New JackJumper stars as NBL Select win again

Josh Bannan offered a glimpse to what he will bring to the Tasmania JackJumpers in NBL26 with a dominant showing as NBL Select prevailed 78-69 in Game 2 over B.League United at Global Invitational in Japan.

On the back of winning Game 1 on Saturday night also held at Openhouse Arena in Ota City, Tokyo, by 11 points with Kyle Adnam (Cairns Taipans) and Angus Glover (South East Melbourne Phoenix) combining for 27 points, the two teams backed it up on Sunday night.

It was in the same venue as part of the growing partnership between the NBL and Japanese basketball, and by the end of the night it was Bannan who stole the show for the NBL Select team.

After playing his first two NBL seasons at the Brisbane Bullets, the versatile and crafty big man has signed with the JackJumpers for NBL26 and the Ant Army will be salivating of the prospect of him up front alongside Will Magnay.

By the end of the night, Bannan had delivered 23 points, 19 rebounds and five assists including seven of those boards at the offensive end.

He shot 6/11 from the field and 11/12 at the foul line which saw him get to the stripe more than the B.League team put together.

Bannan proved the standout player on the court from either team, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a couple of late scares late when the Japanese team kept coming.

NBL Select coach Simon Mitchell had to keep his foot down with the team after they went into half-time leading 44-38 and seemingly in control most of the way.

Then suddenly the B.League got back within five points with 2:15 to play with a three ball from Kenny Asano.

The NBL Select team responded thanks to Sam McDaniel who showed what a nice mid-round game he has as he prepares for a return at the Brisbane Bullets after only playing one game in NBL25.

From there the NBL Select team scored the nine-point win and along with what Bannan provided, Kyle Adnam had another 12 points, two assists and two steals, and Angus Glover 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Brisbane Bullets captain Mitch Norton ended up with nine points and two assists, his NBL teammate McDaniel nine points, three rebounds and three assists, and South East Melbourne Phoenix signing Akech Aliir five points and five boards.

Illawarra Hawks championship winner Mason Peatling added four points and nine rebounds with Perth Wildcats returnee Sunday Dech having three points and two boards, and Todd Withers three points and a rebound who is currently playing in NBL1 West at Warwick Senators alongside Elijah Pepper and Cody Ellis.

The B.League United team might not have won but did delight the home crowd with some spectacular plays with Keita Inamura top-scoring with 13 points while Takuto Nakamura added 11 points, Troy Murphy Jr 11 and Jonnivius Smith 11.

B.LEAGUE GLOBAL INVITATIONAL 2025 – GAME 2

NBL SELECT TEAM 78 (Bannan 23, Adnam 12, Glover 10)

B.LEAGUE UNITED 69 (Inamura 13, Smith 11, Murphy Jr 11, Nakamura 11)

BOX SCORE