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Kirk Penney - Source: Getty Images -
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The Breakers celebrated an end to their best ever season over
the weekend with an emotionally charged awards night that
recognised everyone in the club, from volunteers on the score bench
to player of the year Kirk Penney, who received a standing ovation
from the full house at North Harbour Stadium lounge when he was
announced as the league MVP.
The major player awards were well received, in particular Paul
Henare taking out the Players' Player of the Year with an emotional
speech from the foundation Breaker speaking of the great support
and camaraderie that exists within the playing roster and the club
as a whole.
Following recognition for great club supporter Dennis Jones, the
Breakers' director was named 'Clubman of the Year', the focus
turned to Kirk Penney with the shooting guard named MVP by both the
Breakers season ticket holders and the club coaching staff.
But as Penney was about to speak as he collected his second award
of the night, there was pause for a video presentation from ANBL
General Manager Chuck Harmison who announced that Penney had been
awarded the Andrew Gaze Trophy, becoming the first Kiwi to take out
the league MVP, moving Penney close to tears and the appreciative
audience to their feet.
Penney found his composure to speak of the honour.
"This is just such a great honour and a humbling moment, something
I never thought would happen. This is a team award though, it is
thanks to my team-mates for giving me the open looks, for their
work in the team offence that can often lead to me shooting the
ball, I am often just the guy on the end of a play.
"I would like to thank 'Dre (Andrej Lemanis), the coaching staff
and the entire support crew at the club; everyone has contributed
to a great season. I guess we would all rather not be here right
now; we would rather be playing in Melbourne in the finals series
but I will accept this award on behalf of the club. It is a huge
personal honour, all the more so being a proud Kiwi playing for a
New Zealand team in an Australian league."
Penney registered 92 votes to narrowly take out the award from
Sydney Spirit big man Matthew Knight on 90.
Melbourne Tigers' Nigerian import Ebi Ere came third with 89 votes,
while Mark Worthington of the South Dragons (87) and Shawn Redhage
of the Perth Wildcats (86) rounded out the top five in an extremely
tight race.
Penney, who previously played for the Miami Heat and the Los
Angeles Clippers in the American NBA, averaged 24.2 points, 4.4
rebounds and 2.8 assists in 28 regular season games for the
Breakers in 2008/09. He shot the ball at 45.6 percent from the
field, 37.3 percent from three-point territory and 80.4
percent from the free-throw line.
The occasion was made all the more special with the announcement
also that Phill Jones had won the ANBL 'Best 6th Man' award, again
recognition that came through from the ANBL just hours before the
celebration.
Jones, a foundation player before heading away overseas for a
couple of seasons, spoke of his time with the club this
season.
"There is something special here at this club, we have improved as
a group this year but there is still very much unfinished business
and a keen desire to win a championship for the club and for our
supporters.
"This is a great honour for me but also for the club. I am just so
thankful to Andrej and the club for keeping faith in me when they
probably had cause not to after year one back."
A consistent theme from all speakers on the night, from General
Manager Richard Clarke to Chairman Burton Shipley, club directors,
to players and coaches was the strong desire to build not just a
winning basketball team but a legacy in the community.
Few if any spoke of winning 'at all costs' but referred more to the
clubs values and the clear desire to recruit a group of players,
coaches and support staff who believe in those values and to use
that as the foundation for building a championship contending
team.
Equally strong however was the talk of 'unfinished business' with
regards winning a championship, with each speaker not shying away
from that being a key objective to further inspire and motivate
children and supporters who follow the club.
