

Here’s what we took from the Taipans 85-82 win over the Wildcats and Mick Randall’s Ray Borner Medal votes.

BENDIGO’S BRICK HOUSE

How do you tell it’s the first game of the Blitz?

Easy, look at the shooting percentages.

Perth and Cairns built themselves a mansion in Bendigo, missing 84 of their 138 shot attempts at the woeful percentage of 39 per cent.

Keanu Pinder’s 9 points came on 15 shots and he missed 5 of his 6 three-point tries, while Dylan Windler’s 3 points came on one make, as his 5 other attempts went wide.

Luke Skywalker would have been safe at half-court.

BRUCEY REJUVENATED

Sydney said goodbye to three-time championship-winning veteran Shaun Bruce, who is second on the club’s all-time appearance list.

And, to be fair, it looked at times like the 35-year-old might have been close to the end.

But, now in Cairns, Brucey is proving there’s plenty more fight in him.

And, with young Next Star Luke Paul injured and a lack of genuine ball-handling and point guard play, he’s set to play a vital role for the Taipans in NBL27.

Against Perth, Bruce started and played a team-high 34 minutes, absolutely filling up the stat sheet with 14 points on 3 three-pointers, to go with 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block.

Give that man the keys.

NEW DELLY’S GOOD SIGNS DESPITE EARLY SHOWER

Small sample size but, on his efforts in FIBA World Cup qualifiers with the Boomers last week and then Wednesday night’s 13-point, 9-rebound effort, new Wildcat Anthony Dell’Orso looks likely to play a significant role for the Wildcats this season.

The 23-year-old Victorian has hit the ground running in Perth, but will have some early teething (NBL referee) problems to get used to after he fouled out half way through the third quarter.

Can he have greater impact and be more consistent than US college-bound Ben Henshall?

EX-NBA GUN RULED OUT

Melbourne United boom recruit Cole Anthony is out of the Code Sports NBL Blitz.

The 26-year-old former NBA man, who exploded with 27 points against Cairns on Saturday night, is dealing with a calf complaint after his first competitive hitout in nearly seven months.

The club is taking every precaution to make sure Anthony is right for Round 1 of the season.

The ex-Orlando Magic guard is the second NBL superstar to be ruled out of the five-day pre-season tournament, on the back of mysterious passport issues which have robbed Bendigo of reigning grand final MVP Kendric Davis of Sydney.