WELLINGTON (NBL) - New Zealand international Kirk Penney this week claimed the Andrew Gaze Trophy after being named Most Valuable Player of the Australian National Basketball League.

The sweet-shooting New Zealand Breakers guard garnered 92 votes to edge Sydney Spirit big man Matthew Knight (90).

He is the first New Zealander to be voted MVP.

Penney, 28, said it was a bittersweet moment when he was told of the award because his Breakers were swept 2-0 in the ANBL play-offs by Melbourne.

“We, the players and coaches, definitely had a bit of a sour taste in how we lost to the Tigers," Penney said. "We felt like we should have played better and had a chance of winning the series.

“I guess it is a little [bittersweet] because you want to win a championship, and they’re the memories that never leave you. But as a personal accolade it’s just a huge honour.”

Penney averaged 24.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 28 regular season games for the Breakers.

He made 45.6% of his shots from the floor, 37.3% from three-point territory and 80.4% at the free-throw line.

Voting for the MVP award is conducted following each regular season game by the coaching staffs of each team, with the player amassing the most votes at the end of the season being declared the winner.

ANBL Most Valuable Player

The Andrew Gaze Trophy

Final Votes
Kirk Penney (Breakers) 92
Matthew Knight (Spirit) 90
Ebi Ere (Tigers) 89
Mark Worthington (Dragons) 88
Shawn Redhage (Wildcats) 86

Previous Winners
1979 Ken Richardson (West Adelaide Bearcats)
1980 Rocky Smith (St. Kilda Saints)
1981 Mike Jones (Illawarra Hawks)
1982 Al Green (West Adelaide Bearcats)
1983 Owen Wells (Sydney Supersonics)
1984 Leroy Loggins (Brisbane Bullets)
1985 Ray Borner (Coburg Giants)
1986 Leroy Loggins (Brisbane Bullets)
1987 Mark Davis (Adelaide 36ers) &
Leroy Loggins (Brisbane Bullets)
1988 Joe Hurst (Hobart Tassie Devils)
1989 Scott Fisher (North Melbourne Giants)
1990 Derek Rucker (Brisbane Bullets)
1991 Andrew Gaze (Melbourne Tigers)
1992 Scott Fisher (North Melbourne Giants) & Andrew Gaze (Melbourne Tigers)
1993 Robert Rose (South East Melbourne Magic)
1994 Andrew Gaze (Melbourne Tigers)
1995 Andrew Gaze (Melbourne Tigers)
1996 Andrew Gaze (Melbourne Tigers)
1997 Andrew Gaze (Melbourne Tigers)
1998 Andrew Gaze (Melbourne Tigers)
1999 Steve Woodberry (Brisbane Bullets)
2000 Paul Rogers (Perth Wildcats)
2001 Robert Rose (Townsville Crocodiles)
2002 Mark Bradtke (Melbourne Tigers)
2003 Chris Williams (Sydney Kings)
2004 Matthew Nielsen (Sydney Kings)
2005 Brian Wethers (Hunter Pirates)
2006 Chris Anstey (Melbourne Tigers)
2007 Sam Mackinnon (Brisbane Bullets)
2008 Chris Anstey (Melbourne Tigers)
2009 Kirk Penney (NZ Breakers)

FIBA