EABL & WEABL Players of the Week 12/03/25 - Obiorah & Oboavwoduo help their sides into Academy Finals

The stakes couldn't have been much higher on Wednesday afternoon as four programmes needed just one more win to punch a ticket to Manchester's NBPC for the Academy Leagues Finals.

Myerscough and Barking will go head-to-head in the EABL as a repeat of the 2022/23 showpiece, whilst Manchester Mystics are into their first ever WEABL Final against Copleston High School.

Playing a crucial role for their sides, Barking's Lewis Obiorah and Manchester's Irene Oboavwoduo earned the final weekly honours of the season.

 

EABL

Making it back-to-back awards for Barking Abbey in the playoffs after Amarlie Wilkson's nod in the Elite Eights, BA's Lewis Obiorah gets the call this time round with a stunning stat line in the 65-49 victory over Charnwood.

Amazingly, Obiorah only shot the ball four times in the contest, connecting on two of them whilst adding five more points from the foul line. It was his production elsewhere that earned him the weekly accolade, including an NBA 2K-esque 21 rebounds, that made up over a third of his side's total.

Nine blocks went with his nine points for a near triple-double, and Obiorah's 31 efficiency rating was no surprise.

Speaking about the game, Obiorah said: "It was a big win for the team, hopefully we can carry this momentum into the Final.

"I’m grateful to receive this award. Big thanks to my coach for pushing me through this game, and to my team for fighting with me."

Barking Abbey Head Coach Rikki Broadmore added: "I'm so happy that Lewis has won the Player of the Week award. This young man is special and has improved so much, day-by-day and game-by-game.

"He was incredible at both ends of the floor on Wednesday, played extended minutes, and was simply amazing!

"It was an incredible way to play his last EABL home game for us, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he will bring in the Final."

Honourable mentions:

Ronney Ani (MAN) - 26P/10R/5A/2S/3B/35EFF

Nektarios Papadopoulos (BMET) - 28P/5R/2A/2S/24EFF

Larry Duru (BMET) - 18P/11R/5A/2S/22EFF

Gavin Mitchell (OAK) - 22P/14R/6A/3B/25EFF

Charlie Smythe (COP) - 35P/10R/6A/4S/2B/40EFF

 

WEABL

After playing a key role in handing City of London Academy - Southwark a first WEABL playoff loss since 3 April 2019, Manchester's Irene Oboavwoduo is the WEABL Player of the Week.

Contributing a joint team-high 23 points alongside Elizandra Costa in the hard-fought 80-71 victory, Oboavwoduo pulled down nine boards and dished eight assists, flirting with a triple-double as she stuffed the stat sheet for the Mystics.

Shooting 71% from the floor and hitting 10 of her 14 attempts, the GB standout did it all in just 31:46 of action to push the North West programme into their maiden WEABL Playoff Final.

Speaking after the game, Oboavwoduo said: "Coming into the semi-finals we were prepared, and we knew that if we kept to our principles we would be hard to beat.

"I am proud to see our team's effort and dedication being rewarded over the course of the Academy season and I am happy to have contributed on both ends of the court to help in this win."

Manchester Head Coach Peter Paraskeva added: "Irene's impact on the game was felt from start to finish. She is now thriving in difficult moments and is able to contribute to team success in multiple ways.

"We are all very proud of her and our team of amazing people."

Honourable mentions:

Faith Lord (MAN) - 10P/11R/2A/3S/2B/23EFF

Monife Abidekun (CoLA) - 25P/6R/3S/24EFF

Louisa Gibbins (IPS) - 14P/11R/5A/4S/2B/23EFF

Holly Ensoll (IPS) - 12P/12R/3A/22EFF

Samantha Mullock (NOT) - 15P/16R/3A/29EFF

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