We bring you last week's top performances from New Zealanders who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.
#1. This week's number one is an international guard
Shea Ili (184-92, currently plays in Australia). He could not help
Geelong Supercats (8-5) in their last game. Despite Ili's very good performance the sixth-placed Geelong Supercats (8-5) lost
90-96 on the road to the higher-ranked (#4) Mount Gambier Pioneers in the NBL1 South group.
He was the second best scorer with 21 points. Ili also added 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 33 minutes on the court. It was his first game for Geelong Supercats this season.
Ili played for the New Zealand senior national team one years ago.
#2. Second place goes to former U18 international forward
Sioeli Vaiangina (202-98, college:
Panola JC, currently plays in Australia). He was not able to help
Wanneroo (8-3) in their last game on Friday. Despite Vaiangina's good performance Wanneroo were badly defeated
98-81 in Northbridge by the lower-ranked Redbacks (#4) in the NBL1 West group.
He recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting the same number of rebounds.
Vaiangina has relatively good stats this season: 10.4ppg, 6.1rpg, 2FGP: 56.4%(53-94), 3FGP: 18.2% and FT: 53.1%.
He played for the New Zealand U18 national team in 2014.
#3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was an international swingman
Reuben Te Rangi (198-94, currently plays in Australia). He was not able to secure a victory for
Knox Raiders (10-1) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Te Rangi's good performance Knox Raiders (#2) were defeated
83-77 in Wendouree by the much lower-ranked Ballarat Miners (#9) in the NBL1 South group.
He was the second best scorer with 12 points. Te Rangi also added 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
This season Te Rangi has relatively solid stats: 12.2ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.8apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 73.7%(14-19), 3FGP: 25.0% and FT: 52.2%.
He played for the New Zealand national team one years ago.
#4. Center
Mike Karena (210-93, college:
Wright St., currently plays in Australia) led
NW Tasmania Thunder to a victory over the 15th-ranked Dandenong Rangers (3-8)
77-71 in the Australian State League (second division) last Saturday.
Karena was MVP of the game. He had a double-double by scoring 25 points and getting 10 rebounds in 28 minutes.
in group NBL1 South. NW Tasmania Thunder (11-3) is placed second.
Karena has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 15.5ppg and 5.3rpg in four games he played so far.
Karena used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 2016.
#5. An experienced international swingman
Mitchell Dance (192-1, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Bandits (4-10) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Bandits (#14) were badly defeated
107-90 in Hobart by the leading Huskies in the NBL1 South group.
Dance recorded 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 23 minutes.
Dance has very impressive stats this year: 20.8ppg, 6.1rpg and 1.1apg in 14 games.
He plays currently for the New Zealand national team.
#6. Guard
Zane Meehl (188-86, college:
Mid-Continent, currently plays in Australia) was the major contributor in
Phoenix's victory against the leader Thunder (9-1)
74-67 in the Australian State League (second division) on Saturday night.
He recorded 14 points and added 3 assists in 33 minutes.
in group NBL1 North. Sunshine Coast Phoenix (6-4) is placed fifth.
This year Meehl's overall stats are: 8.8ppg, 2.9rpg and 3.1apg in eight games.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior New Zealand National Team roster.
#7. International swingman
Zac Carter (203-89, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Brisbane Capitals (6-5) in their game against Mackay Meteors (8-2) in the Australian State League (second division).
Carter recorded 6 points.
Brisbane Capitals (#4) were crushed
92-60 in Mackay by the second-ranked Meteors in the NBL1 North group.
It's Carter's seventh season with the team.
His total stats this year are: 7.6ppg, 5.1rpg and 1.5apg.
Carter is also New Zealand national team player.
#8. Center
Tane Kirisome (206-3, currently plays in Australia) managed to help Logan Thunder in a victory against the fifth-ranked Rip City (5-4) crushing them
78-55 in the Australian State League (second division) in Friday night's game.
He recorded only 3 points in 7 minutes on the court.
in group NBL1 North. Logan Thunder (9-1) is placed first.
It was his team's ninth consecutive victory in a row.
This year Kirisome averages just 2.6ppg in 10 games.
He plays currently for the New Zealand national team.
#9. Former international forward
Mitchell Newton (199-95, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Sioeli Vaiangina. But that was another game of his team in Australian State League which we would like to mention.
Newton couldn't help
Wanneroo (8-3) in their game against Magic (8-6). He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
Newton recorded only 2 points.
Wanneroo were defeated
90-81 in Mandurah by the lower-ranked Magic (#6) in the NBL1 West group.
This season Newton averages just 1.0ppg.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
six years ago.
#10. Guard
Ezra Nikora (183-91, currently plays in Australia) contributed to an easy victory against the third-ranked Tigers (10-2) crushing them
84-62 in the Australian State League (second division) in Saturday night's game.
He recorded only 2 points.
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group NBL1 West. Perth Redbacks (12-6) are placed .
Nikora's total stats this season are: 1.4ppg, 1.3rpg and 1.5apg.
He is a former international player as eight years ago he still played for the New Zealand senior national team.
The list of other players, who all have New Zealand passport but never been selected to any of New Zealand national teams: #1. Mason Bragg (182-G-93, currently plays in Australia) was the major contributor in a
NW Tasmania Thunder's victory against the 17th-ranked Tigers (2-11)
100-96 in the Australian State League (second division) on Sunday night.
Bragg had a double-double by scoring 24 points and getting 10 rebounds. He also added 7 assists in 33 minutes.
in group NBL1 South. NW Tasmania Thunder (11-3) is placed second.
This year Bragg averages: 8.5ppg, 4.8rpg, 5.3apg and 1.7spg in 14 games he played so far.
#2. Taine Wattie (190-G-98, currently plays in Australia) could not help
Buccaneers (3-10) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Buccaneers (#12) were badly defeated
91-73 on the road by the much higher-ranked Flames (#5) in the NBL1 West group.
Wattie recorded 14 points.
Wattie has reliable stats this season: 11.3ppg, 1.9rpg and 1.6apg.
#3. Dion Collins (203-F, college:
CSC, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help
Giants in their game against Lightning (11-2) in the Australian State League (second division). Despite his very good performance last Saturday Collins recorded a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting 11 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks.
Collins' overall stats this season are: 6.8ppg and 4.5rpg.
#4. Javaan Mumtaz (193-G, college:
ENMU, currently plays in Australia) managed to help Bendigo Braves in a victory against the 11th-ranked Spectres (6-7)
78-69 in the Australian State League (second division) last Saturday.
He recorded 5 points in 15 minutes.
in group NBL1 South. Bendigo Braves (7-6) are placed eighth.
Mumtaz has reliable stats this year: 11.3ppg, 1.9rpg and 1.4apg in 12 games.
#5. Xavier Shaw (203-PF-92, college:
MSU-Northern, currently plays in Australia) contributed to
Magic's victory against the eighth-ranked Wanneroo (7-7)
90-81 in the Australian State League (second division) on Saturday night.
He recorded 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
in group NBL1 West. Mandurah Magic (9-8) is placed .
Shaw's total stats this season are: 8.4ppg, 4.1rpg and 1.6apg.
#6. Matthew Wilson (200-F-92, currently plays in Australia) was not able to secure a victory for
Brisbane Spartans in their game against Mackay Meteors in the Australian State League (second division). Wilson cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
He recorded only 2 points in 11 minutes.
His team were badly defeated by 19 points
99-80.
This year Wilson's total stats are: 4.6ppg and 2.0rpg in 10 games.
#7. Experienced
Zeke Meehl (181-G-88, currently plays in Australia) contributed to
Phoenix's victory against the leader Thunder
74-67 in the Australian State League (second division) last Saturday.
Meehl recorded only 2 points in 10 minutes.
This year Meehl averages just 3.2ppg in nine games.
He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian.
