BIO: Anzac Rissetto was born in Auckland (NZ) and grew up in the city’s southern suburbs. Growing up without his father and approached by gangs, it was his mother who lead him towards basketball and put him on the straight and narrow. He would go on to attend Auckland Grammar School where he was coached by former New Zealand national team player Lindsay Tait.

Later on he would attend a basketball camp run in New Zealand by NBA star Steven Adams who would became a mentor to Rissetto.

FAMILY: Rissetto is a descendant of one of the founders of NZ rugby, Thomas Ellison. He is also related to Tamati Ellison and former NFL star Riki Ellison.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Anzac Rissetto made his NBL debut with the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 21 years of age. He scored five points in his first game.

Anzac Rissetto joined the South East Melbourne Phoenix as a development player for the NBL23 season, entering a team eager to bounce back from an injury-riddled previous year. The Phoenix retained a strong core group of players, including Ryan Broekhoff, Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa, Cameron Gliddon, Reuben Te Rangi, and co-captains Mitch Creek and Kyle Adnam. To strengthen the roster, the team added imports Trey Kell III and Gary Browne to the backcourt and brought in big man Alan Williams as a replacement for Zhou Qi.

Initially, it appeared Qi would not return to the Phoenix and would continue his career in China. However, a late decision saw him rejoin the team, forming a much-discussed “twin towers” pairing with Williams that promised to bolster the Phoenix’s frontcourt dominance.

South East Melbourne began their campaign with an incomplete roster, as Broekhoff, Kell, and Browne were sidelined due to preseason injuries, and Qi’s arrival was delayed by two weeks. Despite these setbacks, the Phoenix secured a gritty 84-79 victory over the Tasmania JackJumpers in their opening game. Kyle Adnam, stepping into the starting five, delivered a career-high performance with 30 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Mitch Creek added 23 points and 6 rebounds, and Alan Williams contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Throughout the season, when the Phoenix managed to field all five starters, they proved to be one of the league’s most balanced and formidable units. Unfortunately, this was a rarity. Zhou Qi played just nine games, averaging 6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.2 assists before returning to China for family reasons. Kell missed five games due to broken ribs, averaging 12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. Meanwhile, Broekhoff battled persistent hamstring issues and appeared in only two-thirds of the season, contributing 10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists.

Mitch Creek emerged as the Phoenix’s most reliable performer, playing in every game and delivering an MVP-caliber season. He averaged 23.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while single-handedly carrying the team through their injury struggles.

The absence of Zhou Qi created opportunities for the team’s younger players, including Anzac Rissetto. The development player saw increased court time due to the depleted roster, appearing in limited minutes across multiple games and averaging 1.2 points and 0.4 rebounds. First-year forward Grant Anticevich also gained valuable experience, averaging 2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds. Injuries to key perimeter players such as Broekhoff, Kell, and Browne, who collectively missed 23 of 84 possible games, paved the way for Adnam (8.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists) and Te Rangi (5.1 points and 3.0 rebounds) to step into the starting lineup.

The injury crisis also allowed lesser-known players like Junior Madut and Owen Foxwell to step up. Madut averaged 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds, while Foxwell contributed 3.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals, delivering some standout performances when called upon.

Despite their challenges, South East Melbourne climbed to second place on the ladder midway through the season. However, their position was short-lived as further injuries derailed their momentum, causing them to slip to fifth place with a 15-13 record. This result forced the Phoenix to compete in the Play-In Tournament for a chance at postseason contention.

The Phoenix faced the Perth Wildcats in the Play-In Qualifier, entering the matchup as favourites despite being without sharpshooter Ryan Broekhoff. However, Perth’s import duo of Bryce Cotton and Brady Manek proved too strong, with Cotton delivering 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals, while Manek added 24 points. The Wildcats defeated the Phoenix 106-99, ending South East Melbourne’s playoff hopes and leaving fans to reflect on yet another season of unfulfilled potential.

For Anzac Rissetto, the season provided invaluable experience as he worked to establish himself in the NBL. While his opportunities on the court were limited, his development alongside the Phoenix’s veteran players and coaching staff laid the foundation for further growth in his professional career.

2023/24
The 208cm big man became a cult hero at the Phoenix due to his immense and vigorous support of his teammates from the bench at Phoenix home games, often spurring his team and getting the crowd involved.

“Re-signing with the Phoenix for another two years was a no-brainer for me, to help me continue to grow and become the best version of myself both on and off the court. I can’t wait to see what the next two years has in store for us.” said Rissetto upon re-signing with South East Melbourne.

Anzac Rissetto played two seasons the South East Melbourne Phoenix. He averaged 1.7 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0 assists in 23 NBL games.