NBL Round 26 (Regular Season): Hunan is upset by Hangzhou

The Regular Season in NBL is slowly approaching the end. But there may be still some important changes in the final standings in the last 3 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in Hangzhou between third ranked Hunan (14-10) and tenth ranked Hangzhou (11-13) on Sunday night. Hunan was defeated by Hangzhou in a tough game on the road 90-99. Hangzhou outrebounded Hunan 42-28 including 30 on the defensive glass. Hangzhou looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was American center Trevor Thompson (210-1994, college: Ohio St., agency: Octagon Europe) who had a double-double by scoring 23 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. The other American import forward Cameron McGriff (201-1997, college: OK State) chipped in 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Hangzhou's coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American-Iraqi guard Ramon Galloway (190-1991, college: La Salle) produced a double-double by scoring 27 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals for the guests. Hangzhou have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain tenth position with 11-13 record. Hunan at the other side dropped to the fourth place with ten games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Leader HK JinNiu delivered the twentieth victory. This time they crushed 7th ranked Jiaozuo (11-12) 104-77 in Hong Kong. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Jiaozuo. Nigerian-American swingman EJ Anosike (199-1998, college: CS Fullerton) orchestrated the victory by scoring 21 points and 7 rebounds (was perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line !!!). Mason Jones contributed with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists for the winners. American-Thailand guard Tra Holder (185-1995, college: Arizona St.) replied with 23 points and 4 assists (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) for Jiaozuo. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. HK JinNiu have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 20-3 record. Jiaozuo at the other side dropped to the eighth place with 12 games lost. They share the position with Jiangsu. HK JinNiu will play against bottom-ranked Zhangjiakou (#14) at home in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Jiaozuo will play against Hubei (#13) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Bottom-ranked Zhangjiakou (0-23) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 112-83 loss to ninth ranked Jiangxi (12-11) in Zhangjiakou on Saturday evening. Michael Bryson had a double-double by scoring 42 points (!!!) and 18 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners. Viny Okouo responded with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 19 rebounds. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Jiangxi moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Hebei and Shandong. Loser Zhangjiakou still closes the standings. Jiangxi will meet Hebei (#7) on the road in the next round. Zhangjiakou will play against the league's leader HK JinNiu (#1) in Hong Kong and hopes to get finally their first victory.

In the last two games of round 26 Guizhou was crushed by Hefei in a road game 100-77. Shanghai beat Jiangsu at home 95-88.



Zhangjiakou - Jiangxi 83-112

Bottom-ranked Zhangjiakou (0-23) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 112-83 loss to ninth ranked Jiangxi (12-11) in Zhangjiakou on Saturday evening. They dominated down low during the game scoring 72 of its points in the paint compared to Zhangjiakou's 30 and made 19-of-25 free shots (76.0 percent) during the game. Jiangxi forced 21 Zhangjiakou turnovers. American guard Michael Bryson (193-1994, college: UCSB) had a double-double by scoring 42 points (!!!) and 18 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and the other American import guard Mohamed Kone (188-1998, college: Bemidji St.) chipped in 24 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. DR Congolese center Viny Okouo (214-1997) responded with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 19 rebounds and American guard Kenneth Miller (186-1995, college: OVU) scored 11 points and 7 assists. Five Zhangjiakou players scored in double figures. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Jiangxi moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Hebei and Shandong. Loser Zhangjiakou still closes the standings. Jiangxi will meet Hebei (#7) on the road in the next round. Zhangjiakou will play against the league's leader HK JinNiu (#1) in Hong Kong and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Jiangxi: M.Bryson 42+18reb+3ast, M.Kone 24+7reb+2ast, C.Wang 12+5reb, Y.Yang 9+3reb+1ast, Y.Li 8+1reb, J.Liu 6+1reb+4ast
Zhangjiakou: O.Viny 22+19reb+1ast, L.Yutian 12+3reb+1ast, S.Yudi 11+3reb, M.Kenneth 11+4reb+7ast, C.Jiahui 10, Z.Zibei 8+1reb+1ast

Hefei - Guizhou 100-77

There was no surprise when 12th ranked Guizhou (8-15) was crushed on the road by second ranked Hefei (19-4) 100-77 on Saturday. Hefei made 16-of-16 free shots (100 percent !!!) during the game. Hefei outrebounded Guizhou 37-24 including 25 on the defensive glass. Hefei looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Greek forward Dimitrios Agravanis (208-1994, agency: Diamond Sports) scored 18 points and 5 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and American forward Brandon McCoy (213-1998, college: UNLV, agency: MSG) chipped in 15 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. Five Hefei players scored in double figures. American power forward Sterling Manley (213-1998, college: UNC) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 13 rebounds and American-Puerto Rican Kyle Vinales (188-1992, college: CCSU) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 13 assists. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to get some rest. Hefei have an impressive ten-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 19-4 record behind leader HK JinNiu. Loser Guizhou keeps the twelfth place with 15 games lost. They share the position with Hubei. Hefei will meet at home Shanghai (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Guizhou will play against Anhui W. (#11) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Hefei: D.Agravanis 18+5reb+2ast, B.McCoy 15+9reb, J.Walker 12+3reb, N.Johnson 12+2reb+6ast, S.Peng 11+2reb+3ast, X.Zhang 10+1reb+2ast
Guizhou: M.Sterling 23+13reb+1ast, V.Kyle 19+2reb+13ast, L.Zhuangfei 12+3reb, L.Jianhao 8+1reb, Z.Baole 6+2reb+1ast, M.Corey 5+2reb

Shanghai - Jiangsu 95-88

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Shanghai (14-9) defeated at home 8th ranked Jiangsu (11-12) 95-88 on Saturday. Shanghai made 24-of-27 free shots (88.9 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Shanghai made 9 blocks. The game was dominated by American players. Forward Shemar Wilson (206-2001, college: UT Arlington) had a double-double by scoring 22 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 blocks to lead the charge for the winners and guard Marcus LoVett Jr (183-1996, college: St.John's, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 30 points and 4 assists (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!) during the contest. point guard Quade Green (183-1998, college: Washington) responded with 18 points and 7 assists and guard Kendall Smith (190-1995, college: OK State) scored 21 points and 5 assists. Five Jiangsu players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to get some rest. Shanghai have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place. Loser Jiangsu keeps the eighth position with 12 games lost. They share it with Jiaozuo. Shanghai will meet league's second-placed Hefei on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Jiangsu will play against Shandong (#6) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Shanghai: J.LoVett 30+4reb+4ast, S.Wilson 22+18reb+5ast, Y.Wang 16+6reb+2ast, W.Wangfan 9+2reb+5ast, W.Douglas 8+2reb+2ast, J.Tang 4+1reb+1ast
Jiangsu: S.Kendall 21+3reb+5ast, G.Quade 18+4reb+7ast, C.Xuanren 13+2reb+2ast, L.Jiahui 11+4reb+2ast, U.Robert 11+2reb+3ast, S.Jianhua 5+3reb

HK JinNiu - Jiaozuo 104-77

Leader HK JinNiu delivered the twentieth victory. This time they crushed 7th ranked Jiaozuo (11-12) 104-77 in Hong Kong. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Jiaozuo. HK JinNiu made 18-of-20 charity shots (90.0 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three nailing 18 long-distance shots on high 54.5 percentage. HK JinNiu players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. Nigerian-American swingman EJ Anosike (199-1998, college: CS Fullerton) orchestrated the victory by scoring 21 points and 7 rebounds (was perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line !!!). American guard Mason Jones (193-1998, college: Arkansas) contributed with a double-double by scoring 15 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists for the winners. Four HK JinNiu players scored in double figures. American-Thailand guard Tra Holder (185-1995, college: Arizona St.) replied with 23 points and 4 assists (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) and Czech Tomas Kyzlink (198-1993) added 16 points and 4 assists in the effort for Jiaozuo. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. HK JinNiu have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 20-3 record. Jiaozuo at the other side dropped to the eighth place with 12 games lost. They share the position with Jiangsu. HK JinNiu will play against bottom-ranked Zhangjiakou (#14) at home in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Jiaozuo will play against Hubei (#13) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
HK JinNiu: E.Anosike 21+7reb+2ast, M.Jones 15+5reb+10ast, I.Ertel 13+4reb+1ast, C.Sun 10+2reb+2ast, Y.Lu 9, D.Lu 9+3reb+2ast
Jiaozuo: H.Tra 23+1reb+4ast, K.Tomas 16+4reb+4ast, W.Sonny 11+4reb+6ast, J.Jiakai 9+3reb+1ast, L.Ruibo 6+1reb+2ast, F.Bofan 3+2reb

Hangzhou - Hunan 99-90

The most important game in the last round took place in Hangzhou between third ranked Hunan (14-10) and tenth ranked Hangzhou (11-13) on Sunday night. Hunan was defeated by Hangzhou in a tough game on the road 90-99. Hangzhou outrebounded Hunan 42-28 including 30 on the defensive glass. Hangzhou looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was American center Trevor Thompson (210-1994, college: Ohio St., agency: Octagon Europe) who had a double-double by scoring 23 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. The other American import forward Cameron McGriff (201-1997, college: OK State) chipped in 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Hangzhou's coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American-Iraqi guard Ramon Galloway (190-1991, college: La Salle) produced a double-double by scoring 27 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals and forward Jiaxin Liu (200-1998) added 17 points and 8 rebounds respectively for the guests. Four Hangzhou and five Hunan players scored in double figures. Hangzhou have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain tenth position with 11-13 record. Hunan at the other side dropped to the fourth place with ten games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Hangzhou: T.Thompson 23+11reb+4ast, X.Huang 21+2reb+2ast, C.McGriff 15+6reb+5ast, K.Si 12+9reb+2ast, J.Howard 9+2reb+4ast, R.Zhu 5+5reb
Hunan: G.Ramon 27+7reb+10ast, K.Stanton 18+4reb+4ast, L.Jiaxin 17+8reb+2ast, L.Jiange 12+2reb+1ast, X.ZhongHao 10+5reb, Y.Jialong 4+2reb+1ast