National League Round 13 (Regular Season): Irbis defeat Astana Ac. in the game between Top 4 teams

Coincidentally all visitors won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

An interesting game for Irbis (13-1) which played road game in Astana against 3rd placed Astana Ac. (8-6). First ranked Irbis managed to get a 12-point victory 82-70. Irbis made 22-of-26 free shots (84.6 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 Astana Ac. turnovers and outrebounded them 44-31 including 31 on the defensive glass. Irbis looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Lorenzo Anderson (190-2000, college: Peru St.) who helped to win the game recording 22 points and 5 rebounds. Lithuanian power forward Norbertas Giga (208-1995, college: Jax State) contributed with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. The former international point guard Magzhan Sarsengaliev (187-2002) answered with 19 points and 4 steals for Astana Ac.Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Irbis have an impressive series of eight victories in a row. They maintain first place with 13-1 record. Astana Ac. lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team dropped to the fourth position with six games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
An interesting game for Irbis (13-1) which played road game in Astana against 3rd placed Astana Ac. (8-6). First ranked Irbis had an easy win 71-55. The former international forward Nikolay Bazhin (198-1990) stepped up and scored 17 points and 8 rebounds for the winners and Norbertas Giga chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds. At the losing side Russian center Igor Kanygin (207-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) responded with 5 points and 12 rebounds. Astana Ac.'s coach Mikhail Lonshakov rotated eleven players seeing no chance for a win. The victory was the eighth consecutive win for Irbis. They maintain first place with 13-1 record. Astana Ac. lost their third game in a row. Newly promoted team dropped to the fourth position with six games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
National League top team - Irbis (13-1) had no problems winning another game on Wednesday. This time they crushed seventh ranked Caspiy Aktau (3-11) 105-58. Alexander Zhigulin nailed 22 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side. Irbis' coach Ramunas Cvirka felt very confident that he used 10 players and allowed the starting five to rest. LaDarius Marshall came up with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 14 rebounds for Caspiy Aktau in the defeat. The victory was the eighth consecutive win for Irbis. They maintain first place with 13-1 record. Caspiy Aktau lost their fourth game in a row. Newly promoted team keeps the seventh position with 11 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last two games of round 13 Aktobe beat Irtysh on the road 87-71. Caspiy Aktau was destroyed by Irbis on its own court 63-90.



Astana Ac. - Irbis 70-82

An interesting game for Irbis (13-1) which played road game in Astana against 3rd placed Astana Ac. (8-6). First ranked Irbis managed to get a 12-point victory 82-70. Irbis made 22-of-26 free shots (84.6 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 Astana Ac. turnovers and outrebounded them 44-31 including 31 on the defensive glass. Irbis looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Lorenzo Anderson (190-2000, college: Peru St.) who helped to win the game recording 22 points and 5 rebounds. Lithuanian power forward Norbertas Giga (208-1995, college: Jax State) contributed with a double-double by scoring 11 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. The former international point guard Magzhan Sarsengaliev (187-2002) answered with 19 points and 4 steals and international point guard Alexandr Orazbekov (180-2002) added 13 points and 5 assists in the effort for Astana Ac.Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Irbis have an impressive series of eight victories in a row. They maintain first place with 13-1 record. Astana Ac. lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team dropped to the fourth position with six games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Astana Ac.: M.Sarsengaliev 19+3reb+3ast, A.Orazbekov 13+5ast, I.Kanygin 10+7reb+1ast, V.Likhodey 9+5reb+1ast, I.Vladislav 6+6reb+3ast, D.Vadim 5
Irbis: L.Anderson 22+5reb+2ast, N.Bazhin 14+4reb+1ast, N.Giga 11+10reb+6ast, A.Zhigulin 10+5reb+2ast, R.Pan 9+10reb+4ast, M.Myers 9+5reb+6ast

Astana Ac. - Irbis 55-71

An interesting game for Irbis (13-1) which played road game in Astana against 3rd placed Astana Ac. (8-6). First ranked Irbis had an easy win 71-55. Irbis outrebounded Astana Ac. 62-43 including a 25-14 advantage in offensive rebounds. Astana Ac. was plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. The former international forward Nikolay Bazhin (198-1990) stepped up and scored 17 points and 8 rebounds for the winners and Lithuanian power forward Norbertas Giga (208-1995, college: Jax State) chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds. Four Irbis players scored in double figures. At the losing side Russian center Igor Kanygin (207-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) responded with 5 points and 12 rebounds and international point guard Alexandr Orazbekov (180-2002) scored 12 points. Astana Ac.'s coach Mikhail Lonshakov rotated eleven players seeing no chance for a win. The victory was the eighth consecutive win for Irbis. They maintain first place with 13-1 record. Astana Ac. lost their third game in a row. Newly promoted team dropped to the fourth position with six games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Astana Ac.: A.Orazbekov 12+2reb+3ast, I.Vladislav 8+7reb+1ast, S.Amirali 7+3reb+1ast, V.Simonov 6+3reb, D.Vadim 6+3reb+1ast, A.Sardal 6+6reb
Irbis: N.Bazhin 17+8reb+3ast, M.Myers 16+5reb+4ast, N.Giga 14+10reb+2ast, L.Anderson 12+3reb+2ast, A.Zhigulin 10+14reb+2ast, R.Pan 2+18reb+3ast

Caspiy Aktau - Irbis 58-105

National League top team - Irbis (13-1) had no problems winning another game on Wednesday. This time they crushed seventh ranked Caspiy Aktau (3-11) 105-58. Irbis dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Caspiy Aktau's 28. Irbis forced 22 Caspiy Aktau turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 33 assists. The former international forward Alexander Zhigulin (205-1994) nailed 22 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side and American guard Lorenzo Anderson (190-2000, college: Peru St.) accounted for 21 points and 4 assists. Five Irbis players scored in double figures. Irbis' coach Ramunas Cvirka felt very confident that he used 10 players and allowed the starting five to rest. American power forward LaDarius Marshall (201-1999, college: Alcorn St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 14 rebounds and guard Zhanibek Dzhakauov (172-2002) added 6 points and 8 assists respectively for Caspiy Aktau in the defeat. The victory was the eighth consecutive win for Irbis. They maintain first place with 13-1 record. Caspiy Aktau lost their fourth game in a row. Newly promoted team keeps the seventh position with 11 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Caspiy Aktau: L.Marshall 25+14reb+2ast, K.Gabiden 11, V.Kurochkin 8+5reb+2ast, D.Zhanibek 6+4reb+8ast, P.Semyon 4+8reb+4ast, R.Artem 2+1reb+2ast
Irbis: A.Zhigulin 22+5reb+2ast, L.Anderson 21+3reb+4ast, R.Pan 15+5reb+3ast, N.Giga 13+8reb+4ast, A.Kozyrkin 10+5reb+7ast, M.Myers 10+7reb+6ast

Irtysh - Aktobe 71-87

No shocking result in a game when fifth ranked Aktobe (7-5) beat bottom-ranked Irtysh (1-13) in Pavlodar 87-71 on Thursday. Aktobe forced 21 Irtysh turnovers and outrebounded them 46-25 including a 21-10 advantage in offensive rebounds. Forward Sergei Bormatenkov (191-1991) nailed 12 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side and forward Vassiliy Petrishinets (198-1989) accounted for 16 points and 6 rebounds. Five Aktobe players scored in double figures. American point guard Keshon Tabb (180-1999, college: Rust) came up with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 5 assists and 11 steals and guard Ali Isagulov (186-2004) added 12 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Irtysh in the defeat. Irtysh's coach Zhuldys Baydusenova tested twelve players seeing no chance for a win. Aktobe maintains fifth place with 7-5 record. Newly promoted Irtysh stay at the bottom position with 13 games lost. Aktobe will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Irtysh will play again against Aktobe (#5) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Irtysh: K.Tabb 23+1reb+5ast, I.Ali 12+6reb+1ast, B.Vadim 11+2reb+1ast, S.Meyrambek 9, A.Nazim 4+9reb+1ast, B.Marlen 3+1reb
Aktobe: V.Petrishinets 16+6reb+2ast, A.Marat 15+6reb+3ast, K.Neff 14+3reb+2ast, J.Williams 13+8reb, B.Sergei 12+9reb+6ast, A.Papshiv 9+3reb+2ast

Caspiy Aktau - Irbis 63-90

Very expected game when 7th ranked Caspiy Aktau (3-11) was smashed at home by first ranked Irbis (13-1) 90-63 on Thursday. Irbis looked well-organized offensively handing out 31 assists. American point guard Marcus Myers (185-1996, college: Aurora, agency: Octagon Europe) nailed a double-double by scoring 20 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists for the winning side and the former international forward Alexander Zhigulin (205-1994) accounted for 23 points and 6 rebounds. Coach Ramunas Cvirka's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play 10 players saving starting five for next games. Russian forward Aleksandr Kalashnikov (196-2002) came up with 18 points and 7 rebounds and the former international guard Vladimir Kurochkin (194-1997) added 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Caspiy Aktau in the defeat. Four Caspiy Aktau players scored in double figures. The victory was the eighth consecutive win for Irbis. They maintain first place with 13-1 record. Caspiy Aktau lost their fourth game in a row. Newly promoted team keeps the seventh position with 11 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Caspiy Aktau: K.Aleksandr 18+7reb+2ast, V.Kurochkin 15+5reb+4ast, L.Marshall 11+9reb+2ast, D.Zhanibek 10+8ast, V.Korzhov 4+2reb+1ast, K.Gabiden 3+2ast
Irbis: A.Zhigulin 23+6reb+2ast, M.Myers 20+12reb+7ast, L.Anderson 14+4reb+3ast, A.Kozyrkin 8+3ast, R.Pan 8+6reb+5ast, R.Radislav 6+1ast