LBL Round 11: Champville lose to Al Riyadi in the game between Top 4 teams

Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

The game between Top Four teams took place in Beirut. First ranked host Al Riyadi (7-1) smashed 4th placed Champville (5-3) 97-78. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Champville. Al Riyadi made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. It was a great evening for the former international guard Amir Saoud (186-91) who led his team to a victory scoring 39 points (!!!), 5 assists and 4 steals. Forward Hayk Gyokchyan (203-90, college: F&M, agency: BIG) helped adding 11 points and 14 rebounds. International power forward Karim Ezzeddine (206-97, college: N.Mexico, agency: BIG) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds. Al Riyadi have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They maintain first place with 7-1 record. Champville at the other side keeps the fourth position with three games lost. They share it with Beirut Club and Hoops.
Bottom-ranked Anibal (0-8) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their eighth consecutive match to sixth ranked Hoops (5-3) 126-80. It was an exceptional evening for naturalized French guard Gabriel Salibi (203, college: Northeastern St., agency: BIG) who led the winners with a triple-double by scoring 24 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and 8 steals. Youssef Ghantous accounted for 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Tarek Mitri came up with 14 points and 9 assists for Anibal in the defeat. Anibal's coach gave up on the game allowing to play eleven players seeing no chance for a win. Hoops moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Beirut Club and Champville. Anibal lost their eighth game in a row. They still close the standings with eight games lost.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Beirut Club (#6) and Homentmen (#9). Homentmen was crushed at home by 34 points 56-90 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. The best player for the winners was Marwan Ziadeh who had a double-double by scoring 19 points and 11 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field). Karl Zaloum produced 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists for the hosts. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Beirut Club (5-3) moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Champville and Hoops. Homentmen lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the ninth position with seven games lost.

In the last two games of round 11 Moutahed lost to Atlas on the opponent's court 65-79. Sagesse outscored Byblos in a home game 87-60.

Hoops - Anibal 126-80

Bottom-ranked Anibal (0-8) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their eighth consecutive match to sixth ranked Hoops (5-3) 126-80. Hoops dominated down low during the game scoring 82 of its points in the paint compared to Anibal's 42. Hoops forced 27 Anibal turnovers and outrebounded them 46-20 including a 17-4 advantage in offensive rebounds. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 29 assists. It was an exceptional evening for naturalized French guard Gabriel Salibi (203, college: Northeastern St., agency: BIG) who led the winners with a triple-double by scoring 24 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and 8 steals. Guard Youssef Ghantous (191-96) accounted for 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side. Five Hoops players scored in double figures. Tarek Mitri came up with 14 points and 9 assists and Andre Tannoury (195-1) added 15 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Anibal in the defeat. Anibal's coach gave up on the game allowing to play eleven players seeing no chance for a win. Hoops moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Beirut Club and Champville. Anibal lost their eighth game in a row. They still close the standings with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Hoops: G.Salibi 24+14reb+10ast, Y.Ghantous 24+6reb+4ast, G.Choueiry 21+5reb+4ast, S.Jason 18+3reb+1ast, M.Fadi 12+3reb+2ast, K.Aoun 11+4reb+3ast
Anibal: A.Tannoury 15+6reb+1ast, M.Christopher 15+1reb, M.Tarek 14+2reb+9ast, B.Sebastien 6+1reb, T.Ghassan 6+1reb+1ast, M.Elie 6+2reb+3ast

Atlas - Moutahed 79-65

Very expected game in Zahle where 7th ranked Moutahed (3-5) was defeated by third ranked Atlas (6-2) 79-65 on Tuesday. Atlas dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Moutahed's 30. They outrebounded Moutahed 41-24 including 27 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was forward Marc Abi Kheres (197-94) who had a double-double by scoring 28 points and 17 rebounds (on 11-of-14 shooting from the field). Point guard Joseph Zaloum (180-90) chipped in a double-double by scoring 11 points, 10 assists and 4 steals. Guard Malek Hijazi (190-94, college: West LA) produced 9 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists and Hassan Zakaria added 15 points respectively for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Atlas. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Sagesse. Moutahed lost their third game in a row. They keep the seventh position with five games lost.
Top scorers:
Atlas: M.Abi-Kheres 28+17reb+2ast, E.Helou Hicham 13+5reb+2ast, J.Zaloum 11+2reb+10ast, S.Elias 8+6reb+3ast, O.Kaissy 6+2reb+1ast, J.Jarrouge 6+4reb
Moutahed: Z.Hassan 15+1reb+1ast, A.Ramzi 12+3reb+2ast, M.Hijazi 9+6reb+6ast, G.Elio 9+3reb+4ast, W.Sawan 7+3reb, I.Haddad 6+5reb+2ast

Homentmen - Beirut Club 56-90

Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Beirut Club (#6) and Homentmen (#9). Homentmen was crushed at home by 34 points 56-90 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Beirut Club dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Homentmen's 24. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Beirut Club made 8 blocks. The best player for the winners was the former international power forward Marwan Ziadeh (202-87) who had a double-double by scoring 19 points and 11 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field). The former international forward Patrick Bou Abboud (199-87) chipped in 18 points and 9 rebounds. Four Beirut Club players scored in double figures. Karl Zaloum produced 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and forward Karim Jadayel (191-92) added 14 points respectively for the hosts. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Beirut Club (5-3) moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Champville and Hoops. Homentmen lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the ninth position with seven games lost.
Top scorers:
Beirut Club: M.Ziadeh 19+11reb, N.Rabay 18+4reb+1ast, P.Bou Abboud 18+9reb+2ast, E.Chamoun 10+5reb+2ast, A.Kopaly 9+2reb+2ast, J.Abdel Massih 7+6reb+1ast
Homentmen: K.Jadayel 14+3reb, Z.Karl 14+8reb+6ast, A.Serouj 10+4reb+1ast, B.Omar El 6+3reb+3ast, A.Hassan 4+2reb, A.Carlo 3+1reb

Sagesse - Byblos 87-60

Rather predictable result in Beirut where fourth ranked Sagesse (6-2) smashed 8th ranked Byblos (2-6) 87-60 on Wednesday. They outrebounded Byblos 48-34 including 33 on the defensive glass. Sagesse looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international swingman Nadim Souaid (192-86, agency: BIG) who had a double-double by scoring 22 points and 13 rebounds. Christophe Khalil chipped in a double-double by scoring 17 points and 16 rebounds. Four Sagesse players scored in double figures. Mohamad Skaf produced 13 points and 8 rebounds and Bechara Boustany added 11 points respectively for the guests. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Sagesse moved-up to second place, which they share with Atlas. Byblos lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the eighth position with six games lost.
Top scorers:
Sagesse: N.Souaid 22+13reb+1ast, K.Christophe 17+16reb+1ast, R.Fahed 16+2reb+7ast, M.Khoueiry 11+7reb+2ast, A.Mezher 9+1reb+10ast, S.Michel 7+4reb
Byblos: S.Mohamad 13+8reb+1ast, R.Saade 12+1reb, B.Bechara 11+4reb+2ast, T.Saker 8+2reb+1ast, A.Ziad El 6+10reb, C.Abboud 5+2ast

Al Riyadi - Champville 97-78

The game between Top Four teams took place in Beirut. First ranked host Al Riyadi (7-1) smashed 4th placed Champville (5-3) 97-78. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Champville. Al Riyadi made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. It was a great evening for the former international guard Amir Saoud (186-91) who led his team to a victory scoring 39 points (!!!), 5 assists and 4 steals. Forward Hayk Gyokchyan (203-90, college: F&M, agency: BIG) helped adding 11 points and 14 rebounds. International power forward Karim Ezzeddine (206-97, college: N.Mexico, agency: BIG) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds and the former international guard Joseph Chartouny (190-94, college: Marquette, agency: BIG) scored 14 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Al Riyadi have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They maintain first place with 7-1 record. Champville at the other side keeps the fourth position with three games lost. They share it with Beirut Club and Hoops.
Top scorers:
Al Riyadi: A.Saoud 39+2reb+5ast, M.Khoury 19+8reb+1ast, K.Zeinoun 18+5reb+1ast, H.Gyokchyan 11+14reb+3ast, M.Mneimneh 4+3reb, A.Mansour 3+7reb+9ast
Champville: K.Ezzeddine 23+14reb+1ast, E.Rustom 17+5reb+1ast, J.Chartouny 14+9reb+7ast, M.Martinez 10+7reb+1ast, R.Akl 8+1reb+1ast, J.Bitar 6+1reb



Tags : AMIR SAOUD, SPORTING AL RIYADI BEIRUT, LEBANESE BASKETBALL