National League Round 13 (Regular Season): Irbis lose to Astana Ac.

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The biggest surprise took place in Astana where host Astana Ac. (7-11) beat league's leader Irbis (12-3) 99-82 on Wednesday evening. It ended at the same time the ten-game winning streak of Irbis. Astana Ac. made 23-of-29 free shots (79.3 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Irbis' players. 24 personal fouls committed by Irbis helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Russian center Andrey Desiatnikov (220-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) fired a double-double by scoring 24 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Russian guard Grigory Motovilov (191-1998) chipped in 18 points and 10 assists. American forward Myles Douglas (203-1998, college: Morgan St.) produced 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Astana Ac. maintains sixth place with 7-11 record. Defending champion Irbis dropped to the second position with three games lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Tobol. Irbis will play next round against Irtysh trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Astana Ac. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game.
Leader Irbis delivered the twelfth victory. This time they beat 6th ranked Astana Ac. (7-11) 79-73. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Keshon Tabb (180-1999, college: Rust) who helped to win the game recording 27 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. Alexander Zhigulin contributed with 13 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. The former international point guard Alexander Orazbekov (180-2002) answered with 21 points and 6 assists for Astana Ac.Astana Ac.'s coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Irbis (12-3) have an impressive series of ten victories in a row. Despite that victory Irbis went down to second position due to points difference. Astana Ac. at the other side keeps the sixth place with 11 games lost. Irbis will play against bottom-ranked Irtysh (#8) in Pavlodar in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Astana Ac. will have a break next round.
The game in Aktau was also quite interesting. Second ranked Tobol (13-4) played at the court of 5th ranked Caspiy Aktau (8-11). Tobol defeated Caspiy Aktau 75-63 on Monday. Anton Bykov stepped up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 14 rebounds for the winners. At the losing side Konstantin Neff responded with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. The victory was the seventh consecutive win for Tobol. They keep a position of league leader. Loser Caspiy Aktau keeps the fifth place with 11 games lost. Tobol will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Caspiy Aktau will play again against the league's leader Tobol (#1) and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 13 bottom-ranked Irtysh was crushed by Almaty L. in a road game 90-70. Almaty L. beat Irtysh at home 102-89.
The best stats of 13th round was 14 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals by Maksim Marchuk of Caspiy Aktau.



Astana Ac. - Irbis 73-79

Leader Irbis delivered the twelfth victory. This time they beat 6th ranked Astana Ac. (7-11) 79-73. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Keshon Tabb (180-1999, college: Rust) who helped to win the game recording 27 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. The former international forward Alexander Zhigulin (205-1994) contributed with 13 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. Tabb is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. The former international point guard Alexander Orazbekov (180-2002) answered with 21 points and 6 assists and guard Amirali Suleimenov (192-2003) added 20 points in the effort for Astana Ac.Astana Ac.'s coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Irbis (12-3) have an impressive series of ten victories in a row. Despite that victory Irbis went down to second position due to points difference. Astana Ac. at the other side keeps the sixth place with 11 games lost. Irbis will play against bottom-ranked Irtysh (#8) in Pavlodar in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Astana Ac. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Astana Ac.: A.Orazbekov 21+4reb+6ast, A.Suleimenov 20+4reb+1ast, R.Aitkali 14+6reb+1ast, S.Abashidze 6+2reb+1ast, Z.Medovskoy 5+1reb, V.Simonov 3+3reb
Irbis: K.Tabb 27+8reb+6ast, A.Zhigulin 13+9reb, J.Perry 12+6reb+1ast, D.Gavrilov 8+2reb+1ast, M.Douglas 7+3reb, I.Konysov 6+1reb+2ast

Astana Ac. - Irbis 99-82

The biggest surprise took place in Astana where host Astana Ac. (7-11) beat league's leader Irbis (12-3) 99-82 on Wednesday evening. It ended at the same time the ten-game winning streak of Irbis. Astana Ac. made 23-of-29 free shots (79.3 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Irbis' players. 24 personal fouls committed by Irbis helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Russian center Andrey Desiatnikov (220-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) fired a double-double by scoring 24 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Russian guard Grigory Motovilov (191-1998) chipped in a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 assists. Five Astana Ac. players scored in double figures. American forward Myles Douglas (203-1998, college: Morgan St.) produced 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals and the other American import guard Jalon Perry (185-1998, college: Faulkner) added 23 points respectively for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Astana Ac. maintains sixth place with 7-11 record. Defending champion Irbis dropped to the second position with three games lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Tobol. Irbis will play next round against Irtysh trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Astana Ac. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game.
Top scorers:
Irbis: J.Perry 23+2reb+1ast, M.Douglas 20+8reb+4ast, A.Zhigulin 16+2reb+1ast, N.Bazhin 8+9reb+2ast, K.Tabb 7+1reb+3ast, I.Konysov 4+1reb
Astana Ac.: A.Desiatnikov 24+10reb+4ast, G.Motovilov 18+3reb+10ast, V.Chsherbak 15+3reb+2ast, R.Murzagaliyev 14+6reb+1ast, S.Abashidze 12+4reb, A.Orazbekov 6+1reb+7ast

Almaty L. - Irtysh 90-70

There was no surprise when 8th ranked Irtysh (3-17) was crushed on the road by fourth ranked Almaty L. (10-5) 90-70 on Saturday. Almaty L. made 19-of-23 free shots (82.6 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Uzbekistani center Dmitry Sviridov (212-1985) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and the former international point guard Daniil Severgin (183-2005) chipped in 16 points and 7 assists. At the losing side forward Nazim Adylbekov (200-2001) responded with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 19 rebounds and guard Ali Isagulov (186-2004) scored 19 points and 4 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Almaty L. maintains fourth place with 10-5 record. Irtysh lost their seventh game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 17 games lost. Almaty L. will meet at home higher ranked Barsy Atyrau (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Irtysh will play against the league's second-placed Irbis (#2) in Almaty and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Irtysh: A.Isagulov 19+4reb+4ast, N.Adylbekov 16+19reb+2ast, N.Gushchin 10+2reb, A.Alyonushka 7+5reb+3ast, V.Bagrov 7+4reb, Z.Clark 7+1reb
Almaty L.: D.Severgin 16+4reb+7ast, S.Sakhipov 16+3reb+1ast, D.Sviridov 14+11reb+5ast, N.Timofeev 9+7reb+5ast, A.Volkov 9+4reb, D.Albrant 8+5reb

Almaty L. - Irtysh 102-89

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Almaty L. (10-5) defeated at home bottom-ranked Irtysh (3-17) 102-89 on Sunday. Almaty L. dominated down low during the game scoring 74 of its points in the paint compared to Irtysh's 44. The former international point guard Daniil Severgin (183-2005) stepped up and scored 35 points (!!!) and 5 assists for the winners and forward Nikita Timofeev (199-1998) chipped in 17 points and 7 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). At the losing side forward Nazim Adylbekov (200-2001) responded with 17 points and 9 rebounds and guard Ali Isagulov (186-2004) scored 16 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Almaty L. maintains fourth place with 10-5 record. Irtysh lost their seventh game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 17 games lost. Almaty L. will meet at home higher ranked Barsy Atyrau (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Irtysh will play against the league's second-placed Irbis (#2) in Almaty and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Irtysh: Z.Clark 22+3reb, N.Adylbekov 17+9reb+3ast, A.Isagulov 16+5reb+7ast, A.Alyonushka 14+3reb+2ast, N.Gushchin 9+8reb, M.Shamuratov 6+1reb+2ast
Almaty L.: D.Severgin 35+3reb+5ast, N.Timofeev 17+7reb+3ast, D.Albrant 17+2reb, S.Sakhipov 11+3reb+4ast, N.Fedchenko 9+2reb+1ast, D.Sviridov 6+7reb

Caspiy Aktau - Tobol 63-75

The game in Aktau was also quite interesting. Second ranked Tobol (13-4) played at the court of 5th ranked Caspiy Aktau (8-11). Tobol defeated Caspiy Aktau 75-63 on Monday. Tobol forced 21 Caspiy Aktau turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The former international forward Anton Bykov (200-1989) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 14 rebounds for the winners and forward Vassiliy Petrishinets (198-1989) chipped in 17 points and 9 rebounds. Four Tobol players scored in double figures. At the losing side the former international forward Konstantin Neff (198-1997) responded with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international guard Maksim Marchuk (195-1994) produced a double-double by scoring 14 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. The victory was the seventh consecutive win for Tobol. They keep a position of league leader. Loser Caspiy Aktau keeps the fifth place with 11 games lost. Tobol will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Caspiy Aktau will play again against the league's leader Tobol (#1) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Caspiy Aktau: K.Neff 25+8reb+4ast, M.Marchuk 14+15reb+6ast, L.Marshall 11+4reb+3ast, R.Marchuk 5+8reb+5ast, A.Narimanov 4, A.Rolgeyzer 2
Tobol: A.Bykov 20+14reb+2ast, V.Petrishinets 17+9reb+2ast, A.Bitenov 12+5reb+2ast, S.Kuanov 10+4reb+5ast, K.Dvirnyi 7+3reb+4ast, A.Marat 6+3reb+2ast