Saints withdraw semi-final protest 

Source: NZPAPhill Jones of the Nelson Giants

The Wellington Saints have accepted their NBL semi-final loss and withdrawn their protest action.

The Nelson Giants are through to the National Basketball League finals after a thrilling last second win over the Saints in Nelson.

Trailing 82-81 with seconds remaining, the Giants scrambled in a 2 point shot off a rebound to claim an 83-82 win.

The Saints appealed the result afterwards and claimed time was up before the final play was made.

However, they have now since withdrawn the protest after reviewing footage.

Giants guard Phill Jones says the game was a great advertisement for New Zealand basketball.

He says the game's never over until the buzzer goes and it was an exciting fightback by his team.

The ex-Tall Black says Wellington pulled the pin on the protest as they now understand the ball went through on time.

The Waikato Pistons host the Christchurch Cougars in the second semi final in Te Awamutu on Friday night.

In other New Zealand basketball news, former Tall Blacks basketball coach Tab Baldwin has been sacked from his job with Romanian club Cluj.

Baldwin had one year remaining on his agreement with the club.

The executive president says they missed all three objectives this season so have decided they need a change.