ANBL: NZ Breakers' path to Grand Final revealed, as Tasmania JackJumpers spring surprise

The NZ Breakers will play the Tasmania JackJumpers in the semi-finals for a spot in the ANBL grand final.

The JackJumpers beat the Cairns Taipans 87-79 to advance to the playoffs by finishing in fourth place for the second-straight year.

JackJumpers guard Milton Doyle.
JackJumpers guard Milton Doyle. Photo credit: Getty Images

JackJumpers' American guard Milton Doyle showed why he was named All-NBL first team with a 25-point performance, including shooting 50 percent from three in his 10 attempts.

Their away triumph sets up a best-of-three series against the Breakers, with the NZ-based club having the home advantage in two of the games.

Despite losing their last match against the JackJumpers on Boxing Day, the Breakers hold a 3-1 lead over the side during the regular season.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth was delighted with his team's qualification for the playoffs and expects the Breakers to bring it once again when the two clubs meet.

"We're quite humbled and appreciative of the fact for the second year in a row, we're in the final four," he said post-match.

"We know that they're a hell of a team and we've had some great battles with them and we'll be ready to go come Sunday.

"We have an afternoon flight around and we'll get over there later in the evening, do some work on Saturday and we'll be ready to go Sunday.

"We're incredibly proud and very, very humbled by this because there's a lot of teams trying to do what we did in the last two years and haven't been able to get it across the line [in franchise history].

"For our group to do it in two years back-to-back is just a great credit to the organisation, the coaching staff, and these players."

The Breakers will host the JackJumpers in the first match on Sunday, before heading to Tasmania for the second on February 16.

Meanwhile, the Taipans will play the Perth Wildcasts in the final play-in game with the winner advancing to the other semi-final to face the No.1 seed Sydney Kings.