National League Round 27 (Regular Season): Aktobe is defeated by Tobol

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between third ranked Aktobe (17-11) and fourth ranked Tobol (16-10) was the most important one in the last round on Thursday night. Aktobe was defeated by Tobol in a tough game in Aktobe 87-91. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Aktobe. They outrebounded Aktobe 47-32 including a 33-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. Tobol looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 17 passes made by Aktobe's players. It was a great evening for the former international forward Anton Bykov (200-1989) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 24 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international point guard Shaim Kuanov (181-1991) helped adding 22 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. The best for the losing side was American guard Vante Hendrix (196-1998, college: CSUN, agency: Interperformances) with 31 points. Tobol maintains fourth place with 16-10 record. Aktobe at the other side keeps the third position with 11 games lost. Tobol are looking forward to face Caspiy Aktau (#7) at home in the next round. Aktobe will have a break next round.
Very important is a home loss of second ranked Barsy Atyrau (19-8) against fourth ranked Tobol (16-10) on Friday night. Host Barsy Atyrau was defeated by Tobol in Atyrau 83-72. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Barsy Atyrau. It was an exceptional evening for the former international swingman Pavel Ilyin (194-1992) who led the winners and scored 20 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Dmitriy Doynikov accounted for 16 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. American forward Jamaure Gregg (201-1999, college: NSU) came up with 22 points (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) for Barsy Atyrau in the defeat. Barsy Atyrau's coach Tigran Gyokchyan rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Tobol maintains fourth place with 16-10 record. Barsy Atyrau at the other side keeps the second position with eight games lost. Tobol will play against Caspiy Aktau (#7) at home in the next round. Barsy Atyrau will play against Astana Ac. (#5) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Aktobe. Third ranked host Aktobe (17-11) defeated 4th placed Tobol (16-10) 95-88. The best player for the winners was Vante Hendrix who scored 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Anton Bykov who recorded a double-double by scoring 26 points, 19 rebounds and 4 assists. Aktobe have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain third place with 17-11 record having six points less than leader Irbis. Loser Tobol keeps the fourth position with ten games lost. Aktobe will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Tobol will play against Caspiy Aktau (#7) and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 27: Irbis destroyed Irtysh on the opponent's court 108-74. Bottom-ranked Irtysh was outscored by Irbis in a home game 74-106. Tobol recorded a loss to Barsy Atyrau on the road 70-66. Barsy Atyrau crushed Astana Ac. on its own court 71-52. Astana Ac. was smashed by Barsy Atyrau in a road game 83-60.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks by Igor Kanygin of Astana Ac..



Irtysh - Irbis 74-108

Very expected game in Pavlodar where 8th ranked Irtysh (1-27) was crushed by first ranked Irbis (25-1) 108-74 on Sunday. Irbis dominated down low during the game scoring 70 of its points in the paint compared to Irtysh's 42. They outrebounded Irtysh 44-28 including a 31-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Irbis made 9 blocks. The best player for the winners was American point guard Marcus Myers (185-1996, college: Aurora, agency: Octagon Europe) who scored 33 points (!!!) (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field). Ukrainian power forward Dmytro Tykhonov (207-1992, agency: BIG) chipped in 19 points and 8 rebounds. Four Irbis players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Ali Isagulov (186-2004) who recorded 20 points and 5 rebounds and forward Nazim Adylbekov (200-2001) added 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists respectively. 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 an impressive series of twenty victories in a row. They maintain first place with 25-1 record. Irtysh lost sixteenth consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay dead last with 27 lost games. Irbis' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Almaty Almaty L..
Top scorers:
Irbis: M.Myers 33+1reb, D.Tykhonov 19+8reb+3ast, L.Anderson 12+5reb+2ast, R.Pan 12+7reb+2ast, N.Daulet 9+4reb, N.Bazhin 7+4reb+3ast
Irtysh: I.Ali 20+5reb+2ast, A.Nazim 17+6reb+4ast, S.Meyrambek 12+2reb+1ast, Z.Shakhnazar 8+4reb+2ast, B.Vadim 7+4reb+1ast, N.Gushchin 6+1reb+1ast

Irtysh - Irbis 74-106

Very predictable result in Pavlodar where first ranked Irbis (25-1) smashed bottom-ranked Irtysh (1-27) 106-74 on Monday. Irbis outrebounded Irtysh 43-24 including 29 on the defensive glass. Irbis shot the lights out from three sinking 18 long-distance shots on high 54.5 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was American point guard Marcus Myers (185-1996, college: Aurora, agency: Octagon Europe) who scored 26 points (on 11-of-13 shooting from the field). International center Robert Pan (202-1995) chipped in a double-double by scoring 14 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. Four Irbis players scored in double figures. Irbis' coach Ramunas Cvirka felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Nazim Adylbekov (200-2001) who recorded 18 points and 9 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field) and guard Shakhnazar Zhandarbek (190-2004) added 16 points respectively. Irbis have an impressive series of twenty victories in a row. They maintain first place with 25-1 record. Irtysh lost sixteenth consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay dead last with 27 lost games. Irbis' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Almaty Almaty L..
Top scorers:
Irbis: M.Myers 26+4reb+3ast, L.Anderson 23+4reb+3ast, D.Tykhonov 16+8reb+1ast, R.Pan 14+11reb+7ast, A.Zhigulin 10+5reb, N.Bazhin 7+3reb+5ast
Irtysh: A.Nazim 18+9reb+1ast, Z.Shakhnazar 16+2reb+2ast, I.Ruslan 9+3reb+1ast, I.Ali 9+3reb+2ast, S.Meyrambek 6+4ast, B.Vadim 6+1reb+3ast

Aktobe - Tobol 95-88

The game between Top Four teams took place in Aktobe. Third ranked host Aktobe (17-11) defeated 4th placed Tobol (16-10) 95-88. Strangely Tobol outrebounded Aktobe 51-31 including a 17-4 advantage in offensive rebounds. Aktobe looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. The best player for the winners was American guard Vante Hendrix (196-1998, college: CSUN, agency: Interperformances) who scored 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. His fellow American import center Jai Williams (206-1995, college: St.Joseph's) chipped in 22 points and 6 rebounds (on 11-of-13 shooting from the field). At the other side the best for losing team was the former international forward Anton Bykov (200-1989) who recorded a double-double by scoring 26 points, 19 rebounds and 4 assists and Russian Dmitriy Doynikov (204-1994) added 24 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Aktobe have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain third place with 17-11 record having six points less than leader Irbis. Loser Tobol keeps the fourth position with ten games lost. Aktobe will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Tobol will play against Caspiy Aktau (#7) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Aktobe: J.Williams 22+6reb, V.Hendrix 20+5reb+4ast, S.Smith 16+4reb+8ast, V.Petrishinets 12+3reb, A.Marat 11+2reb+9ast, B.Sergei 8+7reb+4ast
Tobol: A.Bykov 26+19reb+4ast, D.Doynikov 24+11reb+6ast, P.Ilyin 13+4reb+5ast, S.Kuanov 12+5reb+10ast, A.Stepantsov 8+10reb+1ast, K.Dvirnyi 5+1reb

Aktobe - Tobol 87-91

The game between third ranked Aktobe (17-11) and fourth ranked Tobol (16-10) was the most important one in the last round on Thursday night. Aktobe was defeated by Tobol in a tough game in Aktobe 87-91. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Aktobe. They outrebounded Aktobe 47-32 including a 33-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. Tobol looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 17 passes made by Aktobe's players. It was a great evening for the former international forward Anton Bykov (200-1989) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 24 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international point guard Shaim Kuanov (181-1991) helped adding 22 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Four Tobol players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American guard Vante Hendrix (196-1998, college: CSUN, agency: Interperformances) with 31 points and the other American import point guard Shakir Smith (185-1992, college: ASU) scored 28 points. Tobol maintains fourth place with 16-10 record. Aktobe at the other side keeps the third position with 11 games lost. Tobol are looking forward to face Caspiy Aktau (#7) at home in the next round. Aktobe will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Tobol: A.Bykov 26+24reb+4ast, S.Kuanov 22+5reb+8ast, D.Doynikov 17+10reb+4ast, A.Stepantsov 15+2reb+8ast, K.Dvirnyi 6+4reb+2ast, R.Valiyev 3
Aktobe: V.Hendrix 31+4reb+3ast, S.Smith 28+3reb+2ast, A.Papshiv 10+8reb+4ast, K.Neff 8+1ast, A.Marat 4+1reb+6ast, J.Williams 4+6reb

Barsy Atyrau - Tobol 72-83

Very important is a home loss of second ranked Barsy Atyrau (19-8) against fourth ranked Tobol (16-10) on Friday night. Host Barsy Atyrau was defeated by Tobol in Atyrau 83-72. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Barsy Atyrau. Tobol made 19-of-24 charity shots (79.2 percent) during the game. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. Barsy Atyrau was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. It was an exceptional evening for the former international swingman Pavel Ilyin (194-1992) who led the winners and scored 20 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Russian Dmitriy Doynikov (204-1994) accounted for 16 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side. Four Tobol players scored in double figures. American forward Jamaure Gregg (201-1999, college: NSU) came up with 22 points (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) and Canadian forward Michael Okafor (196-1999, college: Lakehead) added 17 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Barsy Atyrau in the defeat. Barsy Atyrau's coach Tigran Gyokchyan rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Tobol maintains fourth place with 16-10 record. Barsy Atyrau at the other side keeps the second position with eight games lost. Tobol will play against Caspiy Aktau (#7) at home in the next round. Barsy Atyrau will play against Astana Ac. (#5) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Tobol: P.Ilyin 20+8reb+7ast, D.Doynikov 16+13reb+4ast, K.Dvirnyi 15+3reb+4ast, L.Bruno 12+3reb+2ast, A.Stepantsov 9+2reb+4ast, A.Bykov 8+10reb+1ast
Barsy Atyrau: J.Gregg 22+4reb+2ast, M.Okafor 17+7reb+3ast, V.Ivanov 13+11reb+1ast, M.Uapov 6+1reb+2ast, R.Bogdan 6+4reb+10ast, J.Garrett 4+3reb+6ast

Barsy Atyrau - Tobol 70-66

Not a big story in a game when 4th placed Tobol (16-10) was defeated on the road by second ranked Barsy Atyrau (19-8) 70-66 on Saturday. Barsy Atyrau looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was American forward Jamaure Gregg (201-1999, college: NSU) who scored 21 points and 9 rebounds. His fellow American import point guard Jarvis Garrett (182-1995, college: URI) chipped in 23 points and 4 assists. Barsy Atyrau's coach Tigran Gyokchyan used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. At the other side the best for losing team was Russian Dmitriy Doynikov (204-1994) who recorded a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds and the former international forward Anton Bykov (200-1989) added 15 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists respectively. Four Tobol players scored in double figures. The victory was the third consecutive win for Barsy Atyrau. They maintain second place with 19-8 record having five points less than leader Irbis. Loser Tobol keeps the fourth position with ten games lost. Barsy Atyrau will meet at home Astana Ac. (#5) in the next round. Tobol will play against Caspiy Aktau and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Barsy Atyrau: J.Garrett 23+3reb+4ast, J.Gregg 21+9reb+3ast, M.Okafor 9+4reb+1ast, R.Bogdan 4+3reb+7ast, S.Ramazan 4+13reb+2ast, M.Uapov 3+2ast
Tobol: D.Doynikov 18+13reb+2ast, A.Bykov 15+13reb+4ast, S.Kuanov 10+4reb+8ast, P.Ilyin 10+3reb+2ast, K.Dvirnyi 7+4reb, A.Stepantsov 6+5reb+2ast

Barsy Atyrau - Astana Ac. 71-52

Everything went according to plan when second ranked Barsy Atyrau (19-8) outscored at home 5th ranked Astana Ac. (13-15) 71-52 on Wednesday. Barsy Atyrau dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Astana Ac.'s 26. Barsy Atyrau forced 22 Astana Ac. turnovers and outrebounded them 44-31 including 29 on the defensive glass. Barsy Atyrau looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was Canadian forward Michael Okafor (196-1999, college: Lakehead) who had a double-double by scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds. Bogdan Rabchenyuk (188-2003) chipped in 19 points (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!). At the other side the best for losing team was Russian center Igor Kanygin (207-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) who recorded 11 points and 5 rebounds and guard Amirali Suleimenov (192-2003) added 12 points respectively. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the third consecutive win for Barsy Atyrau. They maintain second place with 19-8 record having five points less than leader Irbis. Newly promoted Astana Ac. keeps the fifth position with 15 games lost. Barsy Atyrau will again meet at home Astana Ac. (#5) in the next round. Astana Ac. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Barsy Atyrau: R.Bogdan 19+2reb+2ast, M.Okafor 17+10reb+2ast, J.Gregg 12+7reb+1ast, V.Ivanov 8+7reb+2ast, J.Garrett 6+3reb+8ast, M.Uapov 3+3ast
Astana Ac.: S.Amirali 12+4reb+1ast, I.Kanygin 11+5reb+2ast, I.Vladislav 8+2reb, D.Vadim 6+1reb+4ast, V.Likhodey 5+5reb+3ast, V.Simonov 4+5reb+3ast

Barsy Atyrau - Astana Ac. 83-60

There was no surprise when 5th ranked Astana Ac. (13-15) was outplayed on the road by second ranked Barsy Atyrau (19-8) 83-60 on Thursday. Barsy Atyrau forced 20 Astana Ac. turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international forward Ramazan Samsin (200-2002) who scored 19 points and 7 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). Timur Tangiev (195-2003) chipped in 15 points and 6 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Sardal Abashidze (196-2002) who recorded 14 points and 7 rebounds and Russian center Igor Kanygin (207-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) added 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks respectively. Both teams had four players each who 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. The victory was the third consecutive win for Barsy Atyrau. They maintain second place with 19-8 record having five points less than leader Irbis. Newly promoted Astana Ac. keeps the fifth position with 15 games lost. Barsy Atyrau will again meet at home Astana Ac. (#5) in the next round. Astana Ac. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Barsy Atyrau: S.Ramazan 19+7reb+1ast, T.Timur 15+6reb+3ast, J.Garrett 15+1reb+5ast, V.Ivanov 13+5reb+2ast, M.Okafor 7+5reb+5ast, J.Gregg 6+8reb
Astana Ac.: A.Sardal 14+7reb+2ast, A.Orazbekov 11+1reb+8ast, S.Amirali 10+1reb+3ast, I.Kanygin 10+7reb+5ast, V.Simonov 8+3reb+2ast, I.Vladislav 4+6reb+3ast