Redhage takes home NBL Weekly Honour

Perth Wildcats forward Shawn Redhage has taken out the National Basketball League’s (NBL) Philips Player of the Week award for Round Nine.

Redhage, who is playing his second season in the Philips Championship, dominated his opposition as he led the Wildcats to a pair of strong wins including an upset victory over competition front-runners the Adelaide 36ers.

The 203cm forward averaged 25.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists for the week as the Wildcats scored convincing back-to-back victories over ladder leaders Adelaide and pre-seasons favourites Brisbane.

The American has led from the front for the Wildcats this season and has been rewarded for his consistency with Perth’s first Philips Player of the Week award for 2005/06.

Redhage opened Round Nine with 22 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, two blocks and one assist in his team’s win over Adelaide on Friday.

The player who was cut by the New Zealand Breakers last season then had a game-high 29 points against Brisbane as well as eight rebounds, three assists and one block as the ‘Cats downed the Bullets and moved into fourth place on the Philips Championship ladder.

Redhage is averaging 20.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game so far this season.

In one of the closest competitions for the NBL’s weekly honours this season, Redhage narrowly edged out Adelaide’s Dusty Rychart and Wollongong’s Adam Ballinger for the Round Nine award.

Rychart can count himself unlucky not to have scored the weekly honours after averaging 31.5 points, nine rebounds and three assists as his side went 1-1 in Round Nine. ‘The Dustman’ included a league season-high of 44 points in his game against New Zealand in a standout match. Wollongong’s Mr Reliable, Ballinger was also outstanding and averaged 23 points, 14.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in his side’s pair of ‘Sunshine Swing’ victories.

Other players in the running for the Philips Player of the Week award for Round Nine included Glen Saville (Wollongong), Gary Boodnikoff (Cairns), Aaron Olson (New Zealand), Scott McGregor (West Sydney), Adam Darragh (West Sydney), Dave Thomas (Melbourne), Mike Helms (Hunter), Mark Bradtke (Brisbane), Bobby Brannen (Brisbane), Rolan Roberts (Sydney), Larry Abney (Townsville), David Bailey (Perth), Tony Ronaldson (Perth) and Willie Farley (Adelaide).

For winning the Philips Player of the Week award this round, Redhage will receive a Philips Shoqbox, the new tiny personal sound system designed for people that love to share their music experience with others.