Sports Australia - Basketball Media Release: Rucker takes out NBL Weekly Honour [Dec 6, 2005]

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MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday December 6, 2005

Basketball :: Basketball Australia

Rucker takes out NBL Weekly Honour

NBL Philips Championship The National Basketball League (NBL) has named Brisbane Bullets guard Derek Rucker as the winner of the Philips Player of the Week award for Round 14 of the 2005/06 Philips Championship season.

Rucker helped his team return to form with a perfect 2-0 record in Round 14, leading the Bullets to a 130-109 win over the high flying Adelaide 36ers, and a 107-103 victory against the West Sydney Razorbacks on Saturday night.

Brisbane’s inspirational captain is the first Bullets player to win the weekly award this season and was instrumental in his team’s two victories, as he averaged 33.5 points, 9.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds.

Rucker used his long-range game to help Brisbane return to form against the Sixers, scoring 22 points in a haul that included six three-pointers. He also added five rebounds and 14 assists as Brisbane ran away with the match.

Player of the Week award winners in Season 2005-06
Round 5	CJ Bruton Sydney Kings
Round 6	Brett Maher Adelaide 36ers
Round 7	CJ Bruton Sydney Kings
Round 8	Mike Helms Hunter Pirates
Round 9	Shawn Redhage Perth Wildcats
Round 10	Martin Cattalini Cairns Taipans
Round 11	Cortez Groves Wollongong
Round 12	Larry Abney Townsville
Round 13	Adam Ballinger Wollongong
Round 14	Derek Rucker Brisbane

Rucker led from the front as the Bullets got home in nail-bitting encounter against his former team West Sydney. The NBL veteran bagged 45 points, four assists and three rebounds as the Bullets defeated the Razorbacks for the second time this season.

Rucker narrowly edged out Sydney’s CJ Bruton for the weekly honours by the barest of margins after the Kings star averaging 27.0 points, 5.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds as Sydney extended their winning streak to 13 games.

Other players in the running for the Philips Player of the Week award for Round 14 included Bobby Brannen (Brisbane), Stephen Black (Brisbane), Chris Anstey (Melbourne), Oscar Forman (Adelaide), Brett Maher (Adelaide), Anthony Stewart (Cairns), Martin Cattalini (Cairns), Jason Smith (Sydney), Aaron Trahair (Hunter), Mike Helms (Hunter), Clint Reed (West Sydney), Peter Crawford (Perth), Shawn Redhage (Perth), Brad Newley (Townsville), Robert Rose (Townsville) and Cortez Groves (Wollongong).

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