NBL Round 8 (Regular Season): Hunan is upset by Hefei

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in between second ranked Hunan (6-3) and fourth ranked Hefei (6-3) on Tuesday night. Hunan was defeated by Hefei in a tough game on the road 103-110. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Hunan. Hefei looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. The best player for the winners was American Gerry Blakes (193-1993, college: Arizona St.) who scored 24 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Serbian center Radoslav Pekovic (216-1994, agency: Olsta) chipped in 13 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. American power forward Dakari Johnson (213-1995, college: Kentucky) produced a double-double by scoring 27 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Hefei moved-up to second place, which they share with defeated Hunan. Hefei is looking forward to face Hebei (#5) on the road in the next round. Hunan will play against Jiangxi and is hoping to win this game.
Another exciting game was between eighth ranked Hubei and higher ranked Jiangsu YS where host Hubei (1-8) won against Jiangsu YS (5-4) 89-85. Guard Wantong Lu (190-2006) orchestrated the victory by scoring 20 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. Dejan Bjelic contributed with 12 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Hubei's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Slovakian power forward Vladimir Brodziansky (210-1994, college: TCU, agency: Octagon Europe) replied with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 11 rebounds for Jiangsu YS. Hubei maintains eighth position with 1-8 record. Jiangsu YS at the other side keeps the fourth place with four games lost. They share the position with Hebei. Hubei will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Jiangsu YS will play against the league's leader HK JinNiu (#1) and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Leader HK JinNiu delivered the eighth victory on Wednesday night. This time they beat 7th ranked Guangxi (2-7) 99-94. Worth to mention a quality performance of Josh Carlton who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 21 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. HK JinNiu's coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Djordje Gagic responded with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field). HK JinNiu (8-1) have an impressive six-game winning streak. They maintain first position. Loser Guangxi keeps the seventh place with seven games lost. HK JinNiu will meet at home Jiangsu YS (#4) in the next round. Guangxi will play against Hebei and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 8 Jiangxi was defeated by Hebei in a road game 105-96.



Hebei - Jiangxi 105-96

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 6th ranked Jiangxi's (3-6) road loss to fifth ranked Hebei (5-4) 96-105 on Tuesday. Hebei made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Nigerian-American swingman EJ Anosike (199-1998, college: CS Fullerton) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 28 points and 12 rebounds and American forward Eric Paschall (198-1996, college: Villanova) who added 27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists during the contest. American center Robert Upshaw (213-1994, college: Washington) responded with a double-double by scoring 30 points and 13 rebounds and his fellow American import point guard Isaiah Briscoe (190-1996, college: Kentucky) scored 26 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Hebei moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Jiangsu YS. Jiangxi lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with six games lost. Hebei will meet Guangxi (#7) on the road in the next round. Jiangxi will play against Hunan and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Jiangxi: U.Robert 30+13reb+1ast, B.Isaiah 26+5reb+5ast, W.Xiangbin 13+5reb+2ast, G.Niven 12+5reb+2ast, L.Junwen 5+2ast, W.Yixiong 4+4reb+5ast
Hebei: A.E.J. 28+12reb+3ast, P.Eric 27+7reb+7ast, X.Fuwen 19+4reb+5ast, C.Yusheng 13+1reb+4ast, W.Davion 7+1reb+1ast, J.Refukati 4+2reb+1ast

Hefei - Hunan 110-103

The most important game in the last round took place in between second ranked Hunan (6-3) and fourth ranked Hefei (6-3) on Tuesday night. Hunan was defeated by Hefei in a tough game on the road 103-110. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Hunan. Hefei looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. The best player for the winners was American Gerry Blakes (193-1993, college: Arizona St.) who scored 24 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Serbian center Radoslav Pekovic (216-1994, agency: Olsta) chipped in 13 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. American power forward Dakari Johnson (213-1995, college: Kentucky) produced a double-double by scoring 27 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists and his fellow American import guard Grant Sherfield (188-1999, college: Oklahoma, agency: Octagon Europe) added 17 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists respectively for the guests. Four Hefei and five Hunan players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Hefei moved-up to second place, which they share with defeated Hunan. Hefei is looking forward to face Hebei (#5) on the road in the next round. Hunan will play against Jiangxi and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Hunan: J.Dakari 27+13reb+5ast, S.Grant 17+5reb+10ast, L.Jiaxin 15+3reb+1ast, F.Qiurui 14+1reb+1ast, D.Yuxin 12+3reb+3ast, L.Zhanglin 11+1reb+2ast
Hefei: B.Gerry 24+8reb+7ast, L.Zihao 22+2reb, Y.Wenbo 16+2reb+5ast, P.Radoslav 13+9reb+5ast, Z.Xiran 7+3reb+7ast, M.Tianyi 7+1reb+1ast

Hubei - Jiangsu YS 89-85

Another exciting game was between eighth ranked Hubei and higher ranked Jiangsu YS where host Hubei (1-8) won against Jiangsu YS (5-4) 89-85. Guard Wantong Lu (190-2006) orchestrated the victory by scoring 20 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. Serbian center Dejan Bjelic (209-1990, agency: Octagon Europe) contributed with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Hubei's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Slovakian power forward Vladimir Brodziansky (210-1994, college: TCU, agency: Octagon Europe) replied with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 11 rebounds and Czech Tomas Kyzlink (198-1993) added 19 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Jiangsu YS. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Hubei maintains eighth position with 1-8 record. Jiangsu YS at the other side keeps the fourth place with four games lost. They share the position with Hebei. Hubei will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Jiangsu YS will play against the league's leader HK JinNiu (#1) and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Jiangsu YS: K.Tomas 19+5reb+4ast, B.Vladimir 19+11reb+1ast, S.Jianhua 15+6reb+1ast, Y.Xiang 11+2reb+3ast, H.Zhang 5+2reb+1ast, G.Yuxiang 4+1ast
Hubei: L.Wantong 20+7reb+9ast, W.Xiaoming 17+3reb+2ast, S.Yuzhuo 14+9reb, B.Dejan 12+12reb, X.Haoyu 9, X.Shiwei 8+4reb+2ast

Guangxi - HK JinNiu 94-99

Leader HK JinNiu delivered the eighth victory on Wednesday night. This time they beat 7th ranked Guangxi (2-7) 99-94. HK JinNiu shot the lights out from three sinking 15 long-distance shots on high 51.7 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. Worth to mention a quality performance of American power forward Josh Carlton (209-1999, college: Houston) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 21 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import guard Michael Ertel II (186-1999, college: UAB) who added 21 points and 8 assists during the contest. HK JinNiu's coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Serbian center Djordje Gagic (210-1990, agency: Alti Sport) responded with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field) and American guard Javion Hamlet (193-1998, college: N.Texas) scored 21 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists (was perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line !!!). Five Guangxi players scored in double figures. HK JinNiu (8-1) have an impressive six-game winning streak. They maintain first position. Loser Guangxi keeps the seventh place with seven games lost. HK JinNiu will meet at home Jiangsu YS (#4) in the next round. Guangxi will play against Hebei and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Guangxi: G.Djordje 22+9reb+4ast, H.Javion 21+6reb+6ast, Y.Kai 13+4reb+2ast, L.Joe 11+4reb, P.Zhenglin 10+1reb+9ast, L.MingHao 7+3reb+2ast
HK JinNiu: D.Jian 26+1reb+2ast, C.Josh 21+13reb+4ast, E.II Michael 21+2reb+8ast, J.Jr. Scottie 8+5reb+2ast, L.Duwei 7+1reb+1ast, Y.Wenxue 6+3ast