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THE Round Eighteen Men’s SBL Player of the Week has been awarded to Jalen Billups of the Chambers Franklyn City of Joondalup Wolves.

Despite splitting their Round 18 games against two quality opponents, the Wolves and Jalen Billups once again find themselves in the Top 4 as the League nears the business end of the season. The Wolves Men have established themselves as one of, if not the most, successful team in recent history, and Jalen Billups has been an integral part in their continued success.

Friday night the Wolves hosted the most in form team in the League, the Perry Lakes Hawks, and it took an overtime period for the game to be decided. In just under 41 minutes, Billups posted 29 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists, whilst forfeiting zero turnovers during the game. That wasn’t enough for the Wolves, as they eventually went down 106-104 in a see-sawing affair where no team lead by more than 5. The Hawks have now extended their winning streak to 10.

The games didn’t get any easier as the Wolves played away to the Lakeside Lightning Saturday night. In a battle of the elite SBL bigs in Daniel Alexander and Billups, it was Billups who prevailed in an 88-87 win. Billups registered 34 points, 10 rebounds (including 8 offensive) and 4 assists. Billups went 60% from the field and added a steal and a block for good measure.

Billups now averages 24.0ppg, 8.4rpg and 1.5apg on the season, with an astonishing 14 games with 20 points or more. He has also posted 9 double-doubles in 2018, with 4 coming in his last 5 games, as Coach Ettridge has slowly increases his minutes approaching Finals.

The Wolves now face the Rockingham Flames away this weekend, before finishing the regular season against Mandurah in Week 20.

Graphic by Sports Imagery Australia