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 international guard
Tai Webster (193-1995, college:
Nebraska, currently plays in Turkey). He led
Socar Petkim to a victory against one of league's weakest teams Merkezefendi (0-1)
79-70 in the Turkish BSL in Saturday night's game.
Webster recorded 14 points in a mere 16 minutes on the court. It was his first game for Socar Petkim this season; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. His team is placed fifth in the BSL.
Former Advice First Waikato Pistons starter played for the New Zealand senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international power forward
Finn Delany (200-1995, college:
SW Baptist, currently plays in Germany). Delany contributed to an easy victory against the tenth-ranked s Oliver Baskets (1-1) crushing them
96-71 in the German BBL last Saturday.
He recorded 12 points. It was his first game for Telekom Baskets this season.
His team is placed fourth in the BBL.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Delany has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Irish.
He played for the New Zealand national team in 22.
#3. The New Zealand player who performed third best last week abroad was former international center
Yannick Wetzell (206-1996, college:
SDSU, currently plays in Germany). Wetzell managed to help ALBA Berlin in a victory against the 16th-ranked Brose Bamberg (0-2)
90-80 in the German BBL on Sunday night.
He recorded only 3 points and added 3 assists in 17 minutes. It was his first game for ALBA Berlin this season.
His team is placed first in the BBL.
Wetzell played for the New Zealand national team year ago.
#4. Small forward
Takiula Fahrensohn (201-1999, agency:
Haylett Sports, college:
Portland, currently plays in Germany) led
Science City Jena to a victory over the 16th-ranked Uni Baskets (0-1) crushing them
86-60 in the German ProA (second division) in Friday night's game.
He was MVP of the game. Fahrensohn recorded a double-double by scoring 19 points and getting 10 rebounds. It was his first game for Science City Jena this season; not bad, considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. His team is placed fifth in the ProA.
Fahrensohn is another player who holds two passports: New Zealand and German.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 22.
#5. Former international power forward
Isaac Fotu (203-1993, college:
Hawaii, currently plays in Japan) could not help
Tochigi Brex (0-2) in their last game. Despite Fotu's good performance the eighth-placed Tochigi Brex (0-2) lost
70-85 on the road to the higher-ranked (#5) Ryukyu GK in the East group.
He scored 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 30 minutes.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
This year Fotu averages: 10.0ppg and 5.0rpg in two games he played so far.
He has both Tongan and New Zealand nationalities.
Fotu used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
#6. Guard
Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa (188-1996, agency:
BIG, college:
Sacramento St., currently plays in Australia) was the major contributor in a
New Zealand Breakers' victory against the league outsider JackJumpers (0-3)
71-65 in the Australian NBL on Friday night.
He scored 16 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
New Zealand Breakers (1-1) are placed sixth in the NBL.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Mauriohooho-Le'afa has relatively good stats this season: 14.5ppg, 3.0rpg and 2.0apg.
He is a former international player as he played for the New Zealand senior team year ago.
#7. Former international forward
Robert Loe (211-1991, college:
St.Louis, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa. But that was another game of his team in Australian NBL which we would like to mention.
Loe was not able to help
New Zealand Breakers (1-1) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his good performance New Zealand Breakers were defeated
101-97 in Melbourne by the second-ranked United.
Loe recorded 12 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
Loe's overall stats this season are: 9.5ppg and 5.5rpg.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
#8. An experienced guard
Corey Webster (188-1988, college:
Lambuth, currently plays in Australia) contributed to a
Perth Wildcats' victory against one of league's weakest teams Bullets (0-1)
87-73 in the Australian NBL on Sunday night.
Webster recorded 11 points in 22 minutes. It was his first game for Perth Wildcats this season.
His team are placed in the NBL.
Webster used to play for the New Zealand national team
back in 22.
#9. Former international forward
Thomas Vodanovich (201-1994, college:
JMU, currently plays in Australia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa. He played also in the last Australian NBL game facing Robert Loe (above) in the other team.
Vodanovich was not able to secure a victory for
New Zealand Breakers (1-1) in their game against United (1-0).
He recorded only 4 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
New Zealand Breakers were defeated
101-97 in Melbourne by the second-ranked United.
Vodanovich's overall stats this season are: 5.0ppg and 3.5rpg.
He used to play for the New Zealand national team
years ago.
#10. Forward
Samuel Waardenburg (208-1999, college:
Miami, FL, currently plays in Australia) helped
Cairns Taipans win their game against the league outsider JackJumpers (0-3) crushing them
106-84 in the Australian NBL last Monday.
Waardenburg recorded 6 points in 19 minutes. It was his first game for Cairns Taipans this season.
His team are placed first in the NBL.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Waardenburg is a former U19 international player as years ago he still played for the New Zealand national team.
#11. Former U19 international forward
Matt Freeman (207-1997, college:
UCSB, currently plays in Germany) helped
Eisbaeren Bremerhaven win their game against the 12th-ranked 46ers crushing them
98-60 in the German ProA (second division) on Saturday night.
He recorded only 3 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. It was his first game for Eisbaeren Bremerhaven this season.
Freeman used to play for the New Zealand U19 national team
years ago.
One more player who has never been selected to any of national teams, but has New Zealand passport: #1. Experienced
Aron Baynes (208-C-1986, college:
WSU, currently plays in Australia) could not help
Bullets (0-1) in their last game. Despite Baynes' good performance Bullets lost
73-87 on the road to the higher-ranked (#3) Perth Wildcats.
He recorded 11 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 25 minutes. It was his first game for Bullets this season.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Baynes has a dual citizenship: New Zealand and Australian.
