LBL Round 9 (Regular Season): Sagesse lose their first game against Al Riyadi

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Sagesse (8-1) in Beirut on Wednesday night. Hosts were edged by third ranked Al Riyadi (7-2) 71-68. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Sagesse. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. American Manny Harris (197-1989, college: Michigan, agency: Slash Sports) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 13 rebounds for the winners and Bosnian center Elmedin Kikanovic (211-1988) chipped in 17 points and 12 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American guard Pierre Jackson (180-1991, college: Baylor, agency: Slash Sports) with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Sagesse's coach Jad El Hajj rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Al Riyadi have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion moved-up to second place, which they share with Beirut Club. Sagesse at the other side still keeps top position with one game lost.
Important game to mention about took place in . Seventh ranked Antonine (4-5) saved a 3-point derby victory at home edging 8th ranked Hoops (2-7) 84-81 on Saturday evening. Bassil Daniel nailed a double-double by scoring 22 points and 11 rebounds for the winning side and Jordan Davis accounted for 17 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists. American point guard Jesse Jones (183, college: Bridgeport) came up with 28 points and 7 assists for Hoops in the defeat. Antonine moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Antranik. Hoops lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the eighth position with seven games lost. They share it with NSA.
Bottom-ranked NSA managed to get a second victory, breaking the series of three consecutive losses on Wednesday night. This time newly promoted NSA won against fifth-ranked Homentmen in Beirut 87-83. The best player for the winners was Brian Halums who scored 31 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Walter Hodge who recorded 19 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals. NSA (2-7) moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Hoops. Loser Homentmen dropped to the fourth position with four games lost. They share it with Champville.

In the last two games of round 9 Champville lost to Antranik on the opponent's court 76-88. Beirut Club managed to outperform Mayrouba in a home game 87-84.



Sagesse - Al Riyadi 68-71

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Sagesse (8-1) in Beirut on Wednesday night. Hosts were edged by third ranked Al Riyadi (7-2) 71-68. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Sagesse. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. American Manny Harris (197-1989, college: Michigan, agency: Slash Sports) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 13 rebounds for the winners and Bosnian center Elmedin Kikanovic (211-1988) chipped in 17 points and 12 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American guard Pierre Jackson (180-1991, college: Baylor, agency: Slash Sports) with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists and international guard Omar Jamaleddine (193-2000, college: SLC) scored 13 points and 6 rebounds. Four Sagesse players scored in double figures. Sagesse's coach Jad El Hajj rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Al Riyadi have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion moved-up to second place, which they share with Beirut Club. Sagesse at the other side still keeps top position with one game lost.
Top scorers:
Sagesse: P.Jackson 17+7reb+7ast, O.Jamaleddine 13+6reb, B.Harfouch 11+2reb+1ast, A.Ibrahim 11+4reb+1ast, M.Khoueiry 7+7reb+1ast, R.Slimane 5+3reb+2ast
Al Riyadi: E.Kikanovic 17+12reb, M.Harris 14+13reb+3ast, W.Arakji 13+7reb+8ast, K.Zeinoun 9+4reb+1ast, H.Gyokchyan 9+4reb+2ast, S.Sakakini 4+2reb+1ast

Antranik - Champville 88-76

There was a minor upset in Beirut where 4th placed Champville (5-4) was defeated by sixth ranked Antranik (4-5) 88-76 on Thursday. The best player for the winners was American forward Jamir Coleman (201-1997, college: CCSU, agency: Haylett Sports) who had a double-double by scoring 26 points and 15 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Christian Harvey (185, college: Marian, IN) chipped in 29 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn, agency: Haylett Sports) who recorded 26 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Senegalese forward Ibrahima Thomas (213-1987, college: Cincinnati, agency: BIG) added 14 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Antranik have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain sixth place with 4-5 record, which they share with Antonine. Loser Champville keeps the fourth position with four games lost. They share it with Homentmen.
Top scorers:
Champville: J.Blake 26+5reb+4ast, J.Artis 16+6reb+4ast, I.Thomas 14+13reb+1ast, P.Abboud 10+13reb+4ast, T.Ghassan 2+1reb+1ast, Z.Elio 0
Antranik: C.Harvey 29+9reb+5ast, J.Coleman 26+15reb+2ast, J.Bruner 15+13reb+2ast, Y.Ghantous 12+2reb+3ast, A.Kopaly 4+6reb+1ast, N.Jimmy 2+3reb+1ast

Beirut Club - Mayrouba 87-84

Very predictable result when third ranked Beirut Club (7-2) edged at home bottom-ranked Mayrouba (1-8) 87-84 on Friday. However just three-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. The best player for the winners was American-Jordanian Dar Tucker (193-1988, college: DePaul) who scored 25 points and 7 rebounds. American power forward Cliff Alexander (203-1995, college: Kansas, agency: MSG) chipped in a double-double by scoring 15 points and 12 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American Dylan Smith (196-1997, college: Arizona, agency: Hendrix Sports Management) who recorded 22 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line) and Jamaican power forward Samardo Samuels (206-1989, college: Louisville) added 22 points respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Beirut Club moved-up to second place, which they share with Al Riyadi. Mayrouba lost seventh consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay at the bottom position with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Mayrouba: S.Samuels 22+4reb, D.Smith 22+6reb+7ast, K.Christophe 15+4reb, A.Samra Joseph 12+1reb+2ast, D.Sutton 8+14reb+2ast, M.Hijazi 3+1reb+3ast
Beirut Club: D.Tucker 25+7reb+3ast, S.El Darwich 16+6reb+2ast, C.Alexander 15+12reb, M.Haidar 10+5reb+3ast, A.Mahmoud 9, A.Mezher 7+1reb+9ast

Homentmen - NSA 83-87

Bottom-ranked NSA managed to get a second victory, breaking the series of three consecutive losses on Wednesday night. This time newly promoted NSA won against fifth-ranked Homentmen in Beirut 87-83. NSA made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was American guard Brian Halums (196-1997, college: UAFS) who scored 31 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. His fellow American import Derick Newton (198-1995, college: Stetson) chipped in 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was U.S. Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican point guard Walter Hodge (183-1986, college: Florida) who recorded 19 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 steals and American forward Dewayne Jackson (203-1990, college: Morgan St.) added 19 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. NSA (2-7) moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Hoops. Loser Homentmen dropped to the fourth position with four games lost. They share it with Champville.
Top scorers:
Homentmen: W.Hodge 19+8reb+8ast, D.Jackson 19+9reb+5ast, G.Hadidian 16+11reb+2ast, J.Salem 13+3reb+1ast, J.Khalil 7+4ast, G.Chivichyan 7+1reb+1ast
NSA: B.Halums 31+6reb+5ast, D.Newton 19+8reb+5ast, C.Godfrey 13+9reb+3ast, H.Mike 13+5reb, E.Helou Hicham 6+4reb+2ast, J.Zaloum 5+3reb+5ast

Antonine - Hoops 84-81

Important game to mention about took place in . Seventh ranked Antonine (4-5) saved a 3-point derby victory at home edging 8th ranked Hoops (2-7) 84-81 on Saturday evening. Bassil Daniel nailed a double-double by scoring 22 points and 11 rebounds for the winning side and Azerbaijani-American guard Jordan Davis (188-1997, college: N.Colorado) accounted for 17 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists. American point guard Jesse Jones (183, college: Bridgeport) came up with 28 points and 7 assists and the former international swingman Mark Al-Khoury (196-1998) added 12 points and 10 rebounds respectively for Hoops in the defeat. Four Hoops players scored in double figures. Antonine moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Antranik. Hoops lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the eighth position with seven games lost. They share it with NSA.
Top scorers:
Hoops: J.Jones 28+4reb+7ast, R.Hansen 13+9reb+1ast, M.Al-Khoury 12+10reb+3ast, S.Abed 10+2reb+1ast, I.Haddad 8+2reb, K.Aoun 3+1reb
Antonine: T.Larrier 26+5reb+2ast, D.Bassil 22+11reb+3ast, J.Davis 17+7reb+10ast, M.Bryan 7+3reb+2ast, G.Beyrouty 5+6reb, K.Assi 5+2reb