National League Round 12 (Regular Season): Tobol keep a leadership position

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Tobol as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Tobol defeated 8th ranked Irtysh in Kostanay 87-69. Tobol looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international forward Anton Bykov (200-1989) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 6 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and the former international swingman Pavel Ilyin (194-1992) who added 12 points and 5 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was forward Nazim Adylbekov (200-2001) with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tobol (12-4) have an impressive six-game winning streak. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Irtysh lost fifth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 15 games lost. Irtysh will play next round against strong Almaty L. trying to get back on the winning streak. Tobol will try to continue on its current victory against fifth ranked Caspiy Aktau on the road.
Important game to mention about took place in Aktau. Fourth ranked Almaty L. (8-5) saved a 2-point victory on the road edging 5th ranked Caspiy Aktau (8-10) 74-72 in the fight for the fourth place. The winners were led by forward Nikita Timofeev (199-1998) who scored that evening 14 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and Stanislav Sahipov supported him with 20 points and 4 assists. Almaty L.'s coach Iakov Fokin allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Even 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists by the former international forward Roman Marchuk (198-1993) did not help to save the game for Caspiy Aktau. Almaty L. have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position with 8-5 record. Caspiy Aktau lost third consecutive game. They keep the fifth place with ten games lost. Almaty L. will play against bottom-ranked Irtysh (#8) in Pavlodar in the next round. Caspiy Aktau will play at home against the league's leader Tobol and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game in Aktau supposed to be also quite interesting. One of their biggest challengers Almaty L. (8-5) played at the court of fifth ranked Caspiy Aktau (8-10). Caspiy Aktau smashed Almaty L. 91-68 on Monday. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Almaty L.. The best player for the winners was Maksim Marchuk who had a double-double by scoring 15 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists and 7 steals. At the other side the best for losing team was Daniel Albrant who recorded 16 points and 6 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Caspiy Aktau maintains fifth position with 8-10 record. Almaty L. at the other side keeps the fourth place with five games lost. Caspiy Aktau will meet at home league's leader Tobol in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Almaty L. will play against Irtysh and hope to secure a win.

In the last game of round 12 bottom-ranked Irtysh lost to Tobol on the opponent's court 75-89.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 20 points and 9 assists by Ali Isagulov of Irtysh.



Caspiy Aktau - Almaty L. 72-74

Important game to mention about took place in Aktau. Fourth ranked Almaty L. (8-5) saved a 2-point victory on the road edging 5th ranked Caspiy Aktau (8-10) 74-72 in the fight for the fourth place. Almaty L. forced 22 Caspiy Aktau turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. The winners were led by forward Nikita Timofeev (199-1998) who scored that evening 14 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and international guard Stanislav Sahipov (190-2002) supported him with 20 points and 4 assists. Almaty L.'s coach Iakov Fokin allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Even 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists by the former international forward Roman Marchuk (198-1993) did not help to save the game for Caspiy Aktau. American power forward LaDarius Marshall (201-1999, college: Alcorn St.) added 13 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Caspiy Aktau players scored in double figures. Almaty L. have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position with 8-5 record. Caspiy Aktau lost third consecutive game. They keep the fifth place with ten games lost. Almaty L. will play against bottom-ranked Irtysh (#8) in Pavlodar in the next round. Caspiy Aktau will play at home against the league's leader Tobol and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Almaty L.: S.Sakhipov 20+2reb+4ast, N.Timofeev 14+9reb+4ast, N.Fedchenko 10+5reb+3ast, D.Sviridov 7+7reb+2ast, D.Severgin 7+9reb+6ast, D.Albrant 6+2reb+1ast
Caspiy Aktau: R.Marchuk 22+9reb+4ast, L.Marshall 13+10reb+4ast, K.Neff 13+2reb+4ast, M.Marchuk 12+9reb+5ast, Z.Dzhakauov 8+1reb+8ast, A.Narimanov 4+1reb

Tobol - Irtysh 87-69

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Tobol as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Tobol defeated 8th ranked Irtysh in Kostanay 87-69. Tobol looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international forward Anton Bykov (200-1989) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 6 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and the former international swingman Pavel Ilyin (194-1992) who added 12 points and 5 assists during the contest. Four Tobol players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was forward Nazim Adylbekov (200-2001) with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists and forward Alexey Alyonushka (190-1995) scored 14 points and 7 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tobol (12-4) have an impressive six-game winning streak. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Irtysh lost fifth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 15 games lost. Irtysh will play next round against strong Almaty L. trying to get back on the winning streak. Tobol will try to continue on its current victory against fifth ranked Caspiy Aktau on the road.
Top scorers:
Tobol: A.Bykov 20+6reb+1ast, D.Flannigan 12+4reb+1ast, P.Ilyin 12+4reb+5ast, A.Bitenov 11+1reb+3ast, S.Kuanov 11+2reb+7ast, V.Petrishinets 9+6reb+2ast
Irtysh: N.Adylbekov 17+14reb+4ast, A.Alyonushka 14+7reb+1ast, M.Shamuratov 12+1reb+4ast, R.Izmaylov 8+1reb+1ast, N.Gushchin 6+1reb+3ast, A.Isagulov 4+2reb+10ast

Caspiy Aktau - Almaty L. 91-68

The game in Aktau supposed to be also quite interesting. One of their biggest challengers Almaty L. (8-5) played at the court of fifth ranked Caspiy Aktau (8-10). Caspiy Aktau smashed Almaty L. 91-68 on Monday. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Almaty L.. Caspiy Aktau forced 19 Almaty L. turnovers and had a 36-19 advantage in offensive rebounds. Caspiy Aktau looked well-organized offensively handing out 33 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international guard Maksim Marchuk (195-1994) who had a double-double by scoring 15 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists and 7 steals. The former international forward Roman Marchuk (198-1993) chipped in a double-double by scoring 24 points and 10 rebounds. Five Caspiy Aktau players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international center Daniel Albrant (205-1998) who recorded 16 points and 6 rebounds and guard Nikita Fedchenko (190-2004) added 11 points and 7 rebounds 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. Caspiy Aktau maintains fifth position with 8-10 record. Almaty L. at the other side keeps the fourth place with five games lost. Caspiy Aktau will meet at home league's leader Tobol in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Almaty L. will play against Irtysh and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Caspiy Aktau: R.Marchuk 24+10reb+2ast, K.Neff 19+1reb+1ast, M.Marchuk 15+13reb+9ast, L.Marshall 14+9reb+7ast, Z.Dzhakauov 13+4reb+14ast, A.Rolgeyzer 3+1reb
Almaty L.: D.Albrant 16+6reb+1ast, N.Fedchenko 11+7reb+2ast, D.Sviridov 10+3reb+1ast, S.Mamutov 7+1reb+5ast, A.Volkov 7, N.Timofeev 6+5reb+1ast

Tobol - Irtysh 89-75

Very expected game in Kostanay where 8th ranked Irtysh (3-15) was defeated by second ranked Tobol (12-4) 89-75 on Monday. Tobol looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international forward Anton Bykov (200-1989) who scored 18 points and 8 rebounds. The former international point guard Shaim Kuanov (181-1991) chipped in 13 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Ali Isagulov (186-2004) who recorded 20 points and 9 assists and Vadim Bagrov (187-2000) added 15 points and 8 assists respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Tobol have an impressive six-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader. Irtysh lost fifth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 15 games lost. Tobol will meet Caspiy Aktau (#5) on the road in the next round. Irtysh will play against Almaty L. and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Tobol: A.Bitenov 19+3reb, A.Bykov 18+8reb+3ast, V.Petrishinets 15+5reb+1ast, S.Kuanov 13+5reb+7ast, K.Dvirnyi 9+3reb+2ast, D.Flannigan 8+5reb+5ast
Irtysh: A.Isagulov 20+4reb+9ast, A.Alyonushka 16+4reb+2ast, V.Bagrov 15+1reb+8ast, N.Adylbekov 10+10reb+4ast, M.Shamuratov 5+3reb+3ast, A.Yurkov 5+4reb+1ast