LBL Round 5 of Regular Season

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

LBL round 5 most important game was a victory of Al Riyadi over 4th placed Champville 99-88 on Wednesday night. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Champville. The former international guard Amir Saoud (186-1991) orchestrated the victory by scoring 28 points and 9 assists (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line). American Manny Harris (197-1989, college: Michigan, agency: Slash Sports) contributed with 19 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. American guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn, agency: Haylett Sports) answered with 36 points (!!!), 6 rebounds and 6 assists for Champville. Al Riyadi have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion (4-1) moved-up to second place, which they share with Beirut Club. Champville at the other side keeps the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with Homentmen. Al Riyadi's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Beirut Homentmen.
Eighth-ranked Mayrouba (1-4) was very close to win a game against leader Sagesse (5-0) in Beirut. Sagesse managed to secure only two-point victory 81-79. However their fans expected much easier game. Tunisian forward Radhouane Slimane (204-1980) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and Waverly Austin chipped in 7 points and 13 rebounds. Sagesse's coach Jad El Hajj allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. The former international swingman Christophe Khalil (192-1999) responded with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Undefeated Sagesse have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place with 5-0 record. Mayrouba lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team dropped to the seventh position with four games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Sagesse will play against bottom-ranked NSA (#10) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Mayrouba will play against Antonine and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Homentmen (#5) and Antranik (#7). Antranik was crushed at home by 16 points 72-88 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Dewayne Jackson nailed a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side. Jordan Bruner came up with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 15 rebounds for Antranik in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Homentmen (3-2) moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Champville. Loser Antranik keeps the seventh position with four games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Homentmen's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beirut to the arena Al Riyadi.

In the last two games of round 5 Beirut Club beat CS Antonine on the road 89-83. Hoops Club lost to Nadim Souaid Academy on its own court 95-104.



Champville - Al Riyadi 88-99

LBL round 5 most important game was a victory of Al Riyadi over 4th placed Champville 99-88 on Wednesday night. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Champville. The former international guard Amir Saoud (186-1991) orchestrated the victory by scoring 28 points and 9 assists (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line). American Manny Harris (197-1989, college: Michigan, agency: Slash Sports) contributed with 19 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Five Al Riyadi players scored in double figures. American guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn, agency: Haylett Sports) answered with 36 points (!!!), 6 rebounds and 6 assists and the other American import forward Jamel Artis (201-1993, college: Pittsburgh, agency: BIG) added 21 points and 6 rebounds in the effort for Champville. Al Riyadi have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion (4-1) moved-up to second place, which they share with Beirut Club. Champville at the other side keeps the fourth position with two games lost. They share it with Homentmen. Al Riyadi'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:
Champville: J.Blake 36+6reb+6ast, J.Artis 21+6reb+1ast, I.Thomas 11+7reb+1ast, J.Aby Khers 6+6reb+1ast, P.Abboud 5+4reb+3ast, M.Lomayo 4+1ast
Al Riyadi: A.Saoud 28+3reb+9ast, M.Harris 19+8reb+3ast, E.Kikanovic 17+7reb, A.Ismail 12+4reb+1ast, H.Gyokchyan 11+10reb, A.Mansour 6+3reb+5ast

Antonine - Beirut Club 83-89

No shocking result in a game when third ranked Beirut Club (4-1) beat on the road 8th ranked Antonine (1-4) 89-83 on Saturday. American power forward Cliff Alexander (203-1995, college: Kansas, agency: MSG) nailed a double-double by scoring 21 points and 19 rebounds for the winning side and the former international guard Sergio El Darwich (193-1996, college: Maine) accounted for 25 points and 8 assists. Azerbaijani-American guard Jordan Davis (188-1997, college: N.Colorado) came up with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 6 rebounds and 12 assists and Bassil Daniel added 19 points and 12 rebounds respectively for Antonine in the defeat. Four Beirut Club and five Antonine players scored in double figures. Antonine's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Beirut Club moved-up to second place, which they share with Al Riyadi. Antonine lost their third game in a row. Newly promoted team dropped to the seventh position with four games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Beirut Club's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Beirut Antranik.
Top scorers:
Antonine: D.Bassil 19+12reb+2ast, J.Davis 18+6reb+12ast, L.Ross 15+6reb+3ast, M.Bryan 13+2reb+2ast, M.Abi-Kheres 11+8reb+1ast, J.Makhlouf 4+4reb
Beirut Club: S.El Darwich 25+2reb+8ast, D.Tucker 25+7reb+1ast, C.Alexander 21+19reb+3ast, N.Rabay 15+4reb+1ast, T.Mitchell 3+4reb+2ast, M.Martinez 0+1reb+1ast

Sagesse - Mayrouba 81-79

Eighth-ranked Mayrouba (1-4) was very close to win a game against leader Sagesse (5-0) in Beirut. Sagesse managed to secure only two-point victory 81-79. However their fans expected much easier game. Sagesse outrebounded Mayrouba 43-30 including 30 on the defensive glass. Tunisian forward Radhouane Slimane (204-1980) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and American-German forward Waverly Austin (211-1991, college: Oregon, agency: Diamond Sports) chipped in 7 points and 13 rebounds. Four Sagesse players scored in double figures. Sagesse's coach Jad El Hajj allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. The former international swingman Christophe Khalil (192-1999) responded with 20 points and 8 rebounds and American Dylan Smith (196-1997, college: Arizona, agency: Hendrix Sports Management) scored 18 points. Sagesse have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place with 5-0 record. Mayrouba lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team dropped to the seventh position with four games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Sagesse will play against bottom-ranked NSA (#10) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Mayrouba will play against Antonine and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Mayrouba: K.Christophe 20+8reb+3ast, D.Smith 18+4reb+2ast, S.Samuels 10+10reb+1ast, M.Hijazi 9+6reb+5ast, M.Mehio 0, J.Assi 0+2reb+1ast
Sagesse: R.Slimane 26+10reb+4ast, A.Abdel Massih 18+1reb+1ast, B.Harfouch 14+3reb+2ast, A.Ibrahim 13+3reb+2ast, W.Austin 7+13reb, O.Jamaleddine 3+7reb+2ast

Hoops - NSA 95-104

There was an upset when higher ranked Hoops (2-3) lost to tenth ranked NSA (1-4) in Beirut 95-104 on Friday. NSA made 39-of-46 free shots (84.8 percent) during the game, while Hoops only scored sixteen points from the stripe. They outrebounded Hoops 50-36 including a 33-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. NSA looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American guard Brian Holmes (185-1991, college: Georgia South) nailed a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side and his fellow American import forward Calvin Godfrey (204-1990, college: Memphis) accounted for 28 points and 16 rebounds. U.S. Virgin Islands forward Romani Hansen (203-1997, college: Albany) came up with 28 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and American point guard Jesse Jones (183, college: Bridgeport) added 23 points and 11 assists respectively for Hoops in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. NSA left bottom position moving up to seventh place, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Hoops keep the sixth position with three games lost. NSA will meet at home league's leader Sagesse in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Hoops will play against Champville (#4) in Dik El Mehdi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Hoops: R.Hansen 28+5reb+5ast, J.Jones 23+2reb+11ast, M.Lewis 16+11reb+1ast, M.Al-Khoury 11+8reb, K.Aoun 6+3reb+1ast, I.Haddad 5+2reb
NSA: B.Holmes 33+10reb+5ast, C.Godfrey 28+16reb+2ast, J.Zaloum 16+2reb+6ast, D.Newton 15+9reb+3ast, H.Mike 8+2reb, E.Helou Hicham 2+5reb+4ast

Antranik - Homentmen 72-88

Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Homentmen (#5) and Antranik (#7). Antranik was crushed at home by 16 points 72-88 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. American forward Dewayne Jackson (203-1990, college: Morgan St.) nailed a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and U.S. Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican point guard Walter Hodge (183-1986, college: Florida) accounted for 18 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. American forward Jordan Bruner (208-1997, college: Alabama, agency: Diamond Sports) came up with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 15 rebounds and Salim Alaaeddine (188-1999) added 16 points and 14 rebounds respectively for Antranik in the defeat. Five Antranik players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Homentmen (3-2) moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Champville. Loser Antranik keeps the seventh position with four games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Homentmen's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Beirut to the arena Al Riyadi.
Top scorers:
Antranik: J.Bruner 17+15reb+2ast, C.Harvey 17+3reb+2ast, S.Alaaeddine 16+14reb+1ast, J.Coleman 11+4reb+3ast, Y.Ghantous 11+1reb, N.Jimmy 0
Homentmen: D.Jackson 35+10reb+4ast, W.Hodge 18+6reb+6ast, J.Khalil 12+5reb+5ast, J.Salem 7+2reb+1ast, G.Hadidian 6+7reb+1ast, G.Chivichyan 5+3reb