National League Round 22: Tobol defeat Aktobe in the closest game of the week

The games are now more important than at the beginning of the Regular Season. We may still expect few shocking results in upcoming 4 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

Sixth-ranked Aktobe (3-21) gave a tough game to third ranked Tobol (10-8) on Sunday. The visitors from Kostanay managed to secure only two-point victory 103-101. However their fans expected easier game. Tobol looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists. 24 personal fouls committed by Aktobe helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The former international swingman Pavel Ilyin (196-92) scored 38 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and international forward Anton Bykov (200-89) chipped in 28 points and 4 steals during the contest. At the losing side American forward Kent Hanson (198-97, college: Carleton) responded with 25 points and 7 steals. Tobol have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 10-8 record having eight points less than leader Astana. Aktobe lost fourth consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay dead last with 21 lost games. Tobol will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Aktobe will play again at home against Tobol (#3) and is hoping to prove to their fans that they can break losing series.
Very significant was Barsy Atyrau's (#2, 17-6) victory against 4th ranked Almat.Legion (7-14) 122-60. International center Vladimir Ivanov (205-94) notched 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and Pavel Sizov supported him with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Barsy Atyrau's coach Arnis Vecvagars felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 21 points and 6 rebounds by swingman Temirlan Dzhunusov (192-99) did not help to save the game for Almat.Legion. Barsy Atyrau maintains second position with 17-6 record behind leader Astana. Almat.Legion lost eighth consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the fourth place with 14 games lost. Barsy Atyrau will again play against Almat.Legion (#4) in Alma-Ata in the next round. Almat.Legion will have a break next round.

Barsy Atyrau - Almat.Legion 122-60

Very significant was Barsy Atyrau's (#2, 17-6) victory against 4th ranked Almat.Legion (7-14) 122-60. Barsy Atyrau dominated down low during the game scoring 84 of its points in the paint compared to Almat.Legion's 40 and made 20-of-22 charity shots (90.9 percent) during the game. Barsy Atyrau forced 33 Almat.Legion turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 36 assists comparing to just 17 passes made by Almat.Legion's players. International center Vladimir Ivanov (205-94) notched 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and Russian forward Pavel Sizov (200-95) supported him with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Barsy Atyrau players scored in double figures. Barsy Atyrau's coach Arnis Vecvagars felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 21 points and 6 rebounds by swingman Temirlan Dzhunusov (192-99) did not help to save the game for Almat.Legion. Point guard Daniil Severgin (178-5) added 12 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for lost side. Barsy Atyrau maintains second position with 17-6 record behind leader Astana. Almat.Legion lost eighth consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the fourth place with 14 games lost. Barsy Atyrau will again play against Almat.Legion (#4) in Alma-Ata in the next round. Almat.Legion will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Barsy Atyrau: V.Ivanov 20+8reb+4ast, P.Sizov 17+6reb+4ast, R.Cook 14+3reb+2ast, E.Marinin 12+3reb+3ast, O.Balashov 11+5reb+3ast, A.Marat 10+6reb+2ast
Almat.Legion: T.Dzhunusov 21+6reb+2ast, S.Daniil 12+8reb+7ast, D.Albrant 10+6reb+1ast, N.Timofeev 4+5reb+1ast, S.Stanislav 4+2reb+1ast, R.Kairat 3

Aktobe - Tobol 101-103

Sixth-ranked Aktobe (3-21) gave a tough game to third ranked Tobol (10-8) on Sunday. The visitors from Kostanay managed to secure only two-point victory 103-101. However their fans expected easier game. Tobol looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists. 24 personal fouls committed by Aktobe helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The former international swingman Pavel Ilyin (196-92) scored 38 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and international forward Anton Bykov (200-89) chipped in 28 points and 4 steals during the contest. At the losing side American forward Kent Hanson (198-97, college: Carleton) responded with 25 points and 7 steals and forward Sergei Bormatenkov (191-91) scored 20 points and 5 assists. Five Aktobe players scored in double figures. Tobol have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 10-8 record having eight points less than leader Astana. Aktobe lost fourth consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay dead last with 21 lost games. Tobol will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Aktobe will play again at home against Tobol (#3) and is hoping to prove to their fans that they can break losing series.
Top scorers:
Tobol: P.Ilyin 38+7reb+6ast, A.Bykov 28+4reb+1ast, S.Kuanov 17+4reb+8ast, K.Neff 7+1reb, D.Seleznyov 5+2reb+9ast, F.Karimullin 5+1ast
Aktobe: K.Hanson 25+2reb+1ast, B.Sergei 20+3reb+5ast, A.Papshiv 20+1reb+5ast, V.Gusak 17+2reb+2ast, A.Toktarov 10+2reb+7ast, S.Rovovoy 6+1ast



Tags : PAVEL ILYIN, MBK TOBOL KOSTANAY, KAZAKHSTAN BASKETBALL