Our BBL Team Of The Week includes a former BBL MVP and a player who grabs his second appearance of the new season.
Jeremy Bell (UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders)
Former BBL MVP Jeremy Bell (pictured) stepped onto the floor for the first time this season, and never missed a beat from the previous campaign with a typically influential and classy performance. His display was the best of the weekend, harvesting a valuation score of 35 after accumulating a mammoth 40 points during Raiders’ opening success at the Pavilions against London Lions. He made 18 of 26 inside the three-point line, and also added seven rebounds and four assists to remind everyone that once again, he is likely to be the driving force behind another title tilt from the Devon club. Of course he is also likely to be a frontrunner to land the most BBL Team Of The Week appearances.
James Jones (Manchester Giants)
Having found himself in our opening day line-up, James Jones continued his blistering start to the new campaign with another super performance to make it two starting five appearances in the space of two games. He was again the star performer for the resurgent Giants as they produced a great late show against One Health Sharks Sheffield to book a second victory of the season. He finished the contest with 27 points thanks mainly to a devastating and near flawless display of perimeter shooting, making five triples from just six attempts. He also showed he is more than just a pure shooter with an impressive six assists and four rebounds.
Alex Owumi (Worcester Wolves)
It was a tricky first week for Worcester Wolves who slumped to a surprise home loss to Durham Wildcats and then a more predictable defeat at Sport Central against the Eagles. But, the recently recruited Alex Owumi helped Paul James’ team to finally get off the mark at the third attempt with a convincing home success against Manchester Giants. The small forward showcased the inside-outside threat he poses with 25 points including a creditable four of five inside the three point line and five triples from beyond it. He also came up with seven rebounds and five assists to help his relieved team-mates cruise to a first success.
David Watts (Manchester Giants)
Manchester Giants kept their unbeaten start at home firmly intact with the help of David Watts who supported the leading role played by team-mate James Jones with a similarly impressive contribution. The forward, who moved during the summer from Wolves, enjoyed an excellent night from all over the floor, finishing the game with 20 points. He also came up big in other areas too. In a terrific all-action performance, Watts managed to pull down seven rebounds, dish up five assists and muster three big blocks in a great night’s work which took the Giants to 2-0. However, the weekend was marred slightly for Watts when Giants tasted subsequently tasted defeat for the first time after crashing at his former club Worcester on Saturday night.
Darius Defoe (Newcastle Eagles)
The centre continues to be a cornerstone of success for the Tyneside club, having won a stack of trophies during his lengthy stint with the Eagles and typically, he has started this season like most others – in impressive fashion. Defoe was instrumental in helping his team avoid an embarrassing reverse against Wolves taking into account they had led by as many as 17 points before squandering their advantage in the final quarter which almost proved costly. But, Defoe helped the Eagles dodge a potential bullet with a strong finish to the game. He produced a super 26 points and eight rebounds, a line made even more impressive considering he was up against the imposing presence and vast experience of Wolves’ seven foot Lithuanian Arturas Masiulis.
Off The Bench – Pavol Losonsky (Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders), John Fraley (Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders), Martelle McLemore (Surrey Heat), Gage Daye (One Health Sharks Sheffield), Chez Marks (Cheshire Jets)
