Miners name MVPs

THE season’s most valuable players for the Ballarat Miners have been announced.

Awarded at the annual Basketball Ballarat Ray Borner and Robyn Maher Awards night held on Sunday, 21 August, Jade Melbourne and Preston Bungei were named as the women’s and men’s MVPs respectively.

Named after Basketball Ballarat hall of fame member Robyn Maher, Melbourne took the MVP title after her first NBL1 South season with the Miners.

In 19 games for the club, the 178-centermetre-tall guard averaged just less than 21 points and five assists per game, along with almost 8.5 rebounds.

In April she was picked at number 33 in the 2022 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm and only missed three games with the Miners due to national duty with the Opals.

On the men’s side the Ray Borner Most Valuable Player award also went to a Miners first timer in Bungei.

A Kenyen national team player, he suited up for all 22 game this season at an average of more than 15 points, three assists, and seven rebounds.

He also had the game winning points with a thrilling buzzer beater away to the Dandenong Chargers in round 8.

Along with the MVP titles Basketball Ballarat gave out more than 20 other club awards on the night.