Rebels D1 Men Continue Playoff Push with Another Statement Win Over Reading Rockets - Essex Rebels
emmanuel kanwei attacking the basket
emmanuel kanwei attacking the basket

Rebels D1 Men Continue Playoff Push with Another Statement Win Over Reading Rockets

March 31, 2025

Our Essex Rebels D1 Men’s team secured a fantastic away win in what has been a remarkable run of form, beating Reading Rockets 89-81 on the road. The victory against the Rockets sets up an enticing end to the season as the Rebels continue their push for a top-4 finish and home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Luke Busumbru delivered another outstanding performance with a game-high 35 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Emmanuel Kanwei contributed 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Kyron Martin added 14 points off the bench, and Daniel Johnson-Thompson pulled down 8 rebounds as the Rebels outrebounded Reading 41-31.

The visitors dominated in transition, outscoring the Rockets 21-9 in fast break points, while shooting an efficient 41.4% from beyond the arc despite facing two former teammates in Zain Poorman (4 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) and Victor Olarerin (9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists).

For Reading, Justin Hopkins led the way with 29 points and 7 rebounds in 35 minutes, while Mitch Clarke added 14 points in a losing effort.

The win improves the Rebels to 14-9 on the season, remaining in 5th place in the NBL Division One standings. Milton Keynes Breakers currently hold 4th place with a 14-8 record and a game in hand, while Loughborough Riders sit 6th at 13-9.

The playoff race has intensified as MK face Loughborough in their next game. If Loughborough were to win, all three teams would sit at 14-9 heading into the final weekend. The Rebels’ final regular season game against MK Breakers now looms as a potential winner-takes-all showdown for 4th place and crucial home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Weekend Division 2 Update

The Essex Rebels D2 Men close out their 2024/25 NBL Division 2 season with a strong 104-94 win over Greenwich Titans

Essex Rebels Team Huddle
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