Here is the weekly review of the top performing New Zealand players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is former international guard
Shea Ili (184-1992, currently plays in Australia). He led
Sabres to a victory over the second-ranked Mount Gambier Pioneers (11-4)
92-79 in the Australian State League (second division) last Sunday.
Ili was MVP of the game. He scored 30 points (!!!).
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams. Sandringham Sabres (10-5) are placed third in NBL1 South group.
It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row.
Ili has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 24.0ppg, 5.8rpg, 5.6apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 54.2%, 3FGP: 37.3% and FT: 80.4%.
Ili played for the New Zealand senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international swingman
Reuben Te Rangi (198-1994, currently plays in Australia). He was the main contributor in a
Knox Raiders' victory against the 13th-ranked NW Tasmania Thunder (7-9)
69-50 in the Australian State League (second division) on Friday night.
Te Rangi was the best player in that game. He scored 16 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Knox Raiders (9-7) are placed sixth in NBL1 South group.
Te Rangi has relatively good stats this year: 11.2ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.9apg, 2FGP: 48.6%, 3FGP: 30.9% in 12 games he played so far.
He played for the New Zealand national team in 20.
#3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was former international swingman
Mitchell Dance (192-2001, currently plays in Australia). Dance could not help
Eltham Wildcats (5-10) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his very good performance the 15th-placed Eltham Wildcats (5-10) were defeated
74-70 on the road by the much higher-ranked Waverley Falcons (#7) in the NBL1 South group.
Dance scored 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.
This season Dance has very high stats. He averages: 18.8ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.2apg, 2FGP: 46.8% and FT: 60.3%.
Dance played for the New Zealand national team year ago.
#4. An experienced swingman
Zac Carter (203-1989, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help
South West Metro Pirates (4-8) in their last game. Despite his good performance South West Metro Pirates (#13) were crushed
102-78 in Brisbane by the lower-ranked (#14) Roar in the NBL1 North group.
Carter was the second best scorer with 14 points. He also added 6 rebounds in 31 minutes.
It was South West Metro Pirates' third consecutive loss in a row.
This year Carter has relatively solid stats: 11.2ppg, 8.5rpg and 1.2apg in 11 games.
He has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian.
Carter used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 21.
#5. Former U18 international forward
Sioeli Vaiangina (202-1998, college:
Panola JC, currently plays in Australia) contributed to a 3-point
Wanneroo's victory against the ninth-ranked Redbacks (8-9)
87-84 in the Australian State League (second division) in Friday night's game.
He scored 9 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 26 minutes.
Joondalup City Wanneroo Wolves (15-0) are placed first in NBL1 West group.
So far his team won all fifteen games in the Regular Season.
This year Vaiangina's overall stats are: 8.8ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.2apg and 1.3bpg in 16 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand U18 national team
years ago.
#6. Forward
Jonathan Janssen (205-1995, college:
HPU, currently plays in Australia) was not able to secure a victory for
Phoenix (7-7) in their game against Brisbane Capitals (7-7) in the Australian State League (second division). Despite his very good performance last Saturday Janssen recorded 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
This season Janssen has very high stats. He averages: 15.9ppg, 9.4rpg, 1.9apg and 1.2bpg.
Janssen is a former international player as he played for the New Zealand senior team year ago.
#7. Former international swingman
Dion Prewster (195-1990, agency:
BIG, college:
SF Austin, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Shea Ili and both played together in the last Australian State League game.
Prewster contributed to
Sabres' victory against the second-ranked Mount Gambier Pioneers (11-4)
92-79.
He scored 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
Prewster has reliable stats this season: 14.8ppg, 6.0rpg and 1.9apg.
He is a naturalized American.
Prewster used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
He played also for Wellington Exodus Saints in New Zealand league.
#8. Guard
Joshua Bloxham (186-1990, 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.
Bloxham contributed to a 3-point
Wanneroo's victory against the third-ranked Flames (13-5)
91-88.
He scored 6 points and added 3 assists in 20 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams. Joondalup City Wanneroo Wolves (15-0) are placed first in NBL1 West group.
So far his team won all fifteen games in the Regular Season.
This year Bloxham's total stats are: 2.5ppg, 2.3rpg and 1.3apg in 11 games.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 15.
The list of other players, who all have New Zealand passport but never been selected to any of New Zealand national teams: #1. Taine Wattie (190-G-1998, currently plays in Australia) could not help
Townsville Heat (5-9) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the 12th-placed Townsville Heat (5-9) lost
97-103 on the road to the lower-ranked (#15) Seahawks in the NBL1 North group.
Wattie scored 22 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 36 minutes.
Wattie has relatively good stats this year: 14.7ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.6apg and 1.9spg in 13 games he played so far.
#2. Javaan Mumtaz (193-G, college:
ENMU, currently plays in Australia) was not able to help
Northside Wizards (12-2) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Northside Wizards were defeated
93-86 in Gold Coast by the leading Rollers in the NBL1 North group.
Mumtaz recorded 14 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists.
Mumtaz's overall stats this season are: 8.3ppg, 3.1rpg and 2.8apg.
#3. Mason Bragg (182-G-1993, currently plays in Australia) was not able to secure a victory for
Phoenix (7-7) in their game against Brisbane Capitals (7-7) in the Australian State League (second division), despite his very good performance on Saturday night.
He recorded 15 points, 7 assists and 3 steals in 37 minutes.
But Phoenix (#10) lost
87-100 in Brisbane to the higher-ranked (#9) Capitals in the NBL1 North group.
It was Phoenix's third consecutive loss in a row.
Bragg has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 17.0ppg, 4.6rpg, 5.8apg and 2.1spg in 14 games.
#4. Experienced
Kazlo Evans (187-G-1980, currently plays in Australia) contributed to an easy victory against the ninth-ranked Central District Lions (3-11)
84-68 in the Australian State League (second division) on Saturday night.
Evans recorded 9 points and added 3 passes.
South Adelaide Panthers (11-3) are placed second in NBL1 Central group.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
Evans has averaged so far 2.9ppg, 2.4rpg and 2.6apg.
#5. Xavier Shaw (203-PF-1992, college:
MSU-Northern, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Suns (2-11) in their game against Eagles (3-13) in the Australian State League (second division).
He recorded only 4 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 16 minutes.
Suns (#12) were crushed
103-72 in Morley by the higher-ranked (#11) Eagles in the NBL1 West group.
Shaw has averaged so far 8.0ppg and 6.8rpg in 16 games.
#6. Tiri Masunda (185-PG-1989, currently plays in Australia) managed to help NW Tasmania Thunder to win against the tenth-ranked Ringwood Hawks
90-81 in the Australian State League (second division) last Sunday.
He scored only 3 points.
Masunda has averaged so far 4.3ppg, 1.3rpg and 1.8apg.
#7. Matthew Wilson (200-F-1992, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Brisbane Spartans in their game against Rockets in the Australian State League (second division). He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
Wilson recorded only one point in 6 minutes on the court.
His team were crushed by 21 points
118-97.
This year Wilson averages only 2.4ppg in eight games.
#8. Dylan Ryburn (185-G, college:
Southeast CC, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help
Vikings in their game against Steelers in the Australian State League (second division). He cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones.
Ryburn scored only 2 points.
His team were badly defeated by 16 points
77-61.
This season Ryburn averages just 3.1ppg.
