READING Rockets concluded a successful season with their presentation evening at the
Hilton Hotel recently.
More than 300 members and families attended the event and chairman Gary Johnson said: “It was a great occasion when the club celebrates all its achievements in what was a history-making year.
“Our top three teams all reached the play-off Championship finals with the men finishing third in the top league and being National
Trophy finalists.
“The ladies won their league and also contested the National Cup final and the Under 18 men were the second best team in England."
He continued: “Our satellite programme goes from strength to strength while our healthy lifestyle programmes are so well received at participating schools. Our academies now attract both foreign young men and young women players and the future looks extremely bright, though we are always seeking
suitable facilities to grow.”
The awards were handed out by Nick Humby, chairman of the British Basketball Federation; Kirsty Heath, from Get Berkshire Active; and Nicola Maytum, principal of the John Madejski Academy, aside from the Margaret Kenderdine Clubman of the Year Award – won by Samantha Seymour –which was presented by her widower, Charles.
American Antonio Robinson was named most valuable player for the men’s first team, with Jordan Nicholls scooping the most improved gong.
Captain Danny Carter was named coach’s player of the year by Manuel Pena Garces.
For the women, Cat Lutz, Maike Delow and Maitena Senar Mendiola won the respective awards, while the prizes for the NBDL team went to Tyler Foard, Jerome Sweeney and Aaron O’Sullivan.
Aoife Fitzgerald was named MVP for the Wessex Women, team, with Beth Dennis MIP and Ellie
Harrington the coach’s player.
In the Under 18 premier group, Ali Sbai, Fidel Gomez De Enterria Lopez and Ganesh Bikram Rana claimed the honours, with Reece Ralph, Sherif Hassan and Matthieu Rident taking the plaudits in the
Development squad.
Chiara Di Stefano, Veera Khanolkar and Melody Stephen won the awards in the girls section.
In the U16s, David Obediah, Josh Stepney and Jacob Davenport won the trophies in the Premier group, while Farhaan Rehman, Owen Watkins and Alex Halmkan collected them in the Development squad.
Angelique Villava-Cua, Willow Blackburn and Izzy D’Orta were MVP, MIP and coach’s player in the girls category.
Ross Stepney, Baileigh Knight and Arda Dogan were respectively crowned in the U14 boys, while the awards in the U12 boys and girls sections went to Lincoln Palmer, Elliott Van Spall and Malachi Easton, and Iqra Chowdhary, Emily Boyd and
Mahesh Saatvika.
The coach of the year award was won by Pedro Garcia Rosado.
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