Posted on Tuesday, June 1st, 2021
40 Years Of Flashbacks: 1987 & 1988
40 Years of Flashbacks heads back to 1987 and 1988 when the Saints came marching in. Amazingly, despite their success in 1987, the Saints didn't have a player in the League's All-Star Five.
1987 NBL CHAMPIONS: WELLINGTON SAINTS
The 1987 season served up a replay of the ’86 final with the Rams and Saints meeting for the second straight year in the championship decider. The Saints would go on to claim their third title, becoming the most successful team in the leagues short history to date.
Teams:
10 teams contested the 1987 season (final standings)::
- Wellington Saints
- Canterbury Rams
- North Shore
- New Plymouth Bulls
- Auckland
- Ponsonby
- Hawke’s Bay Hawks
- Waikato Warriors (previously Hamilton)
- Nelson Giants
- Palmerston North Jets
Grand Final:
Wellington Saints (100) defeated Canterbury Rams (87) (Referees: Stan Battock & Keith Milligan)
Season Award Winners:
- Most Outstanding Guard (Keith Carr Trophy): Tony Webster (North Shore)
- Most Outstanding NZ Guard (John Macdonald Trophy): Tony Smith (North Shore)
- Most Outstanding Forward (Commissioners Cup): Frank Smith (Nelson Giants)
- Most Outstanding NZ Forward/Centre (Stan Hill Trophy): Glen Denham (Waikato Warriors)
- Scoring Champion (Alan Bland Memorial Trophy): Ronnie Joyner (41.47) (Ponsonby)
- Rebounding Champion (Garry Pettis Memorial Trophy): Willie Burton (14.89) (Hawke’s Bay Hawks)
- Assist Champion (Dave Taylor Trophy): Kenny McFadden (Wellington Saints)
- Regular Season Winners: Canterbury Rams (13-5)
- Best Team Free Throws (Nial Forsyth Trophy): New Plymouth Bulls
- Young Player of the Year: Glen Denham (Waikato Warriors)
All-Star Five:
- Willie Burton (Hawke’s Bay Hawks)
- Keith Colbert (Auckland)
- Clyde Huntley (Canterbury Rams)
- Frank Smith (Nelson Giants)
- Tony Webster (North Shore)
40 Years of Flashbacks - presented by 
www.lde.co.nz
1988 NBL CHAMPIONS: WELLINGTON SAINTS
The only change in the 1988 season saw Waitemata return to the league after winning the Conference Basketball League (CBL) championship the previous year. The Palmerston North Jets were relegated to the CBL. The Wellington Saints claimed their second straight NBL title, their fourth in total, as they defeated North Shore in a close encounter.
Teams:
10 teams contested the 1988 season (final standings)::
- Wellington Saints
- North Shore
- New Plymouth Bulls
- Waikato Warriors
- Canterbury Rams
- Hawke’s Bay Hawks
- Waitemata
- Auckland
- Nelson Giants
- Ponsonby
Grand Final:
Wellington Saints (81) defeated North Shore (78) (Referees: Keith Milligan & Robin Milligan)
Season Award Winners:
- Most Outstanding Guard (Keith Carr Trophy): John Welch (Waitemata)
- Most Outstanding NZ Guard (John Macdonald Trophy): Byron Vaetoe (Auckland)
- Most Outstanding Forward (Commissioners Cup): Kerry Boagni (Wellington Saints)
- Most Outstanding NZ Forward/Centre (Stan Hill Trophy): Glen Denham (Waikato Warriors)
- Scoring Champion (Alan Bland Memorial Trophy): Tony Webster (36.53) (North Shore)
- Rebounding Champion (Garry Pettis Memorial Trophy): John Martens (14.31) (Waitemata)
- Assist Champion (Dave Taylor Trophy): Carl Golston (Waikato Warriors)
- Regular Season Winners: Wellington Saints (15-3)
- Best Team Free Throws (Nial Forsyth Trophy): Auckland
- Young Player of the Year: Warren Adams (New Plymouth Bulls)
All-Star Five:
- Kerry Boagni (Wellington Saints)
- Willie Burton (Hawke’s Bay Hawks)
- Carl Golston (Waikato Warriors)
- Kenny McFadden (Wellington Saints)
- John Welch (Waitemata)
40 Years of Flashbacks - presented by
www.lde.co.nz
