LBL Round 27: Al Riyadi beat Beirut Club in a derby game

Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Al Riyadi (#1) and Beirut Club (#5). Al Riyadi (17-1) won against visiting Beirut Club (11-7) 95-82. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Beirut Club. They outrebounded Beirut Club 38-27 including 24 on the defensive glass. Al Riyadi looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international guard Amir Saoud (186-91) who scored 30 points and 6 assists. The former international swingman Jean Abdel Nour (198-83) chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Karam Mechref (187-92, agency: BIG) who recorded 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Al Riyadi have an impressive series of sixteen victories in a row. They maintain first place with 17-1 record. Beirut Club at the other side keeps the fifth position with seven games lost.
Very important is a home loss of second ranked Sagesse (12-6) against fourth ranked Champville (12-5) on Tuesday night. Host Sagesse was crushed by Champville in Beirut 84-54. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Sagesse. It was a key game for the second position in the league. It was a good game for international Aziz Abdel Massih (192-96) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jad Bitar contributed with 18 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. Champville's coach Fuad Abou Chakra felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. point guard Marc Khoueiry (185-1) answered with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for Sagesse. Champville moved-up to second place, which they share with Atlas. Sagesse at the other side dropped to the fourth position with six games lost.
Bottom-ranked Anibal (0-18) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 89-68 loss to ninth ranked Homentmen (3-15) in Beirut on Monday evening. It was a great evening for Karim Jadayel who led his team to a victory with a triple-double by scoring 16 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists. Coach 's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play 11 players and allowed the starting five to rest. The best for the losing side was Christopher Maalouf with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Homentmen maintains ninth place with 3-15 record. Anibal lost their eighteenth game in a row. They still close the standings.
The game with biggest result difference took place in Zahle. Local Atlas (12-5) outscored 7th ranked Byblos (7-11) 83-51. It was a quality performance for Marc Abi-Kheres who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 20 rebounds. The victory was the third consecutive win for Atlas. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Champville. Byblos lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 11 games lost. Atlas' next round opponent will be again Byblos (#7) at home which should be theoretically another easy game.

In the last game of round 27 Moutahed were crushed by Hoops in Beirut 91-70.

Al Riyadi - Beirut Club 95-82

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Al Riyadi (#1) and Beirut Club (#5). Al Riyadi (17-1) won against visiting Beirut Club (11-7) 95-82. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Beirut Club. They outrebounded Beirut Club 38-27 including 24 on the defensive glass. Al Riyadi looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international guard Amir Saoud (186-91) who scored 30 points and 6 assists. The former international swingman Jean Abdel Nour (198-83) chipped in a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Karam Mechref (187-92, agency: BIG) who recorded 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international forward Patrick Bou Abboud (199-87) added 20 points respectively. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Al Riyadi have an impressive series of sixteen victories in a row. They maintain first place with 17-1 record. Beirut Club at the other side keeps the fifth position with seven games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Riyadi: A.Saoud 30+3reb+6ast, H.Gyokchyan 16+4reb+3ast, J.Abdel Nour 14+10reb+3ast, A.Mansour 13+4reb+7ast, M.Khoury 12+9reb+1ast, K.Zeinoun 10+8reb+4ast
Beirut Club: P.Bou Abboud 20+2reb+1ast, E.Chamoun 18+1reb+4ast, K.Mechref 14+6reb+4ast, N.Rabay 11+4reb, G.El Beyrouty 10+7reb+4ast, A.Joel 6+3ast

Homentmen - Anibal 89-68

Bottom-ranked Anibal (0-18) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 89-68 loss to ninth ranked Homentmen (3-15) in Beirut on Monday evening. Homentmen outrebounded Anibal 56-39 including 19 on the offensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Anibal's players. It was a great evening for forward Karim Jadayel (191-92) who led his team to a victory with a triple-double by scoring 16 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists. Karl Zaloum helped adding 11 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Five Homentmen players scored in double figures. Coach 's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play 11 players and allowed the starting five to rest. The best for the losing side was Christopher Maalouf with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and Georges Hanna scored 17 points and 7 rebounds. Homentmen maintains ninth place with 3-15 record. Anibal lost their eighteenth game in a row. They still close the standings.
Top scorers:
Homentmen: B.Omar El 20+7reb+2ast, K.Jadayel 16+17reb+10ast, A.Serouj 15+3reb+1ast, H.Refaat 15+3reb, Z.Karl 11+13reb+11ast, A.Carlo 4+1reb+2ast
Anibal: M.Christopher 25+8reb+6ast, H.Georges 17+7reb+2ast, M.Elie 12+2ast, W.Nicolas 7+1reb+1ast, T.Ghassan 5+15reb+2ast, K.Peter 2+1reb

Hoops - Moutahed 91-70

There was no surprise in Beirut where 8th ranked Moutahed (5-13) was crushed by sixth ranked Hoops (10-8) 91-70. Hoops forced 23 Moutahed turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. It was an exceptional evening for naturalized French guard Gabriel Salibi (203, college: Northeastern St., agency: BIG) who led the winners and scored 25 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 8 steals. Jason Soufan accounted for 8 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side. Four Hoops players scored in double figures. Ibrahim Haddad (-98) came up with 25 points and 8 rebounds and guard Malek Hijazi (190-94, college: West LA) added 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Moutahed in the defeat. Moutahed's coach gave up on the game allowing to play eleven players seeing no chance for a win. Hoops maintains sixth place with 10-8 record. Moutahed lost their sixth game in a row. They keep the eighth position with 13 games lost. Hoops' next round opponent will be again Moutahed (#8) in Tripoli.
Top scorers:
Hoops: G.Salibi 25+5reb+6ast, G.Choueiry 16+1reb+2ast, M.Fadi 14+2reb, D.Baghdadian 10+7reb, D.T 9+2reb+1ast, S.Jason 8+7reb+5ast
Moutahed: I.Haddad 25+8reb+3ast, M.Hijazi 21+5reb+4ast, S.Rayan 7+1reb, G.Elio 5+6reb+1ast, B.Omar 4+7reb+1ast, Z.Hassan 3+3reb+1ast

Atlas - Byblos 83-51

The game with biggest result difference took place in Zahle. Local Atlas (12-5) outscored 7th ranked Byblos (7-11) 83-51. They outrebounded Byblos 54-27 including a 38-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. Atlas players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists comparing to just 7 passes made by Byblos' players. It was a quality performance for forward Marc Abi-Kheres (197-94) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 20 rebounds. Point guard Joseph Zaloum (180-90) accounted for 16 points, 6 rebounds and 11 assists for the winning side. Four Atlas players scored in double figures. Mohamad Skaf came up with 9 points and 6 rebounds and J Ayoubi added 10 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Byblos in the defeat. The victory was the third consecutive win for Atlas. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Champville. Byblos lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 11 games lost. Atlas' next round opponent will be again Byblos (#7) at home which should be theoretically another easy game.
Top scorers:
Atlas: M.Abi-Kheres 19+20reb+2ast, E.Helou Hicham 18+10reb+3ast, J.Zaloum 16+6reb+11ast, J.Jarrouge 14+6reb+1ast, R.Dib 6+3reb+2ast, D.Mohammad 4+2reb
Byblos: A.J 10+5reb, S.Mohamad 9+6reb, M.Abdo 7+3reb, K.Assi 7+2reb+5ast, Z.Elio 4+2reb, T.Saker 4+5reb+1ast

Sagesse - Champville 54-84

Very important is a home loss of second ranked Sagesse (12-6) against fourth ranked Champville (12-5) on Tuesday night. Host Sagesse was crushed by Champville in Beirut 84-54. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Sagesse. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Champville dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Sagesse's 34. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Sagesse's players. It was a good game for international Aziz Abdel Massih (192-96) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds. The former international power forward Jad Bitar (204-88, agency: BIG) contributed with 18 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. Five Champville players scored in double figures. Champville's coach Fuad Abou Chakra felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Point guard Marc Khoueiry (185-1) answered with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and Mike Haddad added 17 points in the effort for Sagesse. Champville moved-up to second place, which they share with Atlas. Sagesse at the other side dropped to the fourth position with six games lost.
Top scorers:
Champville: J.Bitar 18+5reb+2ast, S.El Darwich 14+4reb, A.Abdel Massih 14+10reb+3ast, E.Rustom 12+5reb+2ast, M.Haidar 11+9reb+2ast, K.Ezzeddine 5+3reb+1ast
Sagesse: H.Mike 17+2reb, M.Khoueiry 10+7reb+5ast, H.Omar El 7+6reb+2ast, K.Christophe 6+7reb+2ast, J.Nemer 5+2reb+1ast, S.Elios 4



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