LBL Round 19: Beirut Club beat Hoops in a derby game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Beirut Club (#3) and Hoops (#8). Beirut Club (15-2) crushed visiting Hoops (6-11) by 34 points 90-56. Beirut Club dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Hoops' 22. They outrebounded Hoops 58-17 including a 18-6 advantage in offensive rebounds. Beirut Club looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American Shabazz Muhammad (198-1992, college: UCLA) fired a double-double by scoring 29 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. The former international forward Gerard Hadidian (201-1995, college: Lake Land) chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds. Beirut Club's coach Marwan Khalil felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Hicham El Helou produced 16 points and 4 assists for lost side. Beirut Club have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. Defending champion moved-up to second place, which they share with Sagesse. Hoops at the other side keep the eighth position with 11 games lost. Beirut Club is looking forward to face Champville (#7) in Dik El Mehdi in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Hoops will play on the road against Champville in Dik El Mehdi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Leader Dynamo delivered the sixteenth victory. This time they crushed 5th ranked Liders (7-10) 90-71 in Beirut. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Liders. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Zach Lofton (193-1992, college: NM State, agency: Slash Sports) who helped to win the game recording 17 points and 5 assists. Jad Khalil contributed with 11 points and 5 assists for the winners. Dynamo's coach Jad El Hajj let to play all 12 players and allowed the starting five to rest. The former international swingman Christophe Khalil (192-1999) answered with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds for Liders. The victory was the thirteenth consecutive win for Dynamo. They maintain first place with 16-1 record. Newly promoted Liders dropped to the sixth position with ten games lost. 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.
A very close game took place in Zahle between Antranik and Atlas. Seventh ranked Antranik (7-9) got a very close victory on the road over 10th ranked Atlas (4-13). Antranik managed to escape with a 2-point win 68-66 on Sunday evening. The game was dominated by American players. It was a great evening for Jordan Jackson who led his team to a victory scoring 25 points and 5 steals. At the losing side Myles Carter responded with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. The victory was the third consecutive win for Antranik. They moved-up to fifth place. Atlas lost their fifth game in a row. They dropped to the eleventh position with 13 games lost. Antranik's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Beirut Beirut Club.

Other games of round 19 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Champville were defeated by Homentmen in Beirut 84-74. Al Riyadi smashed NSA at home 103-68. Bottom-ranked Byblos was destroyed by Sagesse on the opponent's court 115-47.

Homentmen - Champville 84-74

There was an upset in Beirut where higher ranked Champville (6-10) was defeated by eleventh ranked Homentmen (4-12) 84-74 on Saturday. Homentmen looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was a great evening for American DaJuan Summers (203-1988, college: Georgetown, agency: BIG) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 31 points and 15 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Mark Lyons (185-1989, college: Arizona) helped adding 22 points, 6 rebounds and 16 assists. Homentmen's coach used a ten-player rotation saving starting five for next games. At the losing side forward Marc Abi-Kheres (197-1994) responded with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 16 rebounds and the former international guard Jimmy Salem (190-1995) scored 17 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Four Champville players scored in double figures. Homentmen moved-up to tenth place. Champville lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with ten 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:
Champville: M.Abi-Kheres 18+16reb+2ast, J.Salem 17+6reb+6ast, G.Choueiry 13+1reb, T.Ghassan 11+6reb+1ast, A.Kopaly 11+2reb+3ast, K.Assi 4+2reb+9ast
Homentmen: D.Summers 31+15reb+1ast, M.Lyons 22+6reb+16ast, A.Tanios 14+7reb+2ast, T.Sakr 6+3reb+1ast, K.Mohamad 4+2reb+1ast, D.Baghdadian 4+8reb

Al Riyadi - NSA 103-68

No shocking result in a game in Beirut where fourth ranked Al Riyadi (13-3) smashed 9th ranked NSA (5-12) 103-68 on Sunday. Al Riyadi looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by NSA's players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Al Riyadi made 7 blocks. It was a great evening for the former international guard Wael Arakji (194-1994) who led his team to a victory scoring 20 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). The former international Bilal Tabbara (198-1993) helped adding 18 points (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Four Al Riyadi players scored in double figures. At the losing side American guard Dallas Morgan (185, college: CMU) responded with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 13 rebounds and Serbian-Montenegrin forward Milko Bjelica (207-1984, agency: BIG) scored 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Al Riyadi maintains fourth place with 13-3 record. NSA lost their third game in a row. Newly promoted team keeps the ninth position with 12 games lost. Al Riyadi will meet at home bottom-ranked Byblos (#12) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. NSA will play against Liders and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
NSA: D.Morgan 24+13reb+2ast, M.Bjelica 16+8reb+4ast, K.Jadayel 10+4reb, S.Georges 6+9reb, O.Kaissy 5+1reb+1ast, B.Bechara 3+1reb+1ast
Al Riyadi: W.Arakji 20+5reb+6ast, B.Tabbara 18+3reb+1ast, K.Zeinoun 13+2reb+1ast, I.Moneim 13+6reb+2ast, A.Saoud 9+1reb+2ast, J.Abdel Nour 8+2reb+1ast

Beirut Club - Hoops 90-56

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Beirut Club (#3) and Hoops (#8). Beirut Club (15-2) crushed visiting Hoops (6-11) by 34 points 90-56. Beirut Club dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Hoops' 22. They outrebounded Hoops 58-17 including a 18-6 advantage in offensive rebounds. Beirut Club looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American Shabazz Muhammad (198-1992, college: UCLA) fired a double-double by scoring 29 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. The former international forward Gerard Hadidian (201-1995, college: Lake Land) chipped in a double-double by scoring 11 points and 10 rebounds. Beirut Club's coach Marwan Khalil felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Hicham El Helou produced 16 points and 4 assists and Jason Soufan added 12 points respectively for lost side. Four Hoops players scored in double figures. Beirut Club have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. Defending champion moved-up to second place, which they share with Sagesse. Hoops at the other side keep the eighth position with 11 games lost. Beirut Club is looking forward to face Champville (#7) in Dik El Mehdi in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Hoops will play on the road against Champville in Dik El Mehdi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Hoops: E.Helou Hicham 16+2reb+4ast, S.Jason 12+4reb+3ast, J.Zaloum 11+2reb+5ast, S.Abed 11+2reb+2ast, K.Amir 4+5reb+1ast, O.Karim 2+1reb+1ast
Beirut Club: S.Muhammad 29+10reb+2ast, G.Hadidian 11+10reb+2ast, N.Rabay 10+4reb, S.Alexander 8+4reb+1ast, K.Hayes 7+2reb, O.Jamaleddine 6+1reb+2ast

Sagesse - Byblos 115-47

Very expected game in Beirut where 12th ranked Byblos (2-15) were rolled over by second ranked Sagesse (15-2) 115-47 on Monday. Sagesse dominated down low during the game scoring 78 of its points in the paint compared to Byblos' 24. Sagesse forced 24 Byblos turnovers and outrebounded them 54-22 including a 39-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Byblos' players. It was a great evening for the former international point guard Ali Mezher (182-1994) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 17 assists (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!). The former international guard Sergio El Darwich (193-1996, college: Maine) helped adding 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Five Sagesse players scored in double figures. At the losing side point guard Gio Abou Sleiman (184-2004) responded with 8 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and American guard Devon Baulkman (195-1991, college: Tennessee) scored 12 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Sagesse maintains second place with 15-2 record behind leader Dynamo, which they share with Beirut Club. Loser Byblos stay at the bottom position with 15 games lost. Sagesse will meet at home Atlas (#11) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Byblos will play against Al Riyadi in Beirut and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Byblos: D.Baulkman 12+4reb, N.Dimitri 10+2reb+2ast, A.Sleiman Gio 8+5reb+4ast, A.Tanos Rami 8+3reb+1ast, A.Chidiac 5+5reb+2ast, C.Francois 4+1reb+1ast
Sagesse: S.El Darwich 23+5reb+4ast, K.Roach II 19+3reb+1ast, A.Mezher 15+4reb+17ast, J.Jarrouge 15+2reb, A.Abdel Massih 12+4reb+1ast, S.Elias 9+8reb

Dynamo - Liders 90-71

Leader Dynamo delivered the sixteenth victory. This time they crushed 5th ranked Liders (7-10) 90-71 in Beirut. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Liders. Dynamo players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Zach Lofton (193-1992, college: NM State, agency: Slash Sports) who helped to win the game recording 17 points and 5 assists. The former international point guard Jad Khalil (186-1996) contributed with 11 points and 5 assists for the winners. Dynamo's coach Jad El Hajj let to play all 12 players and allowed the starting five to rest. The former international swingman Christophe Khalil (192-1999) answered with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds and American Alex Peacock (199-1997, college: Texas St.) added 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in the effort for Liders. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. The victory was the thirteenth consecutive win for Dynamo. They maintain first place with 16-1 record. Newly promoted Liders dropped to the sixth position with ten games lost. 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:
Liders: K.Christophe 20+11reb+3ast, A.Peacock 17+7reb+7ast, H.Mike 13+2reb, J.Makhlouf 11+5reb+2ast, S.Davis Jr. 10+2reb+2ast, D.Nader 0+2reb
Dynamo: Z.Lofton 17+1reb+5ast, M.Alkhoury 12+5reb+1ast, A.Ibrahim 12+4reb, J.Khalil 11+3reb+5ast, K.Ezzeddine 10+4reb, S.Karim 6+2reb+1ast

Atlas - Antranik 66-68

A very close game took place in Zahle between Antranik and Atlas. Seventh ranked Antranik (7-9) got a very close victory on the road over 10th ranked Atlas (4-13). Antranik managed to escape with a 2-point win 68-66 on Sunday evening. Antranik dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Atlas' 24. Antranik forced 20 Atlas turnovers. The game was dominated by American players. It was a great evening for guard Jordan Jackson (190-1997, college: UTRGV) who led his team to a victory scoring 25 points and 5 steals. Forward Westley Hinton (206-1991, college: Troy) helped adding 10 points and 15 rebounds. At the losing side guard Myles Carter (185-1999, college: Delaware St., agency: Diamond Sports) responded with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and power forward Mason Harrell (203-1997, college: WSSU) scored 8 points and 15 rebounds. The victory was the third consecutive win for Antranik. They moved-up to fifth place. Atlas lost their fifth game in a row. They dropped to the eleventh position with 13 games lost. Antranik's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Beirut Beirut Club.
Top scorers:
Atlas: M.Carter 26+9reb+4ast, F.Pierre 15+4reb, G.Yves-Daaboul 14+4reb+4ast, M.Harrell 8+15reb, F.Georges 3+6reb, M.Charbel 0
Antranik: J.Jackson 25+1reb+3ast, S.Alaaeddine 19+5reb+2ast, W.Hinton 10+15reb+2ast, E.Ahmad 7+4reb, A.Joel 4+5reb+4ast, M.Albert 3+1reb



Tags : SHABAZZ MUHAMMAD, BEIRUT CLUB, LEBANESE BASKETBALL