Cattalini edges out Ingles for weekly honour

Cairns Taipans star Martin Cattalini has narrowly edged out South Dragons rookie sensation Joe Ingles to claim the National Basketball League’s (NBL) Philips Player of the Week award for Round Two of the Philips Championship.

The 202cm forward led from the front for the Taipans in their thrilling 103-101 victory over the Wollongong Hawks on Friday night, sealing victory for his team in the dying seconds of the match.

Cattalini top-scored for Cairns with a career-high 39 points (13-of-23) to go with his nine rebounds and one assist. When the game was in the balance ‘Cat’ stood up and collected 11 points in the final term before finishing with the game-winning play in the dying seconds to ensure his team took the W.

South Dragons young gun Joe Ingles can consider himself unlucky to miss the Round Two honours after he averaged 25.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals in his team’s two weekend losses.

In his first two career Philips Championship matches Ingles, who has been compared to NBA star Toni Kukoc by national team coach Brian Goorjian, top scored twice with 29 and 22 points against New Zealand and Sydney respectively.

Cattalini last won the Philips Player of the Week award in Round 10 of 2005/06 and was excited by news of his win.

“I’m really happy with the way it worked out, as luck would have it I shot the ball well and got the winning basket which was terrific,” Cattalini said.

“It was a great game and we where just happy to come away with the win after such a close match.”

Other players in the running for the Philips Player of the Week award for Round Three included Carlos Powell (New Zealand), Mike Helms (Singapore), Shawn Redhage (Perth), Tony Ronaldson (Perth), Brett Maher (Adelaide), Willie Farley (Adelaide), Mark Worthington (Sydney), Jason Smith (Sydney), Adam Ballinger (Wollongong) and Kavossy Franklin (South Dragons).

For winning the Player of the Week award this round, Cattalini will receive Philips’ latest Dual DECT/Internet Skype phone - Simplicity is making discounted and free phone calls to your friends and family all around the world.