Groves wins NBL weekly award

Wollongong Hawks import Cortez Groves has secured his second National Basketball League (NBL) Philips Player of the Week honour for the 2005/06 season after taking out the award for his efforts in Round 18.

The 196cm guard was a standout for the Hawks as Wollongong annihilated pre-season title favourites Brisbane 136-97 at ‘the Sandpit’ on Friday night.

Groves scored a game-high 31 points in the Hawks romp over the Bullets as well as adding nine assists, five rebounds and three steals. The former Kansas State standout went 12-of-24 from the field including 5-of-11 from beyond the three-point arc as the Hawks recorded their biggest win of the season.

Groves also picked up the Philips Player of the Week honour back in Round 11 and becomes just the third player this season to win the award twice.

Sydney’s CJ Bruton, who along with Melbourne Tigers star Chris Anstey are the only others to have achieved that feat, can count himself unlucky not to have picked up the award for a third time after a sensational performance in the Kings win over West Sydney. Bruton scored 24 points and added 10 assists and three steals in the Kings win over their cross-town rivals.

Other players in the running for the Philips Player of the Week award for Round 18 included John Rillie (Townsville), Brad Newley (Townsville), Mike Helms (Hunter), Aaron Trahair (Hunter), Dusty Rychart (Adelaide), Brett Maher (Adelaide), Martin Cattalini (Cairns), Chris Burgess (Cairns), James Taylor (West Sydney), Scott McGregor (West Sydney), Aaron Olson (New Zealand), Shawn Redhage (Perth), David Bailey (Perth) and Mark Bradtke (Brisbane).

For winning the Philips Player of the Week award this round, Groves will receive one of Philips latest products.