Off-Season Player Wrap

It may be the off-season in the NBL, but it doesn’t mean our players are taking it easy. All of our currently contracted players are fine tuning their skills locally or overseas in preparation for NBL24.

Our New Zealand boys got their seasons underway in the NZ NBL, while our newest recruit, Gorjok Gak has already started strongly at his NBL1 West team.

Let’s take a look at all of our players performances over the last week.

Gorjok Gak – Willetton Tigers – NBL1 West

Our newest signing, Gorjok Gak has been tearing it up in the West with the Willetton Tigers. The NB1 West had a break over the Easter, but in his first two games with the Tigers he had back-to-back double-doubles and is averaging 21 points, 1.5 assists, 12.5 rebounds, and 56.67% from the field.

Gak returns to the court to take on the Perry Lakes Hawks on Friday.

Alan Williams – Nagoya Dolphins – Japan B. League

Alan Williams and the Nagoya Dolphins have clinched finals and will play in the post-season towards B.League Championship 2022/23.

Williams was rested against the Sanen Neophoenix, before returning to play Osaka Evessa where they lost by four points, breaking their eight game winning streak.

Big Sauce helped his team bounce back in their second game against Osaka with a six point win. He was the man of the match with his fourth double-double with 21 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, and five steals.

Dolphins 76-80 Osaka Evessa
Williams: 7p, 11r, 2a, 1blk

Dolphins 87-81 Osaka Evessa
Williams: 21p, 14r, 7a, 5stls

Williams takes to the court with the Dolphins today against the Shiga Lakes.

Mitch Creek – Mets de Guaynabo – BSN

Mitch Creek and the Mets are yet to still seal another win, but Creek had his best game so far for the Mets against Vaqueros de Bayamon with a game high 32 points.

With the game on the line, Creek hit a three to send the game into overtime. Unfortunately, the opposition got the upper hand in the extra minutes. 

The Mets were close to their second win for the season against Cariduros Fajardo but sadly were overran in the final seconds of the game and going by down one point.

(Creek playing for the Mets in Pureto Rico during the off-season.)

Mets 88-89 Grises de Humacao
Creek: 19p, 1r, 1stl

Mets 91-93 Vaqueros de Bayamon
Creek: 32p, 8r, 4a, 1stl, 4blks

Mets 75-89 Gigantes de Carolina
Creek: 19p, 11r, 3a, 1stl

Mets 98-99 Cariduros Fajardo
Creek: 19p, 3r, 4a, 3stls

Creek and the Mets look to redeem their slow start when they take the floor again on Thursday against Cangrejeros.

All Mets games are streamed live on the Mets de Guaynabo YouTube channel.

Reuben Te Rangi – Auckland Tuatara – NZ NBL

The NZ NBL is underway, and Reuben Te Rangi started his season on a high with the Auckland Tuatara against the Nelson Giants on Saturday.

Teaming up with ex-teammate and Phoenix player Cam Gliddon, Te Rangi and Auckland had a five-point win over the Giants, where he notched up a game high 25 points, six rebounds, four assists, and was 60% from the field.

Auckland 91-86 Nelson Giants
Te Rangi: 25p, 6r, 4a 

Te Rangi returns to the court to play Anzac Rissetto’s Taranaki Airs on Friday.

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Anzac Rissetto – Taranaki Airs – NZ NBL

Anzac Rissetto’s growth continues as he laced up for the Taranaki Airs in the NZ NBL. Rissetto scored a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the Airs 12-point loss to the Canterbury Rams on Sunday.

Airs 82-94 Canterbury Rams
Rissetto: 18p, 10r, 2a, 1stl, 2blks

Rissetto faces off against fellow Kiwi Te Rangi and the Auckland Tuatara on Friday night.

Owen Foxwell – Eltham Wildcats – NBL1 South

Owen Foxwell’s Eltham Wildcats had a week’s rest for the Easter break and will be back on the court on April 15 to play NW Tasmania.

That’s it for this week’s wrap, check back next week to see how Phoenix’s contracted players are going in the NBL off-season.

Phoenix Media (12/04/23)