Four For Efevberha
Tagged in: NBL
Leading scorer of the NZCT National Basketball League Mike Efevberha secured the last player of the week of the regular season helping his Century City Saints to a come from behind victory over the Appliance Shed Harbour Heat
Efevberha had the stat line of 32 points (12/19 FG, 5/10 3pt), 7 rebounds, 5 steals and 5 blocks in the 84-80 win over the Heat.
This is the fourth time Efevberha has won POW honors winning it in rounds one, five, 12 and 14. Efevberha won the regular season scoring title averaging 27.8 points per game just beating McDonalds Manawatu Jets import Marcel Jones (27.3) and Harbour Heat rookie Corey Webster (26.1). He also finished the regular season 8th in blocks (1 per game) and fourth in steals (2.2).
Jets Jones finished his season strong tallying 31 points, 11 rebounds and 4 steals in the 110-90 win over the Dynamos. That also meant Jones finished on top of the cumulative player power rankings just edging out Efevberha.
Playoff action begins tonight when Efevberha and his Century City Saints host the 0800 LPG Bay Hawks at TSB Bank Arena, 7pm Live on Sky Sport 3.
Eventhough the Saints swept the regular season against the Hawks it was only by a combined margin of two points. In Round 13 the Hawks were without their leading scorer Chuck Bailey when the Saints won 85-84 .
Bench will play a critical role in the match with both the Hawks (24.7) and Saints (22.6) first and second respectively in the league in bench scoring. Hawks are currently are on a two game winning streak thanks to point guard Jeremy Kench who has provided a spark off the bench averaging nearly 20 points in those games.
Hawks will need to find a way to contain Efevberha who in the two games they have played against each other he has averaged 31.5 points.
Saints come into the game with a six game home winning streak with their last loss at home on April 4 against the Christchurch Cougars. The Saints should feel comfortable at the TSB Arena where in the last two seasons have a 15-2 win loss record (88%).
NBL Quarterfinals
Tuesday, June 16
At TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Century City Saints v 0800 Easy LPG Bay Hawks, 7pm
Live on Sky Sport 3
Referees - Andy Thackray, Tim Brown, Raewyn Willocks
2009 NZCT NBL League Stats (Regular Season) (248 KB pdf)
2009 NZCT NBL Team Stats (Regular Season) (616 KB pdf)
NZCT NBL Top 50 Player Power Rankings (Regular Season) (20 KB pdf)
