National League Round 1 (Regular Season): Almaty L. is defeated by Irbis

The Regular Season in National League just started. Coincidentally all visitors won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Almaty: Irbis and Almaty L.. Almaty L. was defeated at home 80-91 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Irbis made 25-of-33 free shots (75.8 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists comparing to just 8 passes made by Almaty L.'s players. 26 personal fouls committed by Almaty L. helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Lithuanian power forward Norbertas Giga (208-1995, college: Jax State) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) for the winners and international center Robert Pan (202-1995) chipped in 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. At the losing side Russian forward Hasan Kipkeev (200-2000) responded with 33 points (!!!). Almaty L.'s coach Iakov Fokin rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Another exciting game was again a derby between two teams from Almaty: Irbis and Almaty L.. Almaty L. was crushed at home by 26 points 82-108 and even the fact of playing on their own court did not help. American point guard Marcus Myers (185-1996, college: Aurora, agency: Octagon Europe) nailed a double-double by scoring 29 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals (made all of his eight free throws) for the winning side and Norbertas Giga accounted for 13 points and 12 rebounds. point guard Daniil Severgin (183-2005) came up with 17 points and 5 rebounds for Almaty L. in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
The game in Astana was also quite interesting. Aktobe played at the court of Astana Ac.. Aktobe managed to secure a 9-point victory 83-74 on Wednesday. Jai Williams fired 18 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Igor Kanygin produced a double-double by scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) for lost side. Astana Ac.'s coach Mikhail Lonshakov tested ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last game of round 1 Aktobe won against Astana Ac. on the opponent's court 83-72.



Astana Ac. - Aktobe 74-83

The game in Astana was also quite interesting. Aktobe played at the court of Astana Ac.. Aktobe managed to secure a 9-point victory 83-74 on Wednesday. Aktobe forced 21 Astana Ac. turnovers. American center Jai Williams (206-1995, college: St.Joseph's) fired 18 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Russian Boris Nazmutdinov (192-1996) chipped in 18 points and 5 rebounds. Four Aktobe players scored in double figures. Russian center Igor Kanygin (207-1994) produced a double-double by scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) and guard Amirali Suleimenov (192-2003) added 18 points respectively for lost side. Astana Ac.'s coach Mikhail Lonshakov tested ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Astana Ac.: S.Amirali 18+3reb, I.Kanygin 15+11reb+3ast, M.Sarsengaliev 12+2reb+5ast, V.Likhodey 11+7reb, A.Orazbekov 8+5reb+6ast, V.Simonov 7+8reb+3ast
Aktobe: B.Nazmutdinov 18+5reb+3ast, J.Williams 18+8reb+1ast, A.Papshiv 15+8reb+2ast, V.Petrishinets 14+9reb+1ast, A.Marat 8+3reb+8ast, B.Sergei 6+6reb+2ast

Almaty L. - Irbis 80-91

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Almaty: Irbis and Almaty L.. Almaty L. was defeated at home 80-91 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Irbis made 25-of-33 free shots (75.8 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists comparing to just 8 passes made by Almaty L.'s players. 26 personal fouls committed by Almaty L. helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Lithuanian power forward Norbertas Giga (208-1995, college: Jax State) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) for the winners and international center Robert Pan (202-1995) chipped in 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Five Irbis players scored in double figures. At the losing side Russian forward Hasan Kipkeev (200-2000) responded with 33 points (!!!) and point guard Daniil Severgin (183-2005) scored 15 points. Almaty L.'s coach Iakov Fokin rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Almaty L.: K.Hasan 33+3reb+2ast, S.Daniil 15+3reb+3ast, A.Chilikin 12+2reb, S.Stanislav 6+3reb, F.Nikita 6+8reb+1ast, N.Timofeev 4+7reb
Irbis: N.Giga 16+11reb+4ast, R.Pan 15+8reb+4ast, L.Anderson 14+3reb+6ast, N.Bazhin 14+6reb+1ast, M.Myers 12+7reb+5ast, V.Fabrikantov 6+1reb+1ast

Astana Ac. - Aktobe 72-83

Very expected game when Astana Ac. was defeated at home by Aktobe 83-72 on Thursday. Aktobe made 17-of-20 free shots (85.0 percent) during the game. American center Jai Williams (206-1995, college: St.Joseph's) fired 14 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Russian Boris Nazmutdinov (192-1996) chipped in 15 points and 5 rebounds. Russian Valeriy Likhodey (205-1986) produced 18 points and 5 rebounds and Russian center Igor Kanygin (207-1994) added 11 points and 10 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Astana Ac.: V.Likhodey 18+5reb+3ast, V.Simonov 14+5reb, I.Kanygin 11+10reb+1ast, S.Amirali 8+4reb+1ast, M.Sarsengaliev 7+2reb+5ast, A.Sardal 6+3reb
Aktobe: B.Nazmutdinov 15+5reb+2ast, J.Williams 14+7reb+1ast, A.Marat 14+1ast, V.Petrishinets 12+4reb+2ast, B.Sergei 8+7reb+2ast, A.Papshiv 7+5reb+4ast

Almaty L. - Irbis 82-108

Another exciting game was again a derby between two teams from Almaty: Irbis and Almaty L.. Almaty L. was crushed at home by 26 points 82-108 and even the fact of playing on their own court did not help. Irbis made 24-of-29 charity shots (82.8 percent) during the game. Irbis outrebounded Almaty L. 46-34 including 20 on the offensive glass. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists. Almaty L. was plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. American point guard Marcus Myers (185-1996, college: Aurora, agency: Octagon Europe) nailed a double-double by scoring 29 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals (made all of his eight free throws) for the winning side and Lithuanian power forward Norbertas Giga (208-1995, college: Jax State) accounted for 13 points and 12 rebounds. Five Irbis players scored in double figures. Point guard Daniil Severgin (183-2005) came up with 17 points and 5 rebounds and Russian forward Hasan Kipkeev (200-2000) added 9 points and 10 assists respectively for Almaty L. in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Almaty L.: S.Daniil 17+5reb+3ast, A.Chilikin 14+6reb, D.Albrant 11+5reb, N.Timofeev 9+4reb+1ast, K.Hasan 9+4reb+10ast, F.Nikita 6+3reb
Irbis: M.Myers 29+11reb+5ast, L.Anderson 22+3ast, A.Zhigulin 20+7reb, N.Giga 13+12reb+3ast, N.Bazhin 12+9reb+4ast, R.Pan 5+5reb+5ast