Round 8 (Regular Season): Kings lose to Ryukyu

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Top ranked Taiwanese Kings (4-2) recorded its second loss in Okinawa on Wednesday night. Visitors were rolled over by third ranked Japanese Golden Kings (3-3) 90-67. Ryukyu forced 20 Kings turnovers. The best player for the winners was American power forward Allen Durham (198-1988, college: Grace Christian) who scored 21 points and 5 rebounds. The other American import forward Victor Law (201-1995, college: Northwestern, agency: Pensack Sports) chipped in 16 points and 9 rebounds. Australian guard Hayden Blankley (198-2000, college: WT) produced 16 points for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Defending Japanese champion maintains third position with 3-3 record having just one point less than leader Kings. Kings at the other side still keep top place with two games lost.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Makati. Second ranked South Korean Anyang faced 3rd ranked Filipino TNT Tropang. Guests from Anyang (3-1) defeated host TNT Tropang (1-5) 88-76. American Robert Carter (206-1994, college: Maryland) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists. Jamil Wilson contributed with 15 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. American-Jordanian forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (201-1995, college: Arizona) replied with 33 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 7 assists for TNT Tropang. TNT Tropang's coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Defending South Korean champion maintains second position with 3-1 record having just three points less than leader Kings. TNT Tropang at the other side dropped to the fourth place with five games lost. Anyang will play against Fubon Braves (#3) in Taipei in the next round, which may be the game of the day. TNT Tropang will have a break next round.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Seoul. Third ranked South Korean Knights faced top-ranked Taiwanese Kings. Host Knights (3-2) smashed guests from Taipei (4-2) 89-57. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Worth to mention a great performance of Jameel Warney who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!), 18 rebounds and 6 assists. Tony Mitchell responded with 12 points and 9 rebounds. Kings' coach gave up on the game allowing to play twelve players seeing no chance for a win. Seoul Knights moved-up to second place. Loser Kings still keep top position with two games lost. Seoul Knights will meet at home Meralco Bolts (#4) in the next round. Kings will have a break next round.




Ryukyu GK - Kings 90-67

Top ranked Taiwanese Kings (4-2) recorded its second loss in Okinawa on Wednesday night. Visitors were rolled over by third ranked Japanese Golden Kings (3-3) 90-67. Ryukyu forced 20 Kings turnovers. The best player for the winners was American power forward Allen Durham (198-1988, college: Grace Christian) who scored 21 points and 5 rebounds. The other American import forward Victor Law (201-1995, college: Northwestern, agency: Pensack Sports) chipped in 16 points and 9 rebounds. Durham is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Golden Kings players scored in double figures. Australian guard Hayden Blankley (198-2000, college: WT) produced 16 points and Taiwanese-American guard Joseph Lin (186-1992, college: Hamilton) added 13 points respectively for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Defending Japanese champion maintains third position with 3-3 record having just one point less than leader Kings. Kings at the other side still keep top place with two games lost.
Top scorers:
Ryukyu GK: A.Durham 21+5reb+3ast, M.Yoshiyuki 17+2reb, V.Law 16+9reb+3ast, K.Imamura 10+5reb+1ast, W.Hugh 8+7reb, W.Masahiro 8+2reb
Kings: H.Blankley 16+4reb+2ast, J.Lin 13+2reb+1ast, C.Yang 9+1reb+2ast, J.Lin 8+3reb+2ast, T.Mitchell 6+7reb+1ast, C.Anigwe 5+9reb+1ast

TNT Tropang - Anyang 76-88

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Makati. Second ranked South Korean Anyang faced 3rd ranked Filipino TNT Tropang. Guests from Anyang (3-1) defeated host TNT Tropang (1-5) 88-76. Anyang outrebounded TNT Tropang 42-31 including a 35-22 advantage in defensive rebounds. Anyang players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. American Robert Carter (206-1994, college: Maryland) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists. The other American import forward Jamil Wilson (201-1990, college: Marquette) contributed with a double-double by scoring 15 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Five Anyang players scored in double figures. American-Jordanian forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (201-1995, college: Arizona) replied with 33 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 7 assists and American forward Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (199-1991, college: Temple) added 20 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals in the effort for TNT Tropang. TNT Tropang's coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Defending South Korean champion maintains second position with 3-1 record having just three points less than leader Kings. TNT Tropang at the other side dropped to the fourth place with five games lost. Anyang will play against Fubon Braves (#3) in Taipei in the next round, which may be the game of the day. TNT Tropang will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Anyang: C.Sung-Won 23+4reb+2ast, R.Carter 22+14reb+7ast, J.Park 15+6reb+7ast, J.Wilson 15+14reb+4ast, B.Bae 11+3reb+2ast, J.Jeong-Won 2+1reb
TNT Tropang: R.Hollis-Jefferson 33+7reb+7ast, R.Hollis-Jefferson 20+12reb+5ast, R.Reyes 6+1reb+2ast, G.Khobuntin 5+2reb+2ast, M.Ganuelas-Rosser 4+1reb, J.Ponferrada 2+1ast

Seoul Knights - Kings 89-57

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Seoul. Third ranked South Korean Knights faced top-ranked Taiwanese Kings. Host Knights (3-2) smashed guests from Taipei (4-2) 89-57. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Seoul Knights made 16-of-21 free shots (76.2 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American center Jameel Warney (203-1994, college: Stony Brook) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!), 18 rebounds and 6 assists and the other American import power forward Leon Williams (203-1986, college: Ohio) who added 17 points and 8 rebounds during the contest. Four Knights players scored in double figures. American-Mexican forward Tony Mitchell (203-1992, college: N.Texas) responded with 12 points and 9 rebounds and Taiwanese-American guard Joseph Lin (186-1992, college: Hamilton) scored 10 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Kings' coach gave up on the game allowing to play twelve players seeing no chance for a win. Seoul Knights moved-up to second place. Loser Kings still keep top position with two games lost. Seoul Knights will meet at home Meralco Bolts (#4) in the next round. Kings will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Seoul Knights: J.Warney 34+18reb+6ast, L.Williams 17+8reb+3ast, O.Jaehyun 11+5ast, K.Hyung-Bin 10+1reb+1ast, W.Yaung 6+2reb+7ast, J.Seonghwan 4+1reb+1ast
Kings: T.Mitchell 12+9reb+3ast, J.Lin 10+5reb+7ast, C.Yang 10+3reb+1ast, H.Blankley 7+1reb+1ast, C.Anigwe 5+10reb+1ast, W.Po-Chih 5+3reb+1ast