All our players registered wins in their off-season leagues over the weekend. Let's look at their performances as they prepare for the upcoming NBL24 season.
3-0 Lead for Creek and the Mets
Mitch Creek and his side Mets de Guaynabo have started their finals campaign in the BSN League.
They hold a commanding lead in the series at 3-0 over Captianes de Arecibo in a best-of-seven series and will be hopeful for a clean sweep in the first stage of their playoffs. They could advance to the next stage of finals if they take out Game 4 tomorrow morning.
Creek has continued his dominance in Puerto Rico, averaging 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals across the three games. He was named best player in Game 1, where he recorded 28 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
All Mets games can be watched via their YouTube channel.
<html><head></head><body><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct5pnS5OO7f/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct5pnS5OO7f/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct5pnS5OO7f/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Mitchell Creek (@mitchellcreek55)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></body></html>
Offensive Punch
Back home in NBL1 South, Ben Ayre and his Sandringham Sabres recorded their eighth win in a row against the Ringwood Hawks with a 23-point victory on Saturday. Ayre was everywhere during the big win as he logged seven rebounds, seven assists and hit the scoreboard with 26 points.
Across the Tasman Sea in New Zealand, Reuben Te Rangi's Auckland Tuatara continued to get the chocolates, scoring their eighth win in a row. A 34-point win over the Nelson Giants on Saturday keeps them a game ahead on the NZ NBL ladder. Te Rangi continued to be an option offensively with 16 points and helped with four assists in the W.
Austin Rapp's Knox Raiders climb to the first position on the NBL1 South ladder with a big 36-point win over the Eltham Wildcats. Coming off the bench, Rapp was instrumental with 14 points as he continues to make the most of his opportunities and provide good minutes on court.
<html><head></head><body><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en">Reuben Te Rangi takes it to the cup for ??<br><br>The Tuatara are up 50-32 at the break.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SalsNBL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SalsNBL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/skysportnz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@skysportnz</a> <a href="https://t.co/J0GP4DJHZC">pic.twitter.com/J0GP4DJHZC</a></p>— Sal’s NBL (@nznbl) <a href="https://twitter.com/nznbl/status/1672482911185154049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></body></html>
Deadly at Both Ends
Heading West in NBL1 with Willetton Tigers, Gorjok Gak continues to build up his double-double tally, recording his eleventh on Saturday against the Goldfield Giants. He scored 20 points and 12 rebounds in the 10-point comeback win.
The Tigers scored 34-16 in the final term after trailing 82-90 at the end of the third. Gak continues to work hard around the rim in defence, with 10 of his 12 rebounds coming from defensive boards, while continuing to help his teammates at the other end of the floor, providing seven assists for the game.
(Gak in Saturday's win with a dunk. Photo: Travis Anderson)
Across the country in NBL1 North, Matt Kenyon and USC Rip City finished the weekend at 1-1. On Saturday, in their 20-point win over the North Gold Coast Seahawks, Kenyon dominated the glass with nine rebounds, seven of those being defensive boards. The defensive beast also chipped in with one block and two steals.
Back on the court Sunday against the Brisbane Capitals, Rip City led at the first break 31-19 before Brisbane fought back to keep the game close. Ultimately, in the end, Brisbane took the game by two points.
Kenyon resumed his defensive form notching up his eighth double-double for the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds. He was also influential in setting his teammates up with nine assists for the game, just one dime away from a triple-double.
(Kenyon had a big defensive performance over the weekend with Rip City. Photo: Matthew Welch / MOW Foto)
OT Win
Back in New Zealand, Anzac Rissetto and the Taranaki Airs had a fightback overtime win against NBL23 Phoenix Player Grant Anticevich's Southland Sharks.
The Airs were down for most of the game, with the margin being as high as 12 points in the second quarter, but that did not deter them from remaining on the Sharks' tail in the second half, and they managed to claw back and send the game into overtime.
The Airs eventually came through with an impressive four-point win and recorded their first back-to-back victories for the season, with Rissetto continuing his growth as a centre with 12 points and eight rebounds.
<html><head></head><body><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en">Anzac Rissetto dumps it in???<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SalsNBL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SalsNBL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/skysportnz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@skysportnz</a> <a href="https://t.co/ueVLZ4ymk5">pic.twitter.com/ueVLZ4ymk5</a></p>— Sal’s NBL (@nznbl) <a href="https://twitter.com/nznbl/status/1672856568185126913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></body></html>
The Results
Mitch Creek
Mets de Guaynabo 96-82 Captianes de Arecibo
Creek: 28 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals.
Mets de Guyanabo 93-77 Capitanes de Arecibo
Creek: 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists.
Mets de Guyanabo 111-96 Capitanes de Arecibo
Creek: 25 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 steal.
Reuben Te Rangi
Auckland Tuatara 104-70 Nelson Giants
Te Rangi: 16 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal.
Ben Ayre
Sandringham Sabres 110-87 Ringwood Hawks
Ayre: 26 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals.
Austin Rapp
Knox Raiders 103-67 Eltham Wildcats
Rapp: 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists.
Gorjok Gak
Willetton Tigers 116-106 Goldfield Giants
Gak: 20 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists.
Matt Kenyon
USC Rip City 101-81 North Gold Coast Seahawks
Kenyon: 6 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.
USC Rip City 98-100 Brisbane Capitals
Kenyon: 19 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal.
Anzac Rissetto
Taranaki Airs 94-90 Southland Sharks
Rissetto: 12 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal.
Check back next week to see how Phoenix's contracted players are going locally and internationally.
NBL24 Memberships on Sale Now
Phoenix Media (26/06/23)
