National League Round 21 (Regular Season): Barsy Atyrau loses to Irbis in the game between Top 4 teams

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between Top Four teams took place in Almaty. First ranked host Irbis (19-1) defeated 3rd placed Barsy Atyrau (13-7) 73-61. Irbis made 16-of-19 free shots (84.2 percent) during the game. The former international forward Alexander Zhigulin (205-1994) stepped up and scored 19 points and 9 rebounds for the winners and the former international forward Nikolay Bazhin (198-1990) chipped in 18 points and 8 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American forward Jamaure Gregg (201-1999, college: NSU) with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Barsy Atyrau's coach Tigran Gyokchyan rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Irbis have an impressive series of fourteen victories in a row. They maintain first place with 19-1 record. Barsy Atyrau lost third consecutive game. They keep the third position with seven games lost. Irbis are looking forward to face league's second-placed Tobol in Kostanay in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Barsy Atyrau will play on the road against Irtysh in Pavlodar and is hoping to prove to their supporters that they can break losing series.
Fifth ranked Astana Ac. (12-10) crushed at home 7th ranked Caspiy Aktau (4-18) by 29 points 95-66, which is the biggest margin this round. Forward Sardal Abashidze (196-2002) nailed 15 points and 7 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) for the winning side and Amirali Suleimenov accounted for 16 points. Russian forward Aleksandr Kalashnikov (196-2002) came up with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for Caspiy Aktau 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. Astana Ac. moved-up to fourth place. Caspiy Aktau lost their fifth game in a row. Caspiy Aktau at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the seventh position with 18 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last game of round 21 Caspiy Aktau was destroyed by Astana Ac. on the opponent's court 68-48.



Irbis - Barsy Atyrau 73-61

The game between Top Four teams took place in Almaty. First ranked host Irbis (19-1) defeated 3rd placed Barsy Atyrau (13-7) 73-61. Irbis made 16-of-19 free shots (84.2 percent) during the game. The former international forward Alexander Zhigulin (205-1994) stepped up and scored 19 points and 9 rebounds for the winners and the former international forward Nikolay Bazhin (198-1990) chipped in 18 points and 8 rebounds. Four Irbis players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American forward Jamaure Gregg (201-1999, college: NSU) with 15 points and 8 rebounds and the other American import point guard Jarvis Garrett (182-1995, college: URI) scored 17 points and 4 assists. Barsy Atyrau's coach Tigran Gyokchyan rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Irbis have an impressive series of fourteen victories in a row. They maintain first place with 19-1 record. Barsy Atyrau lost third consecutive game. They keep the third position with seven games lost. Irbis are looking forward to face league's second-placed Tobol in Kostanay in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Barsy Atyrau will play on the road against Irtysh in Pavlodar and is hoping to prove to their supporters that they can break losing series.
Top scorers:
Irbis: A.Zhigulin 19+9reb+2ast, N.Bazhin 18+8reb+1ast, L.Anderson 15+7reb+3ast, M.Myers 13+2reb+3ast, R.Pan 8+7reb+3ast, R.Radislav 0
Barsy Atyrau: J.Garrett 17+4reb+4ast, J.Gregg 15+8reb+3ast, V.Hendrix 8+6reb, T.Timur 6+1ast, R.Bogdan 4+2ast, M.Abat 3

Astana Ac. - Caspiy Aktau 68-48

Rather expected game when 7th ranked Caspiy Aktau (4-18) was crushed on the road by fifth ranked Astana Ac. (12-10) 68-48. Astana Ac. forced 20 Caspiy Aktau turnovers. Russian Valeriy Likhodey (205-1986) nailed 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and Russian center Igor Kanygin (207-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) accounted for 8 points and 11 rebounds. The former international guard Vladimir Kurochkin (194-1997) came up with 19 points and 5 rebounds and American power forward LaDarius Marshall (201-1999, college: Alcorn St.) added 7 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Caspiy Aktau in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Astana Ac. moved-up to fourth place. Caspiy Aktau lost their fifth game in a row. Caspiy Aktau at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the seventh position with 18 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Astana Ac.: V.Likhodey 13+5reb+4ast, D.Vadim 10+1reb+1ast, A.Sardal 10+9reb+2ast, S.Amirali 8+4reb, V.Simonov 8+4reb+3ast, I.Kanygin 8+11reb+2ast
Caspiy Aktau: V.Kurochkin 19+5reb+2ast, K.Aleksandr 8+3reb, L.Marshall 7+8reb, D.Zhanibek 5+1reb+2ast, R.Artem 3+4reb+2ast, N.Damir 2+5reb+1ast

Astana Ac. - Caspiy Aktau 95-66

Fifth ranked Astana Ac. (12-10) crushed at home 7th ranked Caspiy Aktau (4-18) by 29 points 95-66, which is the biggest margin this round. Astana Ac. forced 23 Caspiy Aktau turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists. Forward Sardal Abashidze (196-2002) nailed 15 points and 7 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) for the winning side and guard Amirali Suleimenov (192-2003) accounted for 16 points. Four Astana Ac. players scored in double figures. Russian forward Aleksandr Kalashnikov (196-2002) came up with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international guard Vladimir Kurochkin (194-1997) added 23 points respectively for Caspiy Aktau 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. Astana Ac. moved-up to fourth place. Caspiy Aktau lost their fifth game in a row. Caspiy Aktau at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the seventh position with 18 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Astana Ac.: S.Amirali 16+1reb+3ast, A.Sardal 15+7reb+2ast, V.Simonov 13+1reb+1ast, V.Likhodey 10+4reb+3ast, D.Vadim 10+1ast, I.Vladislav 9+2reb+2ast
Caspiy Aktau: V.Kurochkin 23+3reb+1ast, K.Aleksandr 19+7reb+4ast, L.Marshall 10+12reb, R.Artem 5+1reb+1ast, P.Semyon 4+1reb+2ast, D.Zhanibek 3+3reb+8ast