The last BBL All-Star 5 before the international break is led by the performance of South Sudan international Padiet Wang live on Sky Sports, and includes Great Britain international Patrick Whelan as one of a pair of Leicester Riders following their double winning weekend.
Padiet Wang – Surrey Scorchers
Scorchers picked up their first win of the 2022-23 season in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Vertu Motors Arena on Friday night, with South Sudan international Padiet Wang leading the way to make his first All-Star 5 appearance of his first season in the BBL. The 6’4″ guard was near unstoppable going to the rim as he shot 8-10 (80%) inside for his 19 points, also grabbing nine rebounds and handing out five assists, including an amazing 11 points and four assists in a fourth quarter where Scorchers poured in 29 points to take the victory.
Zach Jackson – Leicester Riders
Leicester have made it four in a row following a sharp-shooting road win at Plymouth City Patriots on Sunday, with a near double-double from American guard Zach Jackson setting the tone and leading to his first showing in the weekly team. He scored 18 points with 3-5 (60%) shooting from long range, along with eight rebounds, three steals and two assists. After trailing early on, Jackson scored five points in a row towards the end of the first to put them in front for good, and followed that with five points, three boards, two assists and two steals in the second as the lead became double-figures.
Patrick Whelan – Leicester Riders
Patrick Whelan reports for GB duties this week and signed off in style as he matched his teammate’s scoring in that Leicester win, also gaining weekly honours for the first time this term. His 18 points came from just 8 shots in under 20 minutes as he missed just once and went 4-5 (80%) from three-point range, adding three rebounds, an assist and a steal. He did all of his work in that dominant first half, hitting three quick triples in under two second stanza minutes to stretch the lead to double-figures before the break.
Brandon Mahan – Bristol Flyers
Another form team, Bristol Flyers are up to second in the BBL Championship table after two home wins in a double-header weekend, the latter against league-leaders London Lions, although Brandon Mahan makes his first All-Star 5 appearance for his performance against Caledonia Gladiators on Friday. He hit 5-8 (62%) from the three-point line for his 19 points, with three assists and three rebounds, including six points in a 21-6 start to the game that put Flyers ahead for good and a second quarter triple that sent the lead through 20.
Tahjai Teague – Cheshire Phoenix
The only player in this week’s team to have featured in the All-Star 5 before, American forward Tahjai Teague posted a double-double as Cheshire Phoenix used a big second half in front of a raucous home crowd to come back against Gladiators on Sunday, for a fifth BBL Championship win. He finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, shooting a perfect 5-5 on the inside and also handing out four assists, playing a pivotal defensive role in another strong defensive stand from the Nix. The hosts trailed by as many as 14, but Teague scored five in the third period as they came back to lead and held their visitors to 26 second half points.
Off the bench: Jeremiah Bailey (Caledonia Gladiators), Elvisi Dusha (Plymouth City Patriots), David Sloan (Caledonia Gladiators), Sam Dekker (London Lions), Larry Austin Jr. (Cheshire Phoenix), Antonio Williams (Plymouth City Patriots), Donovan Johnson (Newcastle Eagles).
