National League Round 26 of Regular Season

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game in Aktau was quite interesting. Third ranked Aktobe (16-10) played at the court of 7th ranked Caspiy Aktau (6-20). Aktobe did not have too big problems and got a relatively easy victory 99-81 on Tuesday. Aktobe dominated down low during the game scoring 72 of its points in the paint compared to Caspiy Aktau's 42. Aktobe forced 21 Caspiy Aktau turnovers and outrebounded them 48-34 including 34 on the defensive glass. Aktobe looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. American point guard Shakir Smith (185-1992, college: ASU) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 12 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists. The other American import guard Vante Hendrix (196-1998, college: CSUN, agency: Interperformances) contributed with 15 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. American power forward LaDarius Marshall (201-1999, college: Alcorn St.) replied with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for Caspiy Aktau. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Aktobe have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 16-10 record having five points less than leader Irbis. Newly promoted Caspiy Aktau keeps the seventh place with 20 games lost. Aktobe are looking forward to face Tobol (#4) in Kostanay in the next round. Caspiy Aktau will have a break next round.
The game in Almaty was also worth to mention about. 5th ranked Astana Ac. (13-13) played at the court of sixth ranked Almaty L. (10-15). Almaty L. did not have too big problems and got a relatively easy victory 97-78. American point guard Keshon Tabb (180-1999, college: Rust) had a double-double by scoring 18 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists and 7 steals to lead the charge for the winners and Aleksey Chilikin chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds during the contest. Russian Valeriy Likhodey (205-1986) responded with 9 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Newly promoted Almaty L. maintains sixth position with 10-15 record. Astana Ac. lost third consecutive game. Astana Ac. at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the fifth place with 13 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
The game in Aktau supposed to be also quite interesting. Third ranked Aktobe (16-10) played at the court of 7th ranked Caspiy Aktau (6-20). Aktobe smashed Caspiy Aktau 89-58 on Wednesday. Vante Hendrix notched a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) to lead the effort. Aktobe's coach Elena Shakirova felt very confident that he used 11 players saving starting five for next games. Even a double-double of 22 points and 14 rebounds by LaDarius Marshall did not help to save the game for Caspiy Aktau. Aktobe have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 16-10 record having five points less than leader Irbis. Newly promoted Caspiy Aktau keeps the seventh place with 20 games lost. Aktobe will meet at home Tobol (#4) in the next round. Caspiy Aktau will have a break next round.

In the last game of round 26 Astana Ac. smashed Almaty L. on the road 92-73.



Caspiy Aktau - Aktobe 81-99

The game in Aktau was quite interesting. Third ranked Aktobe (16-10) played at the court of 7th ranked Caspiy Aktau (6-20). Aktobe did not have too big problems and got a relatively easy victory 99-81 on Tuesday. Aktobe dominated down low during the game scoring 72 of its points in the paint compared to Caspiy Aktau's 42. Aktobe forced 21 Caspiy Aktau turnovers and outrebounded them 48-34 including 34 on the defensive glass. Aktobe looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. American point guard Shakir Smith (185-1992, college: ASU) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 12 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists. The other American import guard Vante Hendrix (196-1998, college: CSUN, agency: Interperformances) contributed with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. American power forward LaDarius Marshall (201-1999, college: Alcorn St.) replied with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international guard Vladimir Kurochkin (194-1997) added 17 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists in the effort for Caspiy Aktau. Five Aktobe and four Caspiy Aktau players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Aktobe have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 16-10 record having five points less than leader Irbis. Newly promoted Caspiy Aktau keeps the seventh place with 20 games lost. Aktobe are looking forward to face Tobol (#4) in Kostanay in the next round. Caspiy Aktau will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Caspiy Aktau: L.Marshall 20+8reb+4ast, V.Kurochkin 17+5reb+8ast, K.Aleksandr 16+6reb+2ast, D.Zhanibek 14+5reb+9ast, K.Gabiden 8+1ast, N.Damir 2+2reb
Aktobe: J.Williams 18+6reb+1ast, V.Hendrix 15+13reb+2ast, A.Marat 13+4reb+6ast, V.Petrishinets 13+3reb+2ast, S.Smith 12+9reb+10ast, K.Neff 10+5reb+5ast

Almaty L. - Astana Ac. 97-78

The game in Almaty was also worth to mention about. 5th ranked Astana Ac. (13-13) played at the court of sixth ranked Almaty L. (10-15). Almaty L. did not have too big problems and got a relatively easy victory 97-78. Almaty L. shot the lights out from three nailing 15 long-distance shots on high 51.7 percentage. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 32 assists comparing to just 18 passes made by Astana Ac.'s players. American point guard Keshon Tabb (180-1999, college: Rust) had a double-double by scoring 18 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists and 7 steals to lead the charge for the winners and Russian Aleksey Chilikin (207-1993) chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds during the contest. Tabb is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Five Almaty L. players scored in double figures. Russian Valeriy Likhodey (205-1986) responded with 9 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists and Russian center Igor Kanygin (207-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) scored 12 points and 7 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Newly promoted Almaty L. maintains sixth position with 10-15 record. Astana Ac. lost third consecutive game. Astana Ac. at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the fifth place with 13 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Astana Ac.: A.Sardal 16+6reb, I.Vladislav 15+4reb, I.Kanygin 12+7reb+3ast, D.Vadim 9+2reb, V.Likhodey 9+14reb+4ast, V.Simonov 8+1reb+1ast
Almaty L.: F.Nikita 22+3reb+1ast, K.Tabb 18+7reb+12ast, A.Chilikin 14+10reb+3ast, S.Stanislav 12+5reb+1ast, S.Daniil 11+1reb+8ast, D.Albrant 9+3reb+1ast

Caspiy Aktau - Aktobe 58-89

The game in Aktau supposed to be also quite interesting. Third ranked Aktobe (16-10) played at the court of 7th ranked Caspiy Aktau (6-20). Aktobe smashed Caspiy Aktau 89-58 on Wednesday. Aktobe dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Caspiy Aktau's 34. Aktobe forced 24 Caspiy Aktau turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. American guard Vante Hendrix (196-1998, college: CSUN, agency: Interperformances) notched a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and the other American import point guard Shakir Smith (185-1992, college: ASU) supported him with 14 points and 11 assists. Five Aktobe players scored in double figures. Aktobe's coach Elena Shakirova felt very confident that he used 11 players saving starting five for next games. Even a double-double of 22 points and 14 rebounds by American power forward LaDarius Marshall (201-1999, college: Alcorn St.) did not help to save the game for Caspiy Aktau. Russian forward Aleksandr Kalashnikov (196-2002) added 21 points and 13 rebounds for the hosts. Aktobe have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 16-10 record having five points less than leader Irbis. Newly promoted Caspiy Aktau keeps the seventh place with 20 games lost. Aktobe will meet at home Tobol (#4) in the next round. Caspiy Aktau will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Caspiy Aktau: L.Marshall 22+14reb, K.Aleksandr 21+13reb+1ast, N.Adil 7+5reb, D.Zhanibek 4+4reb+8ast, K.Gabiden 2+3reb+4ast, N.Damir 2+1reb+3ast
Aktobe: J.Williams 19+6reb, V.Hendrix 16+11reb+3ast, S.Smith 14+4reb+11ast, K.Neff 13+1reb+2ast, B.Sergei 12+10reb+5ast, A.Marat 4+2reb+5ast

Almaty L. - Astana Ac. 73-92

The game between closely ranked teams ended with fifth ranked Astana Ac.'s (13-13) road victory over 6th ranked Almaty L. (10-15) 92-73 on Wednesday. Astana Ac. dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Almaty L.'s 36. Astana Ac. had a 34-21 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Astana Ac. made 10 blocks. Forward Sardal Abashidze (196-2002) notched 22 points and 8 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and Russian Valeriy Likhodey (205-1986) supported him with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists (perfect from the field making all nine shots !!!). Four Astana Ac. players scored in double figures. Even 19 points and 8 assists by the former international guard Stanislav Sahipov (190-2002) did not help to save the game for Almaty L.. Russian Aleksey Chilikin (207-1993) added 19 points and 7 rebounds for the hosts. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Newly promoted Astana Ac. maintains fifth position with 13-13 record. Almaty L. at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the sixth place with 15 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Almaty L.: A.Chilikin 19+7reb, S.Stanislav 19+3reb+8ast, F.Nikita 14+2reb, K.Tabb 7+5reb+5ast, N.Timofeev 6+6reb+2ast, V.Andrey 3+2reb+2ast
Astana Ac.: A.Sardal 22+8reb+1ast, V.Likhodey 21+5reb+4ast, A.Orazbekov 13+4reb+6ast, S.Amirali 12+5reb+4ast, I.Kanygin 8+5reb+2ast, I.Vladislav 6+3reb+4ast