LBL Round 21: Beirut Club keep a leadership position

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Beirut Club as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Beirut Club defeated 4th placed Al Riyadi at home 76-63. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Al Riyadi. It was a key game for the top position in the league. The former international forward Hayk Gyokchyan (203-1990, college: F&M) stepped up and scored 12 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and the former international guard Wael Arakji (194-1994) chipped in 20 points. The best for the losing side was international guard Ali Mansour (185-1998) with 20 points and 9 assists. Beirut Club (14-2) have an impressive series of eight victories in a row. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Defending champion Al Riyadi dropped to the third place with two games lost. Al Riyadi will play next round against strong Sagesse trying to get back on the winning streak. It will be a derby game for which supporters look forward to, where their team will face at home their local rival from Beirut - Sagesse. Beirut Club will try to continue on its current victory against eighth ranked Atlas in Zahle.
Important game to mention about took place in Dik El Mehdi. Fifth ranked Champville (10-7) saved a 1-point derby victory at home edging 4th placed Sagesse (13-4) 78-77 on Friday evening. The former international point guard Miguel Martinez (188-1988) nailed 17 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and Marwan Ziadeh accounted for 16 points and 9 rebounds. International point guard Ali Mezher (182-1994) came up with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 11 assists for Sagesse in the defeat. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Champville. They maintain fifth place with 10-7 record. Sagesse at the other side keeps the fourth position with four games lost. Champville will play against Hoops (#6) in Beirut in the next round. Sagesse's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beirut to the arena Al Riyadi.
The game in Zahle was also quite interesting. Seventh ranked Hoops (9-8) played at the court of 8th ranked Atlas (4-13). Hoops managed to secure a 9-point victory 80-71 on Tuesday. The best player for the winners was Habib Abdallah who had a double-double by scoring 26 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Bassel Harfouch who recorded a double-double by scoring 30 points and 12 rebounds. Hoops moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Antranik. Atlas lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the eighth position with 13 games lost. They share it with Homentmen. Hoops will meet at home higher ranked Champville (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Atlas will play against the league's leader Beirut Club and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 21 Byblos lost to Homentmen on the opponent's court 87-95. Bottom-ranked Anibal were outscored by Dynamo in a home game 65-87.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 20 points and 10 rebounds by Mark Alkhoury of Al Riyadi.

Homentmen - Byblos 95-87

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 10th ranked Byblos' (2-16) road loss to ninth ranked Homentmen (4-13) 87-95 on Monday. Homentmen looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Byblos' players. The best player for the winners was forward Karim Jadayel (191-1992) who scored 42 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds. Power forward Elios Saad (202-2001) chipped in a double-double by scoring 15 points, 17 rebounds and 7 assists. Four Homentmen players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was forward William Sawan (201-1998) who recorded a double-double by scoring 28 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists and Mohamed Skaf added 12 points and 9 rebounds respectively. Homentmen moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Atlas. Byblos lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the tenth position with 16 games lost. Homentmen's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beirut to the arena Dynamo.
Top scorers:
Byblos: W.Sawan 28+12reb+4ast, S.Georges 16+3reb+2ast, S.Mohamed 12+9reb, H.Omar El 10+3reb, Z.Elio 9+2reb+2ast, B.Bechara 6+5reb+2ast
Homentmen: K.Jadayel 42+7reb+1ast, S.Elios 15+17reb+7ast, Z.Karl 13+5reb+7ast, H.Refaat 10+7reb+1ast, G.Elio 8+3reb+8ast, D.Baghdadian 7+6reb+1ast

Anibal - Dynamo 65-87

Very predictable result in Zahle where fourth ranked Dynamo (14-4) smashed bottom-ranked Anibal (1-17) 87-65 on Tuesday. Dynamo looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international swingman Ahmad Ibrahim (198-1992, college: Rice) who scored 42 points (!!!), 5 assists and 4 steals. The former international point guard Jad Khalil (186-1996) chipped in 9 points, 8 rebounds and 14 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Ghassan Tacca who recorded 17 points and 9 rebounds and American point guard Hamoudy Turfe (183, college: UM-Dearborn) added 9 points and 7 rebounds respectively. The victory was the third consecutive win for Dynamo. They moved-up to second place. Anibal lost their ninth game in a row. They stay dead last with 17 lost games. Dynamo's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Beirut Homentmen.
Top scorers:
Anibal: T.Ghassan 17+9reb, H.Turfe 9+7reb+3ast, S.Bechara 9+7reb+1ast, D.Sami 9+2reb+5ast, A.Tanos Rami 8+1reb+6ast, A.Tannoury 7+4reb
Dynamo: A.Ibrahim 42+3reb+5ast, M.Haidar 14+4reb+1ast, J.Khalil 9+8reb+14ast, J.Salem 8+6reb, J.Makhlouf 7+3reb, K.Michel 3+3reb+1ast

Atlas - Hoops 71-80

The game in Zahle was also quite interesting. Seventh ranked Hoops (9-8) played at the court of 8th ranked Atlas (4-13). Hoops managed to secure a 9-point victory 80-71 on Tuesday. The best player for the winners was the former international Habib Abdallah who had a double-double by scoring 26 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international swingman Khalil Aoun (195-1990) chipped in a double-double by scoring 16 points and 15 rebounds. Four Hoops players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international guard Bassel Harfouch (193-1993, college: Alcorn St.) who recorded a double-double by scoring 30 points and 12 rebounds and Leonel Lahoud added 19 points and 8 rebounds respectively. Hoops moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Antranik. Atlas lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the eighth position with 13 games lost. They share it with Homentmen. Hoops will meet at home higher ranked Champville (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Atlas will play against the league's leader Beirut Club and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Atlas: B.Harfouch 30+12reb+2ast, L.Leonel 19+8reb+1ast, A.Malla Mohamad 9+3reb, A.Sbeity 5+2reb, B.Elie 3+3reb, C.Kodsi 3+4reb+8ast
Hoops: H.Abdallah 26+14reb+4ast, S.Jason 18+5reb+4ast, K.Aoun 16+15reb+1ast, S.Alaa 13+6reb+4ast, H.Ghassan 3+4reb+1ast, A.Mostapha 0+1reb

Champville - Sagesse 78-77

Important game to mention about took place in Dik El Mehdi. Fifth ranked Champville (10-7) saved a 1-point derby victory at home edging 4th placed Sagesse (13-4) 78-77 on Friday evening. Champville forced 19 Sagesse turnovers. The former international point guard Miguel Martinez (188-1988) nailed 17 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and the former international power forward Marwan Ziadeh (202-1987) accounted for 16 points and 9 rebounds. International point guard Ali Mezher (182-1994) came up with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 11 assists and the former international swingman Christophe Khalil (192-1999) added 15 points and 12 rebounds respectively for Sagesse in the defeat. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Champville. They maintain fifth place with 10-7 record. Sagesse at the other side keeps the fourth position with four games lost. Champville will play against Hoops (#6) in Beirut in the next round. Sagesse's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beirut to the arena Al Riyadi.
Top scorers:
Sagesse: A.Mezher 18+3reb+11ast, A.Abdel Massih 16+2reb+1ast, K.Christophe 15+12reb, M.Khoueiry 14+5reb+4ast, J.Bitar 12+9reb+2ast, M.Rudy 2+3reb+1ast
Champville: M.Martinez 17+6reb+3ast, M.Ziadeh 16+9reb+1ast, G.Salibi 13+3reb+2ast, R.Akl 12+3reb+4ast, P.Bou Abboud 10+9reb+6ast, E.Rustom 10+6reb+4ast

Beirut Club - Al Riyadi 76-63

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Beirut Club as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Beirut Club defeated 4th placed Al Riyadi at home 76-63. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Al Riyadi. It was a key game for the top position in the league. The former international forward Hayk Gyokchyan (203-1990, college: F&M) stepped up and scored 12 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and the former international guard Wael Arakji (194-1994) chipped in 20 points. Four Beirut Club players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was international guard Ali Mansour (185-1998) with 20 points and 9 assists and the former international swingman Mark Alkhoury (196-1998) produced a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds. Beirut Club (14-2) have an impressive series of eight victories in a row. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Defending champion Al Riyadi dropped to the third place with two games lost. Al Riyadi will play next round against strong Sagesse trying to get back on the winning streak. It will be a derby game for which supporters look forward to, where their team will face at home their local rival from Beirut - Sagesse. Beirut Club will try to continue on its current victory against eighth ranked Atlas in Zahle.
Top scorers:
Al Riyadi: M.Alkhoury 20+10reb, A.Mansour 20+3reb+9ast, K.Zeinoun 12+3reb+2ast, J.Abdel Nour 6+4reb+2ast, B.Tabbara 3, A.Saoud 2+3reb+5ast
Beirut Club: W.Arakji 20+4reb, K.Mechref 13+3reb, H.Gyokchyan 12+8reb+5ast, R.Akl 12+3reb+5ast, G.Hadidian 8+6reb+1ast, E.Chamoun 6+2reb+4ast



Tags : HAYK GYOKCHYAN, BEIRUT CLUB, LEBANESE BASKETBALL