NBL27 Off-Season Weekly Wrap: April Week 2

Elijah Pepper delivered a dominant performance to lead the Wellington Saints to a commanding banner night win over Wildcats teammate Dontae Russo-Nance’s Manawatu Jets.

Pepper controlled the tempo throughout, catching fire in the second quarter with multiple threes before continuing to orchestrate the offence with a mix of scoring and playmaking. He finished with 28 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, earning top MVP votes in a 36-point victory.

Russo-Nance showed flashes despite the result, making an early defensive impact, scoring at the line and hitting a step-back three in the second quarter. He remained aggressive throughout, adding another three late and contributing across the board.

Pepper’s  'Player of the Game' impact was central to the Saints’ 36-point victory as they celebrated their 13th championship banner in style on banner night. 

David Duke Jr. brought an aggressive and composed approach for BAXI Manresa, applying constant pressure in an 87–77 win over Asisa Joventut.

Duke finished with 9 points in 23 minutes, going a perfect 4/4 from the free throw line, highlighting his ability to attack the rim and convert under pressure.

His impact was most evident through his aggression, consistently getting downhill, drawing fouls and maintaining offensive intent. 

His third quarter was a standout stretch, drawing contact and capitalising at the stripe to help steady his side and maintain momentum. Duke continued to mix his offence, adding strong finishes inside, including a fourth-quarter basket, while remaining active in rotations late in the game.

It was a composed and disciplined showing, with Duke’s ability to generate offence in multiple ways underlined a strong, well-rounded performance.

Kristian Doolittle continued his strong run of form in the BSN, putting together back-to-back all-round performances for Gigantes de Carolina.

In his most recent outing, Doolittle recorded 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in a 104–99 win over the Piratas de Quebradillas.

Just days earlier, he delivered another strong showing with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists in a win against the Vaqueros de Bayamón, controlling the glass and facilitating offence.

David Okwera starred for the East Perth Eagles, delivering a standout performance in their 94–75 win over the Warwick Senators.

Okwera finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, two steals and two assists, impacting the game at both ends of the floor. He was central to a momentum-shifting run either side of half-time, helping turn a 15-point deficit into a lead the Eagles wouldn’t relinquish.

His presence around the rim and defensive activity proved crucial as East Perth pulled away late to secure the win.

Cameron Huefner led the scoring for the Perry Lakes Hawks, producing a high-volume offensive performance despite a loss to the Geraldton Buccaneers.

The Wildcats development big finished with 29 points and nine rebounds, shooting 9/22 from the field and knocking down 6/14 from beyond the arc. Huefner caught fire in the third quarter, going 5/6 from the floor and 3/4 from deep to help spark a Hawks push and cut into a double-digit deficit.

While Perry Lakes couldn’t sustain the momentum, Huefner’s scoring output and willingness to take shots stood out as a key feature of the Hawks’ performance.

Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. hasn't featured in game action this week, with his focus shifting to the upcoming Basketball Africa League Sahara Conference.

Lual-Acuil Jr's side Al Ahly are set to compete in the BAL Sahara Conference in Rabat from April 24 to May 3.

The conference will determine qualification for the next stage of the tournament, with Al Ahly among the contenders and JLA set to play a key role as Al Ahly push for success on the continental stage.

Tom Gerovich was out of action this week for Willetton in their 121–115 win over the Perth Redbacks.

Ben Henshall is yet to take the court for the Warwick Senators but has been in attendance in preparation for his first game of the NBL1 West season with the club.