Basketball: Breakers in line for honours

Tom Abercrombie. Photo / Getty Images

The championship-leading New Zealand Breakers predictably feature prominently in the Australian National Basketball League end of season awards.

The ANBL today announced several major award categories ahead of Monday's awards ceremony in Melbourne.

Head coach Andrej Lemanis, former international Dillon Boucher, young Tall Black Tom Abercrombie, Mika Vukona and American import Kevin Braswell are in contention for recognition after the Breakers' historic regular season campaign.

Lemanis was an obvious choice to vie for the Lindsay Gaze Trophy as coach of the year after guiding the Auckland franchise to the minor premiership for the first time.

Veteran Boucher and Braswell are among five players chasing the best sixth man award; Vukona's sterling defensive work has him in contention for the defensive player of the year award while Abercrombie, who notched a career-high 26 points in the Breakers 100-71 win over Adelaide last night, is a nominee in the most improved player category.

The competition's top individual award, the most valuable player (MVP) will also be named on Monday night with the Breakers' outstanding shooting guard Kirk Penney a realistic shot at claiming the award he won for the first time in the 2008-09 season.

The all-NBL first, second and third teams will also be announced.

Finalists:

Coach of the Year: Rob Beveridge (Perth), Aaron Fearne (Cairns), Trevor Gleeson (Townsville), Andrej Lemanis (New Zealand Breakers), Gordie McLeod (Wollongong)

Best Sixth Man: Dillon Boucher (New Zealand Breakers), Kevin Braswell (New Zealand Breakers), Daryl Corletto (Melbourne), Chris Goulding (Gold Coast), Dusty Rychart (Cairns)

Defensive Player of the Year: Adam Gibson (Gold Coast), Damian Martin (Perth), Brad Robbins (Perth), Glen Saville (Wollongong), Mika Vukona (New Zealand Breakers)

Most Improved: Tom Abercrombie (New Zealand Breakers), Ian Crosswhite (Cairns), Daniel Dillon (Cairns), Oscar Forman (Wollongong), Cameron Tovey (Perth)

- NZPA