Eurobasket.com All-Swedish Basketligan Awards 2008-09 - May 19, 2009
Player of the Year: Jonte Flowers (196-G) of Solna Vikings Guard of the Year: Thomas Jackson (175-G-80) of Uppsala Basket Forward of the Year: Jonte Flowers of Solna Vikings Center of the Year: Johan Akesson (211-C-84) of Helsingborg/08 Stockholm Newcomer of the Year: Christopher Ryan (196-G-90) of Plannja Basket Most Improved Player of the Year: Emil Salon (192-G-85) of Gothia Basket Bosman Player of the Year: Liam Rush (203-F/G-82) of Sundsvall Dragons Import Player of the Year: Jonte Flowers of Solna Vikings Domestic Player of the Year: Lesli Myrthil (200-F-77) of Solna Vikings Defensive Player of the Year: Jonte Flowers of Solna Vikings Coach of the Year: Pekka Salminen of Solna Vikings 1st Team Thomas Jackson of Uppsala Basket Jonte Flowers of Solna Vikings Alex Wesby (196-G-80) of Sundsvall Dragons Liam Rush of Sundsvall Dragons Johan Akesson of Helsingborg/08 Stockholm 2nd Team Andrew Mitchell (181-G-79) of Jamtland Basket Kenny Grant (188-G-82) of Norrkoping Dolphins Tyrone Levett (195-G/F-80) of Jamtland Basket Lesli Myrthil of Solna Vikings Ryan McDade (201-F-80) of Boras Basket Honorable Mention Joakim Kjellbom (213-C/F-79) of Norrkping Dolphins Hakan Larsson (184-G-74) of Plannja Basket Olivier Ilunga (185-G-84) of Sundsvall Dragons Joakim Blom (211-C-76) of 08 Stockholm Mikael Lindqvist (193-G-83) of 08 Stockholm Danny Gathings (193-F-80) of Uppsala Basket Thomas Massamba (185-G-85) of Sodertlje Kings All-Domestic Players Team Olivier Ilunga of Sundsvall Dragons Kenny Grant of Norrkping Dolphins Lesli Myrthil of Solna Vikings Joakim Kjellbom of Norrkping Dolphins Johan Akesson of Helsingborg/08 Stockholm All-Imports Team Thomas Jackson of Uppsala Basket Andrew Mitchell of Jamtland Basket Jonte Flowers of Solna Vikings Alex Wesby of Sundsvall Dragons Ryan McDade of Bors Basket All-Bosmans Team Srdan Subotic (193-G-80) of Sundsvall Dragons Juha Sten (191-G-83) of Solna Vikings Liam Rush of Sundsvall Dragons Jonathan Moore (203-F/G-82) of Gothia Basket Saulius Dumbliauskas (202-C-81) of Solna Vikings All-Defensive Team Juha Sten of Solna Vikings Thomas Jackson of Uppsala Basket Jonte Flowers of Solna Vikings Tyrone Levett of Jmtland Basket Doug Thomas (203-F-83) of Sundsvall Dragons Sundsvall grabs historical first title. - May 6, 2009 Solna Vikings - Sundsvall Dragons 69-75 (17-26, 15-26, 19-9, 18-14) What an ending to a great final series! Game 7 of the Swedish Finals had it all! Solna Vikings, the reigning champs, against Sundsvall Dragons, who were hunting their first title ever. The spectators in Solnahallen and all the viewers and listeners saw a game that had it all. The Dragons dominated the first half, leading 32-52 at the half time break. During the second half, the Vikings made furious and heroic comeback to tie and take the lead at one point in the fourth quarter. The end of the game was filled with big nervs and lots of missed shots, especially from the free throw line. Sundsvall prooved to be stronger as they defeated a favourised Solna 69-75 that fought all the way. Both teams showed great skills and big hearts! Liam Rush was Sundsvalls big hero, as he made his both free throws too seal the deal at the end of the game. Jonte Flowers (196-G, college: Winona St.) was Solnas big star of the night with 18 points, 8 rebounds and a game-high 4 steals. Saulius Dumbliauskas (202-C-81, agency: Court Side, college: St.Bonaventure) put up yet another solid effort (15pts,8reb), Mats Levin (188-G-77) continued to play well as he added 13 points and 6 assists, and Lesli Myrthil (200-F-77, college: Wagner) contributed with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Sundsvalls Liam Rush (203-F/G-82) had 23 points (7/8 2p, 2/5 3p, 3/3ft). Olivier Ilunga (185-G-84, agency: Interperformances) contributed with a great effort, scoring 21 while adding 8 rebounds and a game-high 7 assists. Srdan Subotic (193-G-80, agency: Interperformances) had 11 points and 4 assists, and Alex Wesby (196-G-80, agency: R.H.Consultancy, college: Temple) was very close to a double-double (10pts, 9reb). Noteable was that Solna only made 13/21 free throws (61,9%) compared with Sundsvalls 15/20 (75%). Sundsvall had made 12/12 shots from the line before the final minute when they only made 3/8. Doug Thomas (203-F-83, agency: Elfus-Siegel Management (ESM), college: Iowa) entered the contest with a big dunk, and Alex Wesby drove hard too the basket on two breaks. The first one resulted in two made attempts from the line and the second one with a layup as Martin Pahlmblad failed to stop him. Lesli Myrthil answered with a three, and Jonte Flowers had a dunk that lifted the roof in Solnahallen as Solna trailed 5-8. Liam Rush and Olivier Ilunga had other plans in mind, as they helped their team to take a 11-17 lead before Pahlmblad connected with a deep shot. Rush answered the same way, and shortly he made a layup as the visitors increased their lead 14-22. Q1 ended with a 9-point advantage (17-26) for Sundsvall. The beginning of the second quarter was like the first one, as Wesby made his patent floater, and later on Ilunga connected for three as Sundsvall pulled away 20-33. Rush dunked on a fast break after a steal by Ilunga, and Solnas coach Pekka Salminen decided to take a time-out when his team trailed by 17 points. It became a 19-point difference (24-43) before Flowers managed to put in two points. Suddenly out of nowhere, Srdan Subotic got on fire as he made three straight shots from down town, ans Sundsvall reached their biggest lead in the contest 26-52. Myrthil and Mats Levin managed to cut down the difference to 32-52 at half time. Rush hit the first shot in Q3, but afterwards Solna was the team that had the biggest intensity as they had a 7-2 run. The home crowd got louder and louder, and Saulius Dumbliauskas was noted for a three-point play, making a layup and the rewarded bonus shot to make the score 45-56. Sundsvalls coach Peter Oqvist took a time-out, and instantly Michael Palm hit a three-pointer from the corner, but it did not help. Solna grew stronger and stronger, and Juha Sten (191-G-83, agency: Rasmussen Services) had a nice solo run and layup to make the score 49-59. With one minute left of the third quarter Levin hit a shot which meant that Solna trailed with less then ten points for the first time since the beginning of Q2. The score was 51-61 as the third quarter ended. Pahlmblad made the contest close as he hit a three-pointer too cut the lead 55-61 as the shot clock sounded. Immidiately after that Ilunga was called for an offensive foul, and the crowd went wild. It took 4:25 for Sundsvall to open up Solnas defensive as Rush made his attempt. Juha Sten fouled out for Solna, but the home team had no plans on stopping, and Levin served Dumbliauskas with a sweet pass which he put in to make the score 61-64. Flowers hit a three to tie the game with 3:38 left, 64-64. Ilunga drove to the basket to give Sundsvall the lead once more, but Dumbliauskas hit a three-pointer to give Solna their first advantage in the finals! Ilunga, who had made some mistakes earlier, kept his head cold as he attacked the rim, hit the shot and the following bonus shot to give the guests the lead once more 67-69. Levin tied the game 69-69 after making two free throws, but Ilunga replied as he made a three with 1:12 left of the competition. Then came the dramatic end. Lesli Myrthil was rewarded with 38 seconds left, but missed both of them, but Solna grabbed the offensive rebound. The following shot was missed, and Wesby was fouled shortly after grabbing the rebound. He got to the line, but missed both of the attempted free throws. Sundsvall cought the loose ball, and Ilunga was fouled. He missed both of the shots and Solna got the ball, but Pahlmblad missed the open three and Rush was afterwards fouled and got to the line. He kept his head cold and made both of the attempts, and Adam Alexander hit 1/2 free throws shortly after as the game ended 69-75. Congratulations to Sundsvall for their first victory, and the citys first win ever in any sports! Solna:Jermaine Flowers 16 (8reb, 4stl), Saulius Dumbliauskas 15 (8reb), Mats Levin 13 (6ass, 4to), Lesli Myrthil 12 (8reb), Martin Pahlmblad 8, Juha Sten 5. Sundsvall: Liam Rush 23, Olivier Ilunga 21 (8reb, 7ass), Srdan Subotic 11 (4ass, 5to), Alex Wesby 10 (9reb), Doug Thomas 4, Michael Palm 3, Aki Ulander 2, Adam Alexander 1. Spectators: 2 004 |
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