Premier League Round 11 (Regular Season): Geresa lose to Philadelphia

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Geresa (8-2) at the home court on Friday night. Hosts were edged by Philadelphia (9-2) 70-67. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Geresa. It was a key game for the top position in the league. It was a great evening for Croatian power forward Josip Mikulic (215-1993, college: Fairfield, agency: Interperformances) who led his team to a victory scoring 20 points and 9 rebounds. International guard Malek Kanaan (182-1993, college: W.Valley JC) helped adding 12 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Philadelphia's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American point guard Byron Maxwell (175-1993, college: LeMoyne-Owen) responded with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Philadelphia have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader. Geresa at the other side, also newcomer in the league, dropped to the second place with two games lost. Philadelphia are looking forward to face Arabella (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Geresa will play against Petra (#3) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Important game to mention about took place in . Fourth ranked Rum (6-5) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 5th ranked Pella (4-6) 76-75 in the game for the fourth place. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Hunter Strait (188-2000, college: Truman St.) who led the winners and scored 23 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals. Hashem Abbas accounted for 20 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. American power forward Devin Gilmore (200-1997, college: Murray St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds for Pella in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. The victory was the third consecutive win for Rum. Newly promoted Rum maintains fourth place with 6-5 record. Pella at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the fifth position with six games lost. They share it with Arabella. Rum will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Pella will play against Ayla (#8) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Bottom-ranked Ayla (0-10) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their tenth consecutive match to third ranked Petra (8-3) 89-70 on Friday evening. The best player for the winners was Gregoryshon Magee who had a double-double by scoring 42 points (!!!) and 23 rebounds (on 17-of-18 shooting from the field). Patrick Burnett produced 32 points and 9 rebounds for the guests. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Newly promoted Petra maintains third place with 8-3 record behind leader Philadelphia. Ayla lost their tenth game in a row. Ayla at the other side, also newcomer in the league, still closes the standings with ten games lost. Petra will meet at home league's second-placed Geresa in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Ayla will play against Pella (#5) and hopes to get finally their first victory.




Petra - Ayla 89-70

Bottom-ranked Ayla (0-10) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their tenth consecutive match to third ranked Petra (8-3) 89-70 on Friday evening. Petra dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Ayla's 34. They outrebounded Ayla 56-29 including a 40-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was American power forward Gregoryshon Magee (211-1990, college: USA) who had a double-double by scoring 42 points (!!!) and 23 rebounds (on 17-of-18 shooting from the field). Point guard Ammar Bostami (180-1991) chipped in 4 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists. Magee is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American guard Patrick Burnett (193-1995, college: York, NE) produced 32 points and 9 rebounds and Mohammad Zaghab added 17 points and 7 rebounds respectively for the guests. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Newly promoted Petra maintains third place with 8-3 record behind leader Philadelphia. Ayla lost their tenth game in a row. Ayla at the other side, also newcomer in the league, still closes the standings with ten games lost. Petra will meet at home league's second-placed Geresa in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Ayla will play against Pella (#5) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Petra: G.Magee 42+23reb, K.Abuaboud 13+7reb+3ast, M.AlShamali 10+1ast, Y.Hijazi 10+4reb+4ast, B.Abu Abood 8+6reb+1ast, A.Bostami 4+12reb+9ast
Ayla: P.Burnett 32+9reb+3ast, M.Zaghab 17+7reb+2ast, J.Shows 12+4reb+1ast, A.Al Nawaisheh 5+1reb, K.Abu Shawer 4+3reb, S.Abu Alwafa 0

Pella - Rum 75-76

Important game to mention about took place in . Fourth ranked Rum (6-5) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 5th ranked Pella (4-6) 76-75 in the game for the fourth place. Rum outrebounded Pella 54-42 including a 19-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Rum players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Hunter Strait (188-2000, college: Truman St.) who led the winners and scored 23 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals. International forward Hashem Abbas (198-1999, college: Bridgeport) accounted for 20 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side. Four Rum players scored in double figures. American power forward Devin Gilmore (200-1997, college: Murray St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds and international swingman Ahmad Hammouri (195-2003) added 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Pella in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. The victory was the third consecutive win for Rum. Newly promoted Rum maintains fourth place with 6-5 record. Pella at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the fifth position with six games lost. They share it with Arabella. Rum will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Pella will play against Ayla (#8) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Rum: H.Strait 23+7reb+7ast, H.Abbas 20+7reb+6ast, A.Alhendi 13+6reb+4ast, K.Thaher 11+15reb+2ast, M.Nasereddin 5+11reb+1ast, A.Zoubi 4+4reb+1ast
Pella: D.Gilmore 20+10reb+3ast, A.Hammouri 14+5reb+4ast, A.Hassouneh 10+6reb+5ast, G.Faraj 9+2reb+1ast, M.Shaher 8+2reb, A.Husseini 5+7reb+4ast

Geresa - Philadelphia 67-70

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Geresa (8-2) at the home court on Friday night. Hosts were edged by Philadelphia (9-2) 70-67. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Geresa. It was a key game for the top position in the league. It was a great evening for Croatian power forward Josip Mikulic (215-1993, college: Fairfield, agency: Interperformances) who led his team to a victory scoring 20 points and 9 rebounds. International guard Malek Kanaan (182-1993, college: W.Valley JC) helped adding 12 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Four Philadelphia players scored in double figures. Philadelphia's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American point guard Byron Maxwell (175-1993, college: LeMoyne-Owen) responded with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals and Ahmad Alhamarsheh scored 11 points and 9 rebounds. Philadelphia have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader. Geresa at the other side, also newcomer in the league, dropped to the second place with two games lost. Philadelphia are looking forward to face Arabella (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Geresa will play against Petra (#3) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Philadelphia: J.Mikulic 20+9reb+2ast, Z.Najdawi 12+10reb+1ast, M.Kanaan 12+8reb+6ast, S.Abusalem 11+3reb, F.Qarmash 6+10reb+9ast, R.Basatneh 4+1reb
Geresa: B.Maxwell 23+6reb+5ast, A.Alhamarsheh 11+9reb+3ast, Y.Al Taweel 10+6reb, A.Al Shiyab 8+1reb+2ast, A.Kanaan 6+5reb, A.Dajani 4+1ast