NBS Men's League – Week 7 Recap
- Jul 23
- 4 min read
Round 3, Week 7 saw the two top-of-the-table teams, Nomads and FDWNZ, take on the two bottom sides, Checkers and Eagles.
Checkers vs FDWNZ
The opening game between Checkers and FDWNZ was one of the most entertaining contests of the season.
The first quarter ended all square at 28-28, before Checkers lifted their defensive intensity in the second period to take a 59-52 lead into halftime. Their energy on the defensive end disrupted FDWNZ's rhythm and gave the young side plenty of confidence.
FDWNZ responded in the third quarter, steadily chipping away at the deficit before levelling the scores at 80-80 heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter was a thriller, with both teams trading baskets early before FDWNZ managed to create some separation late in the game to secure the victory 96-102.
Both teams played an excellent brand of team basketball, with all but one player across both teams getting on the scoresheet, highlighting the willingness of both sides to share the ball and involve everyone offensively.
From long range, both teams were firing. Checkers knocked down 12 three-pointers from 40 attempts, while FDWNZ connected on 13 threes from 35 attempts.
One area where Checkers dominated was on the glass, finishing with a huge 55 rebounds (20 offensive, 35 defensive) compared to FDWNZ's 30 rebounds (8 offensive, 22 defensive). However, FDWNZ capitalised on the inexperience of the youthful Checkers lineup, forcing costly unforced errors at crucial moments.
With five of their seven players still of high school age, Checkers continue to show enormous
potential. Against an experienced FDWNZ side with only two high school-aged players, the young group proved they can compete with the league's best. If they can keep this squad together, they have a very bright future ahead.
Checkers Top Performers
Jack Spicer: 26 points, 5 three-pointers, 10 rebounds (6 offensive, 4 defensive), 3 assists.
Pip Johnston: 25 points, 4 three-pointers, 8 assists, 8 total rebounds.
Riki Philpott: 16 points, 15 rebounds (8 offensive, 7 defensive).
Oakley McKenzie: 10 points, 6 rebounds.
Sam Spicer: 10 points, 2 three-pointers, 5 rebounds.
FDWNZ Top Performers
Newel Buenafe: 30 points, 8 three-pointers.
Graciano Puerto: 17 points.
Randy Buenafe: 13 points, 5 rebounds (1 offensive, 4 defensive).
Ranz Buenafe: 12 points.
Full box score HERE
Nomads vs Eagles
The second game of the night saw top-of-the-table Nomads take on the bottom-placed Eagles, and it certainly didn't disappoint.
Nomads made the stronger start, taking a 34-29 lead at the end of the first quarter. Eagles responded well in the second period, outscoring Nomads by three points to narrow the
margin, but Nomads still held a slim 72-69 advantage at halftime.
The momentum shifted in the third quarter as Eagles produced one of their best periods of the season. They outscored Nomads by five points to take an 85-82 lead heading into the final quarter, putting the league leaders under real pressure.
Determined to protect their place at the top of the table and extend their winning streak, Nomads responded in emphatic fashion. Their defensive pressure lifted to another level in the fourth quarter, forcing key stops while converting at the other end. Nomads outscored Eagles 32-22 in the final period to claim a hard-fought 114-107 victory.
It was a night for the scorers, with three players eclipsing the 30-point mark. Riley Sa finished with 39 points, Nick Fenchey added 33 points, while Marvin Agacer poured in 36 points for Eagles in a brilliant offensive display.
Nomads once again received outstanding performances from Nick Fenchey and Riley Sa, but it was a true team effort, with every Nomads player who stepped onto the court getting on the scoresheet and contributing at both ends of the floor. Eagles matched that achievement, with every player also scoring, highlighting the balanced offensive efforts from both teams.
Despite the loss, Eagles continue to show significant improvement after suffering several heavy defeats earlier in the season. Over the past few weeks they have looked like a
rejuvenated side, competing strongly against some of the league's best teams.
The battle on the boards was incredibly even, with Nomads collecting 42 rebounds and Eagles 40, while both teams finished with similar offensive and defensive rebounding numbers.
Although they came away empty-handed, Eagles were the more accurate team from beyond the arc, shooting an impressive 42.9% from three-point range compared to Nomads' 20.3%. Both sides also converted 71% of their free throws, making for an evenly matched contest that was ultimately decided by Nomads' defensive intensity in the final quarter.
Nomads Top Performers
Riley Sa: 39 points, 5 rebounds, 10/15 from the free throw line.
Nick Fenchey: 33 points, 14 rebounds (3 offensive, 11 defensive), 2 blocks.
Pete Kirwan: 12 points, 7 rebounds (3 offensive, 4 defensive).
Jet Aguila: 12 points, 7 assists.
Eagles Top Performers
Marvin Ager: 36 points, 3 three-pointers.
Genuine (Owen) Tordende: 19 points.
Vallejo Jifer: 14 points, 13 rebounds (6 offensive, 7 defensive).
Full box score found HERE
Next Week's Fixtures
Round 3 continues next week at NBS Oxford Street Stadium with another exciting double-header.
🏀 6:15pm – Checkers vs Nomads
Can the young Checkers side produce the upset of the season against the league-leading Nomads? After pushing FDWNZ all the way this week, Checkers will be full of confidence, while Nomads will be looking to extend their winning streak and remain on top of the table.
Following the conclusion of Game 1 (approximately 15 minutes later):
🏀 Eagles vs FDWNZ
Eagles will be hoping to continue their recent improvement when they take on second-placed FDWNZ. With both teams coming off high-scoring performances, fans can expect another entertaining contest to close out the night.
