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- CBL Playoff Final Preview
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- CBL Elite Eights recap, Final Fours preview
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- CBL Playoff Structure reminder
- CBL Recap – January 2023
- CBL half-term recap – who is leading the way in 2022/23?
- CBL Players of the Month – November 2022
MVP glory for Newbury, Walsh, Hildreth and Adedo
- Updated: March 13, 2020
With the curtain falling on the ABL awards for 2019/20, we conclude the week by announcing four worthy winners of the league’s MVP awards.
Haringey’s Ndewedo Newbury, Queen Ethelburga’s Elijah Walsh, HTS Storm’s Cameron Hildreth and St Charles’ Abiodun Adedo have all been selected, with all four players enjoying standout seasons for the respective programmes.
Newbury helped Haringey back to the ABL finals, recording an league best 36.1 efficiency rating as Coach Batimba’s side finished the regular season with a 14-1 record.
The 6’8″ forward also scored 23.4ppg, adding a league best 5.3apg and 4.0spg as part of a solid campaign.
Elijah Walsh was another talent that dominated the competition during 2019/20, with QE topping the Northern Conference at 13-3 thanks in part to Walsh’s stellar play.
The athletic guard’s 31.8 efficiency rating for the season was built on an ABL topping 34.3ppg, adding 4.8spg for good measure as Walsh excelled at both ends of the court.
“I’m really happy to receive this award and be a representative of this great league,” he said.
“Thank you to everybody who has supported me this year and hopefully next season we can build on this year’s success.”
As one of the country’s most talked about prospects thanks to his exploits across multiple competitions, Cameron Hildreth has bagged the Southern Conference MVP thanks to a stat-stuffing campaign.
With 22.9ppg, 8.5rpg, 2.5apg, 2.2spg and a 25.8 efficiency rating, Hildreth anchored a highly talented HTS Storm roster to an unbeaten 18-0 season, leading the team from the front as he continues to develop into an elite talent.
“I don’t play to win awards, I go out and compete for the enjoyment and love of the game,” confessed Hildreth.
“However, receiving this award means a lot to me, so I’d thank to thank all the coaches for their votes.”
The Western Conference MVP award belongs to Abiodun Adedo for an imposing season that towered above much of St Charles’ competition.
As the London programme went 15-1 to top the standings, Adedo was doing it all for his side to the tune of 17.8ppg, 8.9rpg, 1.3bpg and 1.6apg, with a final efficiency rating of 21.7. Losing at the Elite Eight stage of the playoffs will no doubt have hurt St Charles, but for the programme still enjoyed a good regular season.
“To receive the MVP award after what’s been such a long, tough season is quite fulfilling and something I am proud of,” said Adedo.
“I’m under no illusions though that there is a lot more work needed for me to reach my potential.
“I believe as a group we did not reach the levels we set, this disappointment is more fuel for me to worker harder on my game”
The ABL final is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 18 March as Haringey and New City face off in an all-Eastern Conference contest. That game tips at 12:00pm, and entry is free to all spectators.
Abiodun Adedo photo courtesy of Deng Camp
