LBL Round 1 (Regular Season): Sagesse defeat Antonine

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Antonine in Beirut on Thursday night. Visitors were rolled over by Sagesse 84-60. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international Aziz Abdel Massih (192-1996) who helped to win the game recording 18 points and 4 assists (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!). Nigerian-American guard George A. Williams II (198-1990, college: Wayland Baptist) contributed with 18 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. American forward LaQuinton Ross (203-1992, college: Ohio St.) answered with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds for Antonine. 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's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beirut to the arena Antranik.
Another interesting game for Al Riyadi which played on the court of Mayrouba. Al Riyadi crushed hosts 94-57. Bosnian center Elmedin Kikanovic (211-1988) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 11 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field) for the winners and Hayk Gyokchyan chipped in 13 points and 9 rebounds. Al Riyadi's coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side the former international Habib Abdallah responded with a double-double by scoring 11 points and 12 rebounds. Al Riyadi will play against Antonine in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Mayrouba will play against NSA to get more than just one victory in their record.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Hoops and Antranik. Hoops won against visiting Antranik 87-77. Romani Hansen nailed a double-double by scoring 25 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winning side. Terry Winn III came up with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for Antranik in the defeat. Antranik's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Hoops' supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beirut to the arena Homentmen.

In the last two games of round 1 winless Homentmen lost to undefeated Champville on the road 90-98. Winless NSA lost to undefeated Beirut Club on its own court 76-94.



Sagesse - Antonine 84-60

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Antonine in Beirut on Thursday night. Visitors were rolled over by Sagesse 84-60. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international Aziz Abdel Massih (192-1996) who helped to win the game recording 18 points and 4 assists (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!). Nigerian-American guard George A. Williams II (198-1990, college: Wayland Baptist) contributed with 18 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. Williams II is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American forward LaQuinton Ross (203-1992, college: Ohio St.) answered with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds and Azerbaijani-American guard Jordan Davis (188-1997, college: N.Colorado) added 13 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Antonine. 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's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beirut to the arena Antranik.
Top scorers:
Antonine: L.Ross 18+10reb+1ast, J.Davis 13+5reb+3ast, M.Bryan 7+2reb+4ast, B.Saliba 6, D.Bassil 6+8reb, B.Elio 4+2reb+1ast
Sagesse: A.Abdel Massih 18+3reb+4ast, G.A. Williams II 18+5reb, R.Slimane 11+8reb+1ast, M.Khoueiry 8+2reb+1ast, K.Ezzeddine 8+7reb+2ast, A.Ibrahim 5+4reb+1ast

Hoops - Antranik 87-77

Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Hoops and Antranik. Hoops won against visiting Antranik 87-77. They outrebounded Antranik 49-33 including 35 on the defensive glass. U.S. Virgin Islands forward Romani Hansen (203-1997, college: Albany) nailed a double-double by scoring 25 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winning side and the former international swingman Mark Al-Khoury (196-1998) accounted for 24 points and 12 rebounds. American swingman Terry Winn III (201-1995, college: UTRGV) came up with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import forward Jordan Bruner (208-1997, college: Alabama, agency: Diamond Sports) added 11 points and 15 rebounds respectively for Antranik in the defeat. Five Antranik players scored in double figures. Antranik's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Hoops' supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beirut to the arena Homentmen.
Top scorers:
Antranik: T.Winn III 19+8reb+4ast, F.Pierre 15+1reb, C.Harvey 15+1reb+4ast, S.Alaaeddine 13+3reb+4ast, J.Bruner 11+15reb+2ast, K.Joe 2
Hoops: R.Hansen 25+12reb+2ast, M.Al-Khoury 24+12reb+1ast, I.Haddad 13+6reb+5ast, S.Abdul 9+1reb+1ast, S.Jason 7+5reb+7ast, K.Aoun 5+5reb+1ast

Champville - Homentmen 98-90

Champville used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from Beirut 98-90 on Friday night. Champville shot the lights out from three sinking 18 long-distance shots on high 54.5 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Senegalese forward Ibrahima Thomas (213-1987, college: Cincinnati, agency: BIG) nailed 26 points and 9 rebounds for the winning side and American guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn, agency: Haylett Sports) accounted for 21 points and 10 assists. U.S. Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican point guard Walter Hodge (183-1986, college: Florida) came up with 33 points (!!!) and 9 assists (made all of his seven free throws) and Armenian guard Gary Chivichyan (193-1996, college: Pacific) added 11 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Homentmen in the defeat. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Champville will meet Beirut Club on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Homentmen's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Beirut Hoops.
Top scorers:
Homentmen: W.Hodge 33+1reb+9ast, D.Jackson 16+1reb+2ast, J.Salem 13+5reb+2ast, G.Hadidian 11+6reb, G.Chivichyan 11+6reb+3ast, D.Baghdadian 4+8reb
Champville: I.Thomas 26+9reb+3ast, J.Blake 21+4reb+10ast, D.Pippen 19+7reb+3ast, P.Abboud 10+7reb+4ast, G.Salibi 10+3reb+2ast, L.Saleh 8+2reb

NSA - Beirut Club 76-94

But NSA was not able to use a home court advantage and lost to the opponent from Beirut 94-76 on Sunday night. Beirut Club forced 19 NSA turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The former international guard Sergio El Darwich (193-1996, college: Maine) nailed 34 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds for the winning side and American-Jordanian Dar Tucker (193-1988, college: DePaul) accounted for 19 points and 5 rebounds. Beirut Club's coach Joe Ghattas used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. American power forward Jervon Pressley (203-1992, college: Hampton) came up with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 14 rebounds and the other American import Derick Newton (198-1995, college: Stetson) added 20 points and 11 rebounds respectively for NSA in the defeat. Beirut Club will meet at home Champville in the next round, which may be the game of the day. NSA will play against Mayrouba and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
NSA: J.Pressley 21+14reb+2ast, D.Newton 20+11reb+1ast, J.Zaloum 14+11reb+5ast, M.Johnson 9+3reb+5ast, H.Mike 5+2reb, E.Helou Hicham 4+4reb+3ast
Beirut Club: S.El Darwich 34+9reb+1ast, D.Tucker 19+5reb+2ast, T.Mitchell 10+6reb+4ast, J.Jarrouge 9+2reb, C.Alexander 8+5reb, A.Mezher 6+5reb+13ast

Mayrouba - Al Riyadi 57-94

Another interesting game for Al Riyadi which played on the court of Mayrouba. Al Riyadi crushed hosts 94-57. Al Riyadi dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Mayrouba's 28. Al Riyadi had a 34-22 advantage in offensive rebounds. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists comparing to just 8 passes made by Mayrouba's players. Bosnian center Elmedin Kikanovic (211-1988) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 11 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field) for the winners and the former international forward Hayk Gyokchyan (203-1990, college: F&M) chipped in 13 points and 9 rebounds. Five Al Riyadi players scored in double figures. Al Riyadi's coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side the former international Habib Abdallah responded with a double-double by scoring 11 points and 12 rebounds and the former international swingman Christophe Khalil (192-1999) produced a double-double by scoring 11 points and 10 rebounds. Al Riyadi will play against Antonine in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Mayrouba will play against NSA to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
Mayrouba: H.Abdallah 11+12reb, K.Christophe 11+10reb+1ast, M.Hijazi 10+2reb+3ast, K.Amir 9+8reb+2ast, J.Assi 7+1reb+1ast, M.Mehio 6+1reb
Al Riyadi: E.Kikanovic 22+11reb+1ast, A.Ismail 14+7reb+3ast, K.Zeinoun 13+1reb+3ast, H.Gyokchyan 13+9reb+3ast, M.Harris 11+4reb+3ast, W.Arakji 8+4ast