The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN basketball star Jonquel Jones ended her time in the Korean Basketball League with one of her best games of the season and a championship title for her club.

Jones posted 27 points, 25 rebounds and three blocks in an 83-72 win for Woori Bank over the Samsung Life Blue Minx to complete a three-game sweep and claim the 2017 title, the fifth consecutive for the club.

Woori Bank outscored the Blue Minx 15-4 in overtime en route to the win. After taking a 41-34 lead into the half, the Blue Minx worked their way back into the game and won the next two quarters to force a 68-all tie at the end of regulation.

Jones was particularly dominant in the finals where she averaged 15.3 points and 23 rebounds per game.

In game one, she finished with 10 points and 21 rebounds in a 72-64 win followed by nine points and 23 rebounds in a 60-49 victory. Jones averaged 15.8 points, 14.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks – all team leads - in 24 minutes per game for Woori Bank in 38 games this season. She also shot 55 per cent from the field, 39 per cent from three. They finished the year 36-2 and undefeated on the road.

At the league’s award ceremony, Jones earned the Foreign Most Valuable Player Award, Defensive Player of the Year award and was named “Best Five” in the league.

Woori Bank led the league in nearly every statistical category scoring 73 points per game, top rebounders at 42.3 per game, dishing the most assists at 15.3 per game and defensively are allowing a league low 59.2 points.

Jones was selected No. 5 overall by Woori Bank in last July’s Draft following the completion of the WNBA season.

Jones finished her rookie campaign for the Connecticut Sun averaging 6.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shot in just over 14 minutes per game. She shot 53 per cent from the field and 33 per cent from three-point range.

She received one vote in the 2016 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year tally to finish in a 5-way tie for fifth behind winner Jantel Lavender. The Sun finished last season 14-20, 5th in Eastern Conference, just missing the postseason after a dramatic midseason turnaround. The  Sun will open its 15th season by hosting a two-day preseason event involving the New York Liberty, Chicago Sky and defending WNBA champion Los Angeles Sparks on May 2-3 at Mohegan Sun Arena. They will open the season on May 13, hosting the Atlanta Dream.