POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
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 former U19 international guard
Joe Cook-Green (185-97, college:
TxWes, currently plays in Australia). He could not help
Suns (4-12) in their last game. Despite Cook-Green's very good performance the 11th-placed Suns (4-12) lost
101-113 on the road to the much higher-ranked (#4) Redbacks in the NBL1 West group.
He was the top scorer with 43 points in 39 minutes on the court; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Cook-Green's second season in pro basketball. It was Suns' fifth consecutive loss in a row.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
It's Cook-Green's first year with the team.
He has individually a very good season with high stats. Cook-Green averages: 27.8ppg, 6.0rpg, 4.3apg, 2FGP: 55.1%(27-49), 3FGP: 58.3%(14-24) and FT: 65.2% in four games he played so far.
He played for the New Zealand U19 national team six years ago.
#2. Second place goes to an international swingman
Reuben Te Rangi (198-94, currently plays in Australia). Te Rangi led
Knox Raiders to a victory over the 17th-ranked Tigers (2-12) crushing them
124-75 in the Australian State League (second division) last Saturday.
He was MVP of the game. Te Rangi recorded 20 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
in group NBL1 South. Knox Raiders (10-2) are placed third.
It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
It's Te Rangi's first season with the team.
He has relatively good stats this year: 13.5ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.7apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 76.9%(20-26) and FT: 56.0%.
Te Rangi played for the New Zealand national team in 2020.
#3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was an international guard
Shea Ili (184-92, currently plays in Australia). He was the major contributor in a
Geelong Supercats' victory against the eighth-ranked Bendigo Braves (8-7)
90-80 in the Australian State League (second division) on Saturday night.
Ili recorded 16 points and added 4 passes in 29 minutes.
in group NBL1 South. Geelong Supercats (9-6) are placed sixth.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important.
Ili has very impressive stats this year: 15.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.0apg, 2.0spg, 2FGP: 56.0%(14-25), 3FGP: 23.1% and FT: 76.9% in three games.
He played for the New Zealand national team one years ago.
#4. Forward
Mitchell Newton (199-95, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help
Wanneroo in their game against Tigers (11-5) in the Australian State League (second division).
Newton recorded 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
But Wanneroo were edged
74-73 in Willetton by the lower-ranked Tigers (#5) in the NBL1 West group.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be extremely important.
Newton's overall stats this season are: 5.0ppg and 3.0rpg.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 2015.
#5. Former U18 international forward
Sioeli Vaiangina (202-98, college:
Panola JC, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Mitchell Newton and both played together in the last Australian State League game.
Vaiangina was not able to secure a victory for
Wanneroo (12-3) in their game against Tigers (11-5). He cannot count it as his best performance.
Vaiangina recorded only 2 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 21 minutes.
Wanneroo were edged
74-73 in Willetton by the lower-ranked (#5) Tigers in the NBL1 West group.
This year Vaiangina's overall stats are: 9.9ppg and 5.8rpg in 18 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand U18 national team
seven years ago.
#6. Guard
Ezra Nikora (183-91, currently plays in Australia) faced previously mentioned Joe Cook-Green in the Australian State League last game.
Nikora managed to help Perth Redbacks to win against the 13th-ranked Suns (4-15)
113-101.
He recorded only 3 points.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season.
Nikora's total stats this season are: 1.4ppg, 1.1rpg and 1.3apg.
He is a former international player as he played for the New Zealand senior team eight years ago.
The list of other players, who all have New Zealand passport but never been selected to any of New Zealand national teams: #1. Javaan Mumtaz (193-G, college:
ENMU, currently plays in Australia). Mumtaz could not help
Bendigo Braves (8-7) to beat Geelong Supercats (9-6).
He recorded 8 points in 24 minutes.
Bendigo Braves (#8) lost
80-90 on the road to the higher-ranked (#6) Geelong Supercats in the NBL1 South group.
This year Mumtaz has relatively solid stats: 10.4ppg, 1.9rpg and 1.4apg in 14 games he played so far.
#2. Brandon Watkins (198-F, college:
Mars Hill, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help
Devils (8-5) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Devils (#4) were crushed
107-66 in Tullamarine by the second-ranked Hume City Broncos in the Big V group.
Watkins recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 10 rebounds.
The Regular Season already ended.
Watkins' overall stats this season are: 8.3ppg, 6.2rpg and 1.2apg.
#3. Xavier Shaw (203-PF-92, college:
MSU-Northern, currently plays in Australia) managed to help Mandurah Magic in a victory against the second-ranked Lightning (15-4)
94-78 in the Australian State League (second division) on Friday night.
Shaw recorded only 4 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks in 11 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group NBL1 West. Mandurah Magic (9-8) is placed .
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season.
This year Shaw's total stats are: 7.9ppg, 4.1rpg and 1.3apg in 18 games.
