NZL - Favourites take early lead
WAIKATO (NZNBL) - Pre season playoff favourites the Waikato Pistons and Harbour Heat, both 3-0, have established an early lead after three rounds of the New Zealand National Basketball League season, with the equally fancied Nelson Giants (3-1) close behind. In week three of the season, it was a case of past and future international stars putting on a ...
WAIKATO (NZNBL) - Pre season playoff favourites the Waikato Pistons and Harbour Heat, both 3-0, have established an early lead after three rounds of the New Zealand National Basketball League season, with the equally fancied Nelson Giants (3-1) close behind.
In week three of the season, it was a case of past and future international stars putting on a show, with veteran Australian Olympian Tony Ronaldson scoring 28 points as Waikato defeated the Christchurch Cougars, 104-74.
Emerging New Zealand Tall Blacks guard Corey Webster showed his potential with 25 points, 6 assists and 6 steals to lead the Heat to a 115-95 win over the Wellington Saints. Webster received great support from soon-to-be naturalised New Zealander Rick Rickert, who tallied 22 points and 22 rebounds.
Other standout performances included 30 points from Taranaki import Jack Leasure and 28 points from Otago import Antoine Tisby.
In week 2, Nelson and Wellington showcased the best of NZNBL basketball, with 29 points from Kiwi legend Phill Jones enough to secure a 92-86 win for Nelson. Highly respected and well travelled import Erron Maxey - who won Best Sixth Man honours in the Oceania NBL - scored 25 points for Wellington.
The performance of the round came from Tall Blacks starting small forward Thomas Abercrombie, who racked up 37 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks to lead Waikato to an easy 96-78 win over Taranaki, who received 23 points and 9 rebounds from Tall Blacks squad member Jeremiah Trueman.
A Waikato player also had the performance of the week in the season opener, with new import Eric Devendorff from Syracuse nailing an incredible 49 points as the Pistons defeated Nelson 92-73.
The Giants bounced back the next night in the game of the round, defeating Taranaki 84-82 behind 37 points from Phill Jones, who was second in scoring at the 2004 Olympic Games. New Zealand U19 representative Josh Bloxham showed he could have a professional future, nailing 15 points for Nelson.
Other standout efforts included 29 points from Southland import and former Eastern Kentucky star Mike Rose, 32 points and 19 rebounds from Antoine Tisby as Otago lost to the Heat, who received 34 points from Corey Webster.
Paulo Kennedy
FIBA