National League Round 11 (Regular Season): Astana Ac. is defeated by Irtysh

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between third ranked Astana Ac. (8-3) and eighth ranked Irtysh (0-11) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Astana Ac. was defeated by Irtysh in a tough game in Pavlodar 77-86. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Astana Ac.. Strangely Astana Ac. outrebounded Irtysh 31-0 including a 23- advantage in defensive rebounds. It was a great evening for American point guard Keshon Tabb (180-1999, college: Rust) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 37 points (!!!), 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals. Forward Nazim Adylbekov (200-2001) helped adding 17 points and 10 rebounds. Russian center Igor Kanygin (207-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds. Astana Ac.'s coach Mikhail Lonshakov rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. It was the only win of host team this round and in all other games visitors recorded victories. Newly promoted Irtysh maintains eighth place with 0-11 record. Astana Ac. at the other side, also newcomer in the league, dropped to the second position with three games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Aktobe. 4th placed host Aktobe (5-5) was smashed by first ranked Irbis (9-1) 114-95. It was an exceptional evening for international center Robert Pan (202-1995) who led the winners and scored 33 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 8 assists (on 13-of-15 shooting from the field). Norbertas Giga accounted for 17 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Irbis' coach Ramunas Cvirka allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American point guard Shakir Smith (185-1992, college: ASU) came up with 26 points and 4 assists for Aktobe in the defeat. Irbis have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place with 9-1 record. Aktobe at the other side keeps the fourth position with five games lost. They share it with Tobol. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Aktobe. 4th placed host Aktobe (5-5) was smashed by first ranked Irbis (9-1) 86-64. The best player for the winners was Marcus Myers who had a double-double by scoring 16 points, 10 assists and 4 steals. Vassiliy Petrishinets produced 13 points for the hosts. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Irbis have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place with 9-1 record. Loser Aktobe keeps the fourth position with five games lost. They share it with Tobol. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last game of round 11 Astana Ac. won against Irtysh on the opponent's court 90-76.



Aktobe - Irbis 95-114

The game between Top Four teams took place in Aktobe. 4th placed host Aktobe (5-5) was smashed by first ranked Irbis (9-1) 114-95. Irbis dominated down low during the game scoring 72 of its points in the paint compared to Aktobe's 46. They outrebounded Aktobe 40-18 including a 28-12 advantage in defensive rebounds. Irbis players were unselfish on offense dishing 40 assists comparing to just 24 passes made by Aktobe's players. It was an exceptional evening for international center Robert Pan (202-1995) who led the winners and scored 33 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 8 assists (on 13-of-15 shooting from the field). Lithuanian power forward Norbertas Giga (208-1995, college: Jax State) accounted for 17 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field) for the winning side. Irbis' coach Ramunas Cvirka allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American point guard Shakir Smith (185-1992, college: ASU) came up with 26 points and 4 assists and Russian Boris Nazmutdinov (192-1996) added 21 points and 4 assists respectively for Aktobe in the defeat. Five Irbis and four Aktobe players scored in double figures. Irbis have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place with 9-1 record. Aktobe at the other side keeps the fourth position with five games lost. They share it with Tobol. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Aktobe: S.Smith 26+4ast, B.Nazmutdinov 21+3reb+4ast, K.Neff 17+2ast, J.Williams 11+4reb, B.Sergei 6+5reb+1ast, A.Marat 6+2reb+8ast
Irbis: R.Pan 33+7reb+8ast, L.Anderson 19+2reb+5ast, N.Giga 17+13reb+6ast, M.Myers 13+6reb+7ast, A.Zhigulin 13+3reb+3ast, N.Bazhin 12+5reb+3ast

Aktobe - Irbis 64-86

The game between Top Four teams took place in Aktobe. 4th placed host Aktobe (5-5) was smashed by first ranked Irbis (9-1) 86-64. Irbis forced 22 Aktobe turnovers and outrebounded them 37-22 including a 28-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. Irbis looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists. The best player for the winners was American point guard Marcus Myers (185-1996, college: Aurora, agency: Octagon Europe) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points, 10 assists and 4 steals. International center Robert Pan (202-1995) chipped in 19 points and 6 rebounds. Forward Vassiliy Petrishinets (198-1989) produced 13 points and American center Jai Williams (206-1995, college: St.Joseph's) added 14 points and 5 rebounds respectively for the hosts. Five Irbis and four Aktobe players scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Irbis have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place with 9-1 record. Loser Aktobe keeps the fourth position with five games lost. They share it with Tobol. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Aktobe: J.Williams 14+5reb, V.Petrishinets 13+4reb+2ast, K.Neff 11+3reb+3ast, S.Smith 11+1reb+3ast, A.Papshiv 6+2reb+1ast, B.Sergei 5+4reb+1ast
Irbis: R.Pan 19+6reb+3ast, M.Myers 16+4reb+10ast, L.Anderson 15+5reb+2ast, N.Giga 13+7reb+3ast, N.Bazhin 10+3reb+3ast, A.Zhigulin 5+6reb+5ast

Irtysh - Astana Ac. 76-90

Very expected game in Pavlodar where bottom-ranked Irtysh (0-11) was defeated by third ranked Astana Ac. (8-3) 90-76 on Friday. Astana Ac. dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Irtysh's 32 and made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. Astana Ac. forced 23 Irtysh turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was Russian Valeriy Likhodey (205-1986) who scored 32 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. The former international point guard Magzhan Sarsengaliev (187-2002) chipped in 12 points, 6 assists and 4 steals. American point guard Keshon Tabb (180-1999, college: Rust) produced 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals and guard Nikita Gushchin (192-1991) added 15 points respectively for the hosts. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Astana Ac. have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They moved-up to second place. Irtysh at the other side, also newcomer in the league, still closes the standings with 11 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Irtysh: K.Tabb 19+5reb+5ast, N.Gushchin 15+3reb+1ast, S.Meyrambek 13+4reb+2ast, A.Nazim 11+8reb, B.Vadim 6+1reb+1ast, B.Marlen 3
Astana Ac.: V.Likhodey 32+5reb+7ast, M.Sarsengaliev 12+6ast, I.Kanygin 11+3reb+1ast, V.Simonov 11+5reb+1ast, A.Orazbekov 9+3reb+3ast, D.Vadim 6+1reb

Irtysh - Astana Ac. 86-77

The game between third ranked Astana Ac. (8-3) and eighth ranked Irtysh (0-11) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Astana Ac. was defeated by Irtysh in a tough game in Pavlodar 77-86. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Astana Ac.. Strangely Astana Ac. outrebounded Irtysh 31-0 including a 23- advantage in defensive rebounds. It was a great evening for American point guard Keshon Tabb (180-1999, college: Rust) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 37 points (!!!), 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals. Forward Nazim Adylbekov (200-2001) helped adding 17 points and 10 rebounds. Tabb is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Russian center Igor Kanygin (207-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds and guard Valeriy Simonov (194-2002) scored 10 points and 6 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Astana Ac.'s coach Mikhail Lonshakov rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. It was the only win of host team this round and in all other games visitors recorded victories. Newly promoted Irtysh maintains eighth place with 0-11 record. Astana Ac. at the other side, also newcomer in the league, dropped to the second position with three games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Astana Ac.: I.Kanygin 23+14reb, A.Orazbekov 16+1reb+1ast, V.Simonov 10+6reb+3ast, V.Likhodey 10+5reb+1ast, I.Vladislav 8+2reb+5ast, M.Sarsengaliev 4+2ast
Ertis: K.Tabb 37+10reb+8ast, A.Nazim 17+10reb+1ast, S.Meyrambek 11+1ast, I.Ali 10+4reb+2ast, N.Gushchin 6+4reb, Z.Shakhnazar 3