Off-Season Player Wrap Week 9

It’s that time again to check in with how our players performed over the weekend internationally and locally as they prepare for NBL24.

A fan favourite returned from injury over the weekend, while others across the board provided some big numbers for their sides.

Mitch Creek – Mets de Guaynabo – BSN League

Mitch Creek returned to the court over the weekend for the Mets de Guaynabo after missing some games due a minor shoulder injury. Creek didn’t miss a beat in his return, producing some big stats in back-to-back games.

The Mets claimed two wins over the weekend, adding to their four game winning streak and climbing to second on the Group B ladder with 16 wins and 12 losses.

Creek scored 22 points in the seven-point victory over Cangrejeros on Saturday and Sunday he was named player of the match in the win over Vaqueros de Bayamon with 19 points and nine rebounds game.

Mets 100-93 Cangrejeros
Creek: 22 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists.

Mets 92-85 Vaqueros de Bayamon
Creek: 19 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists.

Creek and the Mets take on Vaqueros de Bayamon again tomorrow morning.

Watch all Mets de Guaynabo games via their YouTube Channel.

Reuben Te Rangi – Auckland Tuatara – NZ NBL

Reuben Te Rangi and Auckland continued their winning streak with a six-point win over Manawatu Jets.

Te Rangi was best on court with a 30-point performance, going 9/17 from the field and 4/10 from the three line, while also collecting nine MVP votes for this game.

Auckland 104-98 Manawatu Jets
Te Rangi: 30 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal.

Auckland and Te Rangi return to the floor on Saturday to take on Manawatu Jets again.

Gorjok Gak – Willetton Tigers – NBL1 West

Gorjok Gak and the Willetton Tigers also continued their winning ways with a two-point victory over Warwick Senators.

Gak tallied his ninth double-double for the season with 24 points and 12 rebounds, as he went 73.33% from the field. The close win sees the Tigers jump from fourth to second on the NBL1 West ladder as they head towards the pointy end of the season.

Tigers 111-109 Warwick Senators
Gak: 24 points, 12 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block.

The Tigers and Gak return to court on Friday night to take on the Eastern Suns and continue to fight towards top of the ladder.

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Owen Foxwell – Eltham Wildcats – NBL1 South 

Owen Foxwell and Eltham went 1-1 this weekend against Tasmanian teams in the Apple Isle.

Eltham took home the 17-point win over the  Hobart Chargers on Friday night, with Foxwell scoring 12 points.

In Saturday’s game against NW Tasmania, the Wildcats fell short losing by eight points.

Despite the loss, Foxwell jumped back from a quiet game to score a game-high 33 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Eltham 87-70 Hobart Chargers
Foxwell: 12 points, 1 rebounds, 4 assists.

Eltham 86-94 NW Tasmania
Foxwell: 33 points, 6 assists, 7 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks.

Eltham remain top of the ladder in NBL1 South and return to the court on Saturday to take on the Casey Cavaliers.

(Foxwell and the Wildcats returned home from Tasmania with 1 win and 1 loss. Photos: Left- Travis Palmieri, Right-Miss Therese)

Matt Kenyon – USC Rip City – NBL1 North

After a week off, Matt Kenyon returned to the court with the USC Rip City to take on the Darwin Salties in Darwin.

It was a high-scoring affair but unfortunately, Darwin took the win by 12 points. Kenyon had a quiet return with 12 points for the game.

Rip City 101-113 Darwin Salties
Kenyon: 12 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals.

Rip City and Kenyon look to bounce back against the Gold Coast Rollers this Sunday.

Anzac Rissetto – Taranaki Airs – NZ NBL

Anzac Rissetto and the Taranaki Airs took it up to ex-Phoenix assistant coach, Judd Flavell’s Canterbury Rams but in the end were overrun, going down by 29 points.

Despite the loss, Rissetto bounced back after a quiet game the round before with a team-high 17 points and seven rebounds, earning himself seven votes towards the MVP count.

Airs 74-103 Canterbury Rams
Rissetto: 17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block.

The Airs and Rissetto look to get back on the winner’s list on Monday when they take on the Wellington Saints.

That’s it for this week’s weekly wrap, check back next week to see how Phoenix’s contracted players are going locally and internationally.

Phoenix Media (23/05/23)