National League Round 7 of Regular Season

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

First defeat of league's leader Irbis (5-1) against second ranked Barsy Atyrau (6-2) 82-59 was the most important game of the last round. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Irbis. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Barsy Atyrau dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Irbis' 28. They outrebounded Irbis 43-28 including 29 on the defensive glass. Barsy Atyrau looked well-organized offensively handing out 33 assists comparing to just 19 passes made by Irbis' players. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Jarvis Garrett (182-1995, college: URI) who helped to win the game recording 24 points. His fellow American import forward Jamaure Gregg (201-1999, college: NSU) contributed with 20 points for the winners. American point guard Marcus Myers (185-1996, college: Aurora, agency: Octagon Europe) answered with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for Irbis. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Barsy Atyrau keeps a position of league leader. Irbis at the other side dropped to the second place with one game lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Barsy Atyrau. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
The game had a very big importance for first-ranked Irbis as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Irbis defeated their biggest opponent Barsy Atyrau on the road 89-85. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. It was a great evening for international center Robert Pan (202-1995) who led his team to a victory scoring 23 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Marcus Myers helped adding 13 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. At the losing side American point guard Jarvis Garrett (182-1995, college: URI) responded with 29 points and 7 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Irbis (5-1) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. As mentioned above they took over a top position. Barsy Atyrau at the other side still keeps top place with two games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Aktobe (4-2) against fourth ranked Tobol (4-2) on Thursday night. Visiting Aktobe was crushed by Tobol in Kostanay 101-76. It was an exceptional evening for Dmitriy Doynikov who led the winners and scored 30 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Tobol's coach Timur Sultanov felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Adilhan Marat came up with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists for Aktobe in the defeat. Tobol moved-up to third place, which they share with defeated Aktobe. Tobol will meet Almaty L. (#6) on the road in the next round. Aktobe will have a break next round.

In the last game of round 7 Astana Ac. smashed Caspiy Aktau on the road 92-68.
The most impressive performance of 7th round was 22 points by Valeriy Likhodey of Astana Ac..



Tobol - Aktobe 101-76

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Aktobe (4-2) against fourth ranked Tobol (4-2) on Thursday night. Visiting Aktobe was crushed by Tobol in Kostanay 101-76. Tobol looked well-organized offensively handing out 35 assists comparing to just 21 passes made by Aktobe's players. It was an exceptional evening for Russian Dmitriy Doynikov (204-1994) who led the winners and scored 30 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international forward Anton Bykov (200-1989) accounted for 19 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side. Tobol's coach Timur Sultanov felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The former international point guard Adilhan Marat (185-1999) came up with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists and American center Jai Williams (206-1995, college: St.Joseph's) added 18 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Aktobe in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Tobol moved-up to third place, which they share with defeated Aktobe. Tobol will meet Almaty L. (#6) on the road in the next round. Aktobe will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Aktobe: J.Williams 18+6reb, A.Marat 14+7reb+6ast, V.Petrishinets 12+6reb+1ast, B.Nazmutdinov 11+3reb+8ast, K.Neff 7+2reb+1ast, A.Papshiv 7+4reb
Tobol: D.Doynikov 30+9reb+5ast, A.Bykov 19+11reb+5ast, S.Kuanov 14+6reb+15ast, R.Valiyev 12+2reb+4ast, B.Adilbek 9+1reb, P.Ilyin 6+5reb+2ast

Barsy Atyrau - Irbis 85-89

The game had a very big importance for first-ranked Irbis as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Irbis defeated their biggest opponent Barsy Atyrau on the road 89-85. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Irbis players were unselfish on offense dishing 32 assists. Barsy Atyrau was plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a great evening for international center Robert Pan (202-1995) who led his team to a victory scoring 23 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). American point guard Marcus Myers (185-1996, college: Aurora, agency: Octagon Europe) helped adding 13 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. At the losing side American point guard Jarvis Garrett (182-1995, college: URI) responded with 29 points and 7 assists and the former international center Vladimir Ivanov (208-1994) scored 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Five Irbis and four Barsy Atyrau players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Irbis (5-1) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. As mentioned above they took over a top position. Barsy Atyrau at the other side still keeps top place with two games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Barsy Atyrau: J.Garrett 29+1reb+7ast, R.Bogdan 16+3ast, V.Ivanov 12+6reb+4ast, V.Hendrix 10+7reb+5ast, J.Gregg 7+3reb+2ast, M.Uapov 6+1reb+4ast
Irbis: R.Pan 23+7reb+9ast, L.Anderson 18+4reb+3ast, M.Myers 13+6reb+6ast, A.Zhigulin 11+6reb+3ast, N.Giga 10+2reb+2ast, N.Bazhin 7+1reb+4ast

Barsy Atyrau - Irbis 82-59

First defeat of league's leader Irbis (5-1) against second ranked Barsy Atyrau (6-2) 82-59 was the most important game of the last round. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Irbis. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Barsy Atyrau dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Irbis' 28. They outrebounded Irbis 43-28 including 29 on the defensive glass. Barsy Atyrau looked well-organized offensively handing out 33 assists comparing to just 19 passes made by Irbis' players. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Jarvis Garrett (182-1995, college: URI) who helped to win the game recording 24 points. His fellow American import forward Jamaure Gregg (201-1999, college: NSU) contributed with 20 points for the winners. American point guard Marcus Myers (185-1996, college: Aurora, agency: Octagon Europe) answered with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists and international center Robert Pan (202-1995) added 13 points and 8 rebounds in the effort for Irbis. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Barsy Atyrau keeps a position of league leader. Irbis at the other side dropped to the second place with one game lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Barsy Atyrau. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Irbis: M.Myers 17+5reb+7ast, R.Pan 13+8reb+3ast, A.Zhigulin 9+1reb+1ast, L.Anderson 7, N.Giga 5+6reb+1ast, A.Kozyrkin 5+2reb+3ast
Barsy Atyrau: J.Garrett 24+1reb+3ast, J.Gregg 20+4reb+1ast, V.Ivanov 11+7reb+4ast, V.Hendrix 9+11reb+4ast, S.Ramazan 6+2reb+3ast, T.Timur 5+3reb+1ast

Caspiy Aktau - Astana Ac. 68-92

The game between closely ranked teams ended with sixth ranked Astana Ac.'s (4-3) road victory over 7th ranked Caspiy Aktau (1-6) 92-68 on Saturday. Astana Ac. dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Caspiy Aktau's 22. Astana Ac. forced 21 Caspiy Aktau turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. It was an exceptional evening for Russian Valeriy Likhodey (205-1986) who led the winners and scored 22 points. Russian center Igor Kanygin (207-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) accounted for 8 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side. American power forward LaDarius Marshall (201-1999, college: Alcorn St.) came up with 7 points and 16 rebounds and guard Zhanibek Dzhakauov (172-2002) added 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Caspiy Aktau in the defeat. 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. Astana Ac. moved-up to fifth place. Caspiy Aktau at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the seventh position with six games lost. Astana Ac. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Caspiy Aktau will play again against Astana Ac. (#5) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Caspiy Aktau: K.Aleksandr 13+1reb+2ast, D.Zhanibek 13+5reb+4ast, V.Kurochkin 11+2reb+2ast, K.Gabiden 9+1reb+3ast, L.Marshall 7+16reb+1ast, D.Dmitry 5+2reb
Astana Ac.: V.Likhodey 22+4reb+2ast, M.Sarsengaliev 13+3reb+7ast, S.Amirali 10+2reb+2ast, V.Simonov 9+5reb+3ast, I.Kanygin 8+14reb+5ast, M.Zahar 7+1reb+1ast