Kazakhstan National League round 21 best performance: Alexander Zhigulin (by Hoops Agents)

- January 31, 2024

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

Alexander Zhigulin

International Forward Alexander Zhigulin (205-F-1994) had an amazing evening in the last round for top-ranked Irbis Almaty, receiving a Hoops Agents Player of the Week award for round 21.
The 29-year old player was the main contributor (19 points, nine rebounds and two assists) to his team's victory, helping them to beat Barsy Atyrau (#3, 14-7) 73-61. The game was between two of the league's top four teams. It allowed Irbis to consolidate first place in the Kazakhstan National League. Irbis has a very good season and are considered to have a run for the championship title. They improved their record to 19-1. It's Zhigulin's second year at Irbis and it's hard to imagine this team without him. Alexander Zhigulin averages this season 12.6ppg and 5.5rpg.

The second best player in last round's games was young Sardal Abashidze (196-F-2002) of Astana Academy. Abashidze had a very good evening with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Of course he led Astana Ac. to another comfortable win outscoring the lower-ranked Caspiy Aktau (#7, 4-18) 95-66. This victory allowed Astana Ac. to move up to 4th position in the standings. His team's 12-10 record is not bad at all. Abashidze is a newcomer at Astana Ac. and despite he is not a team leader yet, every game he becomes more reliable player. Hopefully performances like the last one will happen more often.

Third on the list of top players last round was American forward Jamaure Gregg (201-F-1999) of BK Barsy Atyrau (#3). Gregg scored 15 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Despite Gregg's great performance the Barsy Atyrau lost 61-73 to #1 ranked Irbis. But his team cannot count on just a single player as he also needs help of the other teammates especially in such crucial game. The last thing Barsy Atyrau needs is to lose another game like this one. They lose more and more distance to the top teams. Their record is 14 victories and 7 lost games. Gregg has a very solid season. In 17 games in Kazakhstan he scored 15.6ppg. He also has 5.7rpg, 2.1spg and a FGP of 58.4%.

Other top performing players last week:
4. Igor Kanygin (207-C-1994) of Astana Ac. - 8 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists
5. Nikolay Bazhin (198-F-1990) of Irbis - 18 points and 8 rebounds
6. Valeriy Likhodey (205-PF-1986) of Astana Ac. - 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists
7. Lorenzo Anderson (190-G-2000) of Irbis - 15 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists
8. Aleksandr Kalashnikov (196-F-2002) of Caspiy Aktau - 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists
9. Jarvis Garrett (182-PG-1995) of Barsy Atyrau - 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists
10. LaDarius Marshall (201-F/C-1999) of Caspiy Aktau - 10 points and 12 rebounds

The Player of the week is selected based on efficiency calculation, but also including game result, importance of the game, if played recorded double-double/triple-double, etc.
The efficiency formula is a combination of various formulas used by different basketball organizations/leagues. We got involved many basketball scouts and journalists to assure it's accuracy.
The formula: 1.5*PTS + 3*(REB+AST+ST+BL-TO) - 2*BSAG - 4*PF + 3*PFRV + 4*(2FGPM+3FGPM) + 1.5*FTM - 3*(2FGPA-2FGPM) - 3*(3FGPA-3FGPM) - (FTA-FTM)

The Player of the Week awards are presented by Hoops Agents. Hoops Agents is the most complete website about the agencies and players they represent. With more than twenty years of experience, Hoops Agents is already recognized as the most reliable destination for the players who wish to continue their career in professional basketball and are searching for a reputable and connected representation. Hoops Agents is also most complete source of transactions news.