22-06-07
Easy LPG Bay Hawks point guard Paul Henare has become the first player to secure four National Basketball League assist titles.
At the end of the 2007 Dominion Finance NBL regular season last weekend, Henare had again secured the Dave Taylor Trophy with the highest average of 6.4, clear of Youthtown Auckland Stars challengers Lindsay Tait (5.6) and Dillon Boucher (5.3).
The NZ Tall Black regular had previously won the title in 2001, 04 & 05, tied with Wellington Saints legend Kenny McFadden for the most seasons on top. Henareâs latest triumph edges him ahead of McFadden for outright supremacy and his 12 assists in the Hawksâ 88-86 home win over U Park It Waikato Pistons was the highest single-game tally of the season.
TET Taranaki Mountain Airs duo Garry Hill-Thomas and Link Abrams have provided that franchise with some reward for their plucky mid-table finish, taking out the scoring and rebounding titles respectively.
Hill-Thomas was injured while leading the scoring last season, but played all 18 games this year, averaged 26.2 points to head off Tait (24.0). Abrams proved unstoppable around the boards, pulling down 11.5 rebounds to beat Inspire Net Manawatu Jets import George Byrd (10.5).
Waikato won the Team Free Throw title, converting 74.6% from the charity stripe, while Appliance Shed Harbour Heat took out regular season honours with a 14-win, four-loss record.
Meanwhile, Blue Chip Nelson Giants guard Josh Pace has emerged as an early leader in fan voting for the league MVP award.
Voting closes next Monday â after the semifinals â and season awards will be announced in conjunction with the NBL finals series over June 28-30. Fan votes will be combined with those of league coaches and media in determining final results.
Early returns have also installed Hawks captain Paora Winitana as a fan favourite for Kiwi MVP, while Harbour Heatâs John Dorge heads the Coach of the Year category.
2007 Domionin Finance NBL Awards Voting Form (xls 24KB)
basketball.org.nz