PAIGE, CREON HEAD BBL AWARDS
Jaysean Paige of Newcastle Eagles has been named as the BBL Player of the Year.
Creon Raftopoulos of Surrey Scorchers was confirmed BBL Coach of the Year in the annual end of season awards from the Basketball Journalists Association.
Raftopoulos ended the two-year reign of Leicester Riders’ Rob Paternostro with the coaching honour.
The Zimbabwean led the Guildford-based side to fifth place and despite missing out on a spot in the semi-finals of the BBL play-offs, he guided them to an unbeaten home record in 2018.
“It’s a great honour to receive such an award for this season,†Raftopoulos said. “There are a lot of people to thank but most of all I’d like to thank my team for buying into the team’s philosophy and playing their hearts out this season. I honestly believe a coach’s award is a team award.â€
Bristol Flyers coach Andreas Kapoulas finished second and Paternostro third.
The Pete Jacques Award for best British player in the BBL was awarded to London Lions guard Justin Robinson, who won the honour with a unanimous vote.
Robinson, who has enjoyed a stellar first season with his hometown side, averaging 17.8 points a game fought-off Glasgow Rocks’ Gareth Murray, who came in second and Sheffield Sharks’ Zach Gachette in third.
The Syd Lipski International Award for top British performer on the global stage goes to UCAM Murcia forward Ovie Soko.
The 27-year-old Londoner has been one of Murcia’s key contributors this season both in the ACB, where his side are currently battling for a spot in the play-offs and in the Basketball Champions League where they finished third overall after narrowing losing to eventual winners AEK Athens in the semi-finals but bounced back to overcome Ludwigsburg in the third-place game.
Soko, who has represented Great Britain during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers this season as well, has averaged 11.2 points in the ACB this season along with 13 points and 5 rebounds in the Champions League.
Temi Fagbenle came a close second in the voting with last year’s Syd Lipski winner Luke Nelson, third.
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