Fisher and Cattalini claim NBL Monthly awards

Perth Wildcats coach Scott Fisher has been rewarded for his team’s impressive start to the season, claiming the National Basketball League’s (NBL) Coach of the Month award for September/October while Cairns Taipans star Martin Cattalini has taken out the Player of the Month honour.

The NBL's Player and Coach of the Month award for September/October takes into account all games played in Rounds One to Six inclusive. With just two rounds being held in September and not all teams having played a match, the decision to combine the NBL’s first monthly award for season 2006/07 to include both September and October was taken.

In the Player of the Month award for September/October, Cattalini polled 21 votes to win by just three ballots ahead of Wollongong’s Cortez Groves (18). Townsville’s Brad Newley and Perth’s Shawn Redhage were equal third with nine votes apiece. In all, 12 players from nine different teams received votes for the monthly player’s award of the Philips Championship.

Cattalini has been a dominant force for the Taipans throughout September and October, top scoring for his team in all eight games as well as winning the Philips Player of the Week award in Round Two and he couldn’t be happier with his form.

“I feel like I’ve been shooting the ball well and the boys around me are looking for me a bit more, which is paying off,” Cattalini said.

The 202cm forward averaged 27.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in his team’s eight appearances for September/October as the Taipans went 5-3 for the period.

“From a team point of view it has been a good start for us, we are starting to find our rhythm. Kevin Owens has found his feet and we are working well both offensively and defensively.”

“It is still earlier stages but we’re very happy with where we are at the moment.”

Perth Wildcats coach Scott Fisher got his team’s 2006/07 campaign off to a flying start, winning their first six straight games, and has been rewarded with Coach of the Month honours. Fisher’s Wildcats have dominated the league early and notched a 7-2 win-loss through the end of Round Six which saw Perth cement themselves well inside the top four on the Philips Championship NBL ladder.

The Wildcats were successful against quality opposition, including reigning champions Melbourne and another early title favourite, Brisbane, through Round Six.

Fisher said he is pleased with his side’s start but knows there is still plenty of work to be done.

“There is no doubt that it’s been a pretty good start for us, (but) we aren’t playing the type of basketball we will need to play at playoff time,” Fisher said. “But if we can continue to consolidate our place in the top four it will be important and we won’t have to chase wins later in the year.”

Fisher and his coaching staff made a number of changes in the off-season and says his team in 2006/07 isn’t based around one or two star players.

“We’re the first to admit that we aren’t the most talented squad but we have a really strong chemistry in our group. We made some changes in the off-season - some that we wanted and some that we didn’t - and the guys who we have brought in have been excellent in terms of working together. We also had some coaching changes and it is all working well for us.”

The Wildcats mentor recorded 35 votes in the poll of NBL media and head coaches to take out the first monthly honour for 2006/07. Alan Westover (Melbourne Tigers) polled second with 18 votes, while Brian Goorjian (Sydney Kings) was third with 12 votes.