Beal the real deal at Wildcats
Perth Wildcats import Jermaine Beal has been named the club’s most valuable player for season 2014-15.
Beal, 27, took out the Gordon Ellis Medal at tonight’s Wildcats MVP ball at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, beating out NBA prospect DeAndre Daniels and captain Damian Martin for the honour.
The shooting guard averaged a team-high 16.4 points this season, hitting 69 shots from beyond the three-point line to lead the league in the statistic.
He was named the NBL’s player of the week for round six after hitting a rich vein of form which saw him post scores of 23 or more for three consecutive games and was crucial to the club addressing its late-season form slump.
The result makes it two major individual awards for Beal in his two seasons with the Wildcats after being named Grand Final MVP in the club’s 2013-14 championship.
“It’s an honour to be named MVP, it means a lot to me, but this one really goes out to my teammates, for working hard to help me get open, and passing me the ball,” he said.
“We might not have won the championship this year, but I’m very proud to be a part of this group and it feels good to be recognised among some of the greatest Perth Wildcats in history.”
Martin was named Andrev Vlahov medallist as the Wildcats’ best defensive player just weeks after claiming the NBL’s defensive player of the year award for the fifth consecutive season.
The 30-year-old was also voted the Wildcats’ season members’ MVP.
All Star centre Matt Knight took out the coaches’ award, with back-up big man Tom Jervis named most improved in his second season as a professional.
Wildcats volunteer Barry Beeston was presented with the chairman’s award.
