Player of the Year: Darren Kelly (190-G-78) of Al Moutahed Guard of the Year: Darren Kelly of Al Moutahed Forward of the Year: Nate Johnson (199-F-77) of Al Riyadi Center of the Year: Chris Charles (213-F/C-81) of Champville Newcomer of the Year: Antony Yammine (187-F-89) of Blue Stars Most Improved Player of the Year: Elie Roustom (191-F-87) of Al Moutahed Import Player of the Year: Darren Kelly of Al Moutahed Domestic Player of the Year: Ali Mahmoud (182-G-83) of Al Riyadi Defensive Player of the Year: Ronald Alexander (213-F/C-84) of Anibal Co-Coach of the Year: Fuad Abou Chakra of Al Riyadi and Toni Vujanic of Al Moutahed 1st Team Darren Kelly of Al Moutahed Nate Johnson of Al Riyadi Marcus Melvin (203-F-82) of Sagesse Tony Williams (202-F-78) of Al Moutahed Chris Charles of Champville 2nd Team Nick Zachery (191-G-79) of Blue Stars Chudney Gray (188-G-78) of Tebnine William Byrd (201-F-85) of Kahraba Ronald Alexander of Anibal Ali Mahmoud of Al Riyadi Honorable Mention Mike Fraser (203-C/F-84) of Antranik Ramy Akiki (186-G-82) of Champville Rodrigue Akl (185-G-88) of Blue Stars Joe Ghattas (185-G-82) of Sagesse Micheal El Nar (180-G-90) of Kahraba Ghaleb Rida (190-G-81) of Tebnine Sabah Khoury (196-G-82) of Sagesse Omar El Turk (186-G-81) of Al Riyadi Mohamed Ibrahim (192-G-83) of Al Riyadi Roudy Farraj (187-G-88) of Antranik Patrick Bou Abboud (199-F-87) of Antranik Larry Cox (208-C-84) of Kahraba Joel Box (205-C-84) of Blue Stars All-Domestic Players Team Ali Mahmoud of Al Riyadi Elie Roustom of Al Moutahed Elie Estephane (190-G/F) of Champville Jean Abdel-Nour (198-G/F-83) of Blue Stars Jihad Murr (196-F-85) of Anibal All-Imports Team Darren Kelly of Al Moutahed Nate Johnson of Al Riyadi Marcus Melvin of Sagesse Tony Williams of Al Moutahed Chris Charles of Champville All-Defensive Team Elie Roustom of Al Moutahed Antony Yammine of Blue Stars William Byrd of Kahraba Rolando Howell (206-C/F-82) of Sagesse Ronald Alexander of Anibal All-Newcomers Team Ralph Akl (178-G-90) of Tebnine Antony Yammine of Blue Stars William Byrd of Kahraba Mike Fraser of Antranik Mohamed Hamdar (202-C-88) of Tebnine Riyadi wins championship title 2008-09 - Apr 23, 2009 Tonight in Manara the Riyadi Kings took care of business and clinched the 2008-2009 Lebanese championship in one hell of a tough season. After having one of the most promising teams in Riyadi's history at the opening of training camp, and by running away with the Dubai and Housam Title, Riyadi had two of the best foreigners in Nate Johnson (199-F-77, college: Louisville) and Ahmad Ismail (201-F-76), and the best local player in the Tiger Fadi, along with the a great supporting cast lead by arguably the best point guard in the history of Lebanon, Ali Mahmoud (182-G-83), the best local center in Joseph Vogel (211-C-73, agency: Pro Management Agency, college: Colorado St.), and a great solid cast between Omar El Turk (186-G-81, college: Dawson Coll.), Hussein Tawbe, Ali Fakhreddine (202-C-83), and newly added Moe Ibrahim. However, after Dubai things started to take a down side! First Tawbe got injured for the season, then Ismail and Fadi got banned till the rest of the regular season, Ali Mahmoud got injured, Joseph Vogel as well as Ali Fakhreddine got injured, and Omar El Turk at one point was injured. That left Riyadi with one of the weakest teams in recent years! Riyadi lost to Mottahed, Sagesse, Kahraba, and Bluestars, but after that it was Nate to the rescue. As Nate increased his intensity, and players started to get healthy, along with the tallest foreigner in the history of Riyadi, Alex, Riyadi started to win. They first eliminated Kahraba in a 2-0 sweep. Then came the mighty greens with one of their best teams since early years, and where knocked off in 4 games 3-1(the loss coming from a withdrawal from Riyadi), and then Mottahed who had home court advantage and where the heavy favorites came along. This series kicked off in Tripoli, and started 20-6 for the favorites, but quickly turned into a blowout by the champions, the next night saw 43 points from Nate and another Riyadi win, and however a return to Tripoli saw Mottahed overcome 38 by Nate to win. That set the stage for tonight's game, as the champions took the court in front of a fully packed house of Riyadi Fans and many players, lead by Fadi El Khatib (197-F-79, agency: Pro Management Agency). The game started strong from both sides, as Mottahed took the early 10-4 lead before Omar and Ali hit threes, and Nate started scoring. Kelly would not miss, as he answered ever shot by Omar and the rest with a shot of his own. Omar finished the quarter with 3 treys, and Nate had 11 points. However Riyadi lead 33-27 at that point. The second quarter was less scoring and more defense but Omar and Nate would not be stopped yet again! Nate finished the quarter with 19, and Riyadi should have lead by a lot but Kelly got them back in the final minute and the half ended with a 54-50 Yellow lead. The second half was action packed, and the yellows lead most of the way with Mottahed hanging right in the game, however 2 consecutive treys by Omar made it 17 (77-60) and the visitors battled back behind Daren as usual. The final quarter showed Mottahed trying to come back, but with Ali hitting two threes, and Alex scoring inside alone with forced turnovers, Omar and Ali where able to celebrate before the game ended by 1 minute! The final score was 86-95, and Nate finished with 21, while Ali had 23 and Omar who hit 9 threes, finished with 27! Alex chipped in with 11 and a handful of rebounds. Final (Best of 5): Game 4: Riyadi 95-86 Mouttahed Riyadi: Nate Johson 27Pts, 6Rbs, 5Ast, Omar Turk 27Pts, 2Rbs, 1Ast (Includind 9/11 from 3's), Ali Mahmoud 22Pts, 2Rbs, 2Ast, Alexander Radojevic 11Pts, 6Rbs, 4Ast and added 3 Blocks, Joseph Vogel 8Pts, 13Rbs Mouttahed: Darren Kelly 32Pts, 1Rbs, 4Ast (Including 9/12 from 3's), Anthony Williams 24Pts, 7Rbs, 5Ast, Mazen Mneimeh 20Pts, 5Rbs, 5Ast |
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