National League Round 11 (Regular Season): Top-ranked Irbis win another game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

National League top team - Irbis (11-2) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they beat eighth ranked Irtysh (3-13) in Pavlodar 94-76. Irbis outrebounded Irtysh 51-35 including 18 on the offensive glass. American point guard Keshon Tabb (180-1999, college: Rust) orchestrated the victory by scoring 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international forward Alexander Zhigulin (205-1994) contributed with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Forward Nazim Adylbekov (200-2001) answered with 19 points and 9 rebounds for Irtysh. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Irbis have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 11-2 record. Irtysh lost third consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 13 games lost. Irbis will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Irtysh will play on the road against the league's second-placed Tobol (#2) in Kostanay and is hoping to prove to their supporters that they can break losing series.
National League top team - Irbis (11-2) managed to deliver another win. This time they beat eighth ranked Irtysh (3-13) in Pavlodar 79-69. It was a great evening for American guard Jalon Perry (185-1998, college: Faulkner) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points. Alexander Zhigulin helped adding 13 points and 11 rebounds. Irbis' coach Ramunas Cvirka allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Forward Nazim Adylbekov (200-2001) responded with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists. The victory was the ninth consecutive win for Irbis. Defending champion maintains first place with 11-2 record. Irtysh lost their third game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 13 games lost. Irbis will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Irtysh will play on the road against the league's second-placed Tobol (#2) in Kostanay and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game in Astana supposed to be also quite interesting. 5th ranked Caspiy Aktau (7-9) played at the court of sixth ranked Astana Ac. (6-10). Astana Ac. smashed Caspiy Aktau 98-60 on Saturday. It was an exceptional evening for Rustam Murzagaliyev who led the winners and scored 21 points and 6 assists. LaDarius Marshall came up with 10 points and 9 rebounds 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. maintains sixth place with 6-10 record. Caspiy Aktau at the other side keeps the fifth position with nine games lost. Astana Ac. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Caspiy Aktau will play against Almaty L. (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 11: Caspiy Aktau was beaten by Astana Ac. on the road 87-70. Aktobe lost to Tobol on its own court 70-78. Tobol managed to outperform Aktobe in Kostanay 78-73.
The most impressive performance of 11th round was 37 points (!!!), 8 assists and 6 steals by TK Smith of Aktobe.



Astana Ac. - Caspiy Aktau 98-60

The game in Astana supposed to be also quite interesting. 5th ranked Caspiy Aktau (7-9) played at the court of sixth ranked Astana Ac. (6-10). Astana Ac. smashed Caspiy Aktau 98-60 on Saturday. Astana Ac. outrebounded Caspiy Aktau 59-26 including a 39-14 advantage in defensive rebounds. Astana Ac. looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Astana Ac. made 7 blocks. It was an exceptional evening for the former international guard Rustam Murzagaliyev (190-1992) who led the winners and scored 21 points and 6 assists. Russian center Andrey Desiatnikov (220-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) accounted for 9 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks for the winning side. American power forward LaDarius Marshall (201-1999, college: Alcorn St.) came up with 10 points and 9 rebounds and the former international forward Roman Marchuk (198-1993) added 15 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. maintains sixth place with 6-10 record. Caspiy Aktau at the other side keeps the fifth position with nine games lost. Astana Ac. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Caspiy Aktau will play against Almaty L. (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Caspiy Aktau: R.Marchuk 15+4reb+1ast, Z.Dzhakauov 12+3reb+3ast, L.Marshall 10+9reb+1ast, A.Narimanov 7+2reb, K.Neff 7+1reb+3ast, G.Korganbaev 6+2ast
Astana Ac.: R.Murzagaliyev 21+4reb+6ast, S.Abashidze 11+3reb+1ast, A.Maydekin 11+12reb+3ast, A.Desiatnikov 9+16reb+4ast, A.Orazbekov 9+4reb+3ast, G.Motovilov 9+1reb+2ast

Irtysh - Irbis 76-94

National League top team - Irbis (11-2) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they beat eighth ranked Irtysh (3-13) in Pavlodar 94-76. Irbis outrebounded Irtysh 51-35 including 18 on the offensive glass. American point guard Keshon Tabb (180-1999, college: Rust) orchestrated the victory by scoring 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international forward Alexander Zhigulin (205-1994) contributed with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Tabb is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Irbis players scored in double figures. Forward Nazim Adylbekov (200-2001) answered with 19 points and 9 rebounds and guard Ali Isagulov (186-2004) added 17 points and 8 assists in the effort for Irtysh. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Irbis have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 11-2 record. Irtysh lost third consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 13 games lost. Irbis will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Irtysh will play on the road against the league's second-placed Tobol (#2) in Kostanay and is hoping to prove to their supporters that they can break losing series.
Top scorers:
Irtysh: M.Shamuratov 19+2reb+3ast, N.Adylbekov 19+9reb+2ast, A.Isagulov 17+3reb+8ast, N.Gushchin 6+4reb, V.Bagrov 6+7reb, A.Alyonushka 6+8reb+1ast
Irbis: K.Tabb 19+7reb+4ast, A.Zhigulin 14+10reb+3ast, J.Perry 13+8reb+1ast, D.Gavrilov 10+7reb+3ast, M.Douglas 10+2reb, I.Konysov 8+3reb

Astana Ac. - Caspiy Aktau 87-70

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams when sixth ranked Astana Ac. (6-10) beat at home 5th ranked Caspiy Aktau (7-9) 87-70 on Sunday. Astana Ac. looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. It was an exceptional evening for the former international guard Rustam Murzagaliyev (190-1992) who led the winners and scored 14 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Russian center Andrey Desiatnikov (220-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) accounted for 12 points and 8 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) for the winning side. Four Astana Ac. players scored in double figures. Astana Ac.'s coach used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. The former international guard Maksim Marchuk (195-1994) came up with 9 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals and American power forward LaDarius Marshall (201-1999, college: Alcorn St.) added 19 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Caspiy Aktau in the defeat. Astana Ac. maintains sixth place with 6-10 record. Loser Caspiy Aktau keeps the fifth position with nine games lost. Astana Ac. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Caspiy Aktau will play against Almaty L. (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Caspiy Aktau: L.Marshall 19+9reb+1ast, R.Marchuk 14+4reb+1ast, Z.Dzhakauov 11+2reb+4ast, M.Marchuk 9+14reb+7ast, A.Rolgeyzer 6, D.Denisov 4+2reb
Astana Ac.: R.Murzagaliyev 14+5reb+6ast, G.Motovilov 13+1reb+8ast, A.Desiatnikov 12+8reb+2ast, A.Maydekin 11+5reb+2ast, D.Pokhodiaev 9+3reb+1ast, R.Aitkali 8+3reb+2ast

Irtysh - Irbis 69-79

National League top team - Irbis (11-2) managed to deliver another win. This time they beat eighth ranked Irtysh (3-13) in Pavlodar 79-69. It was a great evening for American guard Jalon Perry (185-1998, college: Faulkner) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points. The former international forward Alexander Zhigulin (205-1994) helped adding 13 points and 11 rebounds. Irbis' coach Ramunas Cvirka allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Forward Nazim Adylbekov (200-2001) responded with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists and guard Ali Isagulov (186-2004) scored 11 points and 8 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The victory was the ninth consecutive win for Irbis. Defending champion maintains first place with 11-2 record. Irtysh lost their third game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 13 games lost. Irbis will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Irtysh will play on the road against the league's second-placed Tobol (#2) in Kostanay and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Irtysh: N.Adylbekov 24+16reb+5ast, A.Isagulov 11+3reb+8ast, V.Bagrov 11+3reb, N.Gushchin 10+1reb+1ast, A.Alyonushka 9+8reb, R.Izmaylov 2+1ast
Irbis: J.Perry 21+4reb+2ast, M.Douglas 20+3reb, A.Zhigulin 13+11reb, K.Tabb 11+7reb+3ast, N.Bazhin 7+5reb+2ast, D.Gavrilov 4+6reb+2ast

Aktobe - Tobol 70-78

Very expected game when 7th ranked Aktobe (3-11) lost at home to third ranked Tobol (10-4) 78-70 on Monday. Tobol looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. It was an exceptional evening for the former international point guard Shaim Kuanov (181-1991) who led the winners and scored 7 points, 6 rebounds and 12 assists. American forward Demonte Flannigan (201-1995, college: CSU) accounted for 14 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side. American guard TK Smith (196-1998, college: PVAMU, agency: MSG) came up with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals and the other American import forward Devin Evans (206-2001, college: USC Aiken, agency: Haylett Sports) added 10 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists respectively for Aktobe in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Tobol. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Barsy Atyrau. Aktobe lost their sixth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 11 games lost. Tobol will meet at home bottom-ranked Irtysh (#8) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Aktobe will play against Barsy Atyrau and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Aktobe: T.Smith 25+8reb+4ast, K.Utegen 11+3reb+1ast, B.Omarov 11+4reb+2ast, D.Evans 10+9reb+7ast, A.Junusov 9+2reb+3ast, N.Lytyh 2+1reb+1ast
Tobol: A.Bitenov 17+2reb+1ast, D.Flannigan 14+8reb+2ast, K.Dvirnyi 14+5reb+1ast, V.Petrishinets 10+11reb+2ast, S.Kuanov 7+6reb+12ast, P.Ilyin 7+4reb+2ast

Aktobe - Tobol 73-78

Rather predictable result when third ranked Tobol (10-4) won against on the road 7th ranked Aktobe (3-11) 78-73 on Tuesday. Tobol looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. It was an exceptional evening for the former international point guard Shaim Kuanov (181-1991) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. The former international swingman Konstantin Dvirnyi (192-1988) accounted for 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field) for the winning side. Four Tobol players scored in double figures. American guard TK Smith (196-1998, college: PVAMU, agency: MSG) came up with 37 points (!!!), 8 assists and 6 steals and the other American import forward Devin Evans (206-2001, college: USC Aiken, agency: Haylett Sports) added 4 points and 15 rebounds respectively for Aktobe in the defeat. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Tobol. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Barsy Atyrau. Aktobe lost their sixth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 11 games lost. Tobol will meet at home bottom-ranked Irtysh (#8) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Aktobe will play against Barsy Atyrau and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Aktobe: T.Smith 37+4reb+8ast, B.Omarov 13+5reb+3ast, A.Junusov 10+1reb+6ast, K.Utegen 5+2reb+1ast, D.Evans 4+15reb+2ast, D.Nursiitov 4+1reb+2ast
Tobol: K.Dvirnyi 21+5reb+4ast, P.Ilyin 19+3reb+4ast, S.Kuanov 18+10reb+7ast, V.Petrishinets 10+12reb+3ast, A.Marat 4+2reb+4ast, D.Flannigan 2+7reb+4ast