LBL Round 9 (Regular Season): Al Riyadi hands first loss to Sagesse

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of undefeated Sagesse (8-1) in Beirut on Wednesday night. Hosts were edged by second ranked Al Riyadi (8-2) 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. It was a good game for American Manny Harris (197-1989, college: Michigan, agency: Slash Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 13 rebounds. Bosnian center Elmedin Kikanovic (211-1988) contributed with 17 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. American guard Pierre Jackson (180-1991, college: Baylor, agency: Slash Sports) answered with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists for Sagesse. Sagesse's coach Jad El Hajj rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Al Riyadi have a solid series of four victories in a row. Defending champion maintains second place with 8-2 record having just one point less than leader Sagesse. Sagesse at the other side still keeps top position with one game lost.
Another exciting game for Champville (6-4) which played in Beirut against Homentmen (5-5). Fourth ranked Champville won 88-84. American guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn, agency: Haylett Sports) stepped up and scored 38 points (!!!), 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners and Ibrahima Thomas chipped in 16 points and 12 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American forward Dewayne Jackson (203-1990, college: Morgan St.) with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Champville maintains fourth place with 6-4 record. Homentmen at the other side keeps the fifth position with five games lost.
A very close game took place in between Antonine and Hoops. Seventh ranked Antonine (4-5) got a very close home victory over 8th ranked Hoops (2-7). Antonine managed to escape with a 3-point win 84-81 on Saturday evening. Bassil Daniel nailed a double-double by scoring 22 points and 11 rebounds for the winning side. Jesse Jones 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.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 9: Champville was beaten by Antranik on the road 88-76. Beirut Club won against Mayrouba on its own court 87-84. Bottom-ranked NSA managed to outperform Homentmen in a road game 87-83. Al Riyadi rolled over Mayrouba at home 104-73.



Sagesse - Al Riyadi 68-71

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of undefeated Sagesse (8-1) in Beirut on Wednesday night. Hosts were edged by second ranked Al Riyadi (8-2) 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. It was a good game for American Manny Harris (197-1989, college: Michigan, agency: Slash Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 13 rebounds. Bosnian center Elmedin Kikanovic (211-1988) contributed with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. American guard Pierre Jackson (180-1991, college: Baylor, agency: Slash Sports) answered with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists and the former international guard Omar Jamaleddine (193-2000, college: SLC) added 13 points and 6 rebounds in the effort for Sagesse. 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 four victories in a row. Defending champion maintains second place with 8-2 record having just one point less than leader Sagesse. Sagesse at the other side still keeps top position with one game lost.
Top scorers:
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
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

Antranik - Champville 88-76

There was a small surprise when sixth ranked Antranik (4-5) beat 4th placed Champville (6-4) in Beirut 88-76 on Thursday. American forward Jamir Coleman (201-1997, college: CCSU, agency: Haylett Sports) nailed a double-double by scoring 26 points and 15 rebounds for the winning side and his fellow American import guard Christian Harvey (185, college: Marian, IN) accounted for 29 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. American guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn, agency: Haylett Sports) came up with 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 for Champville in the defeat. 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.
Top scorers:
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
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

Beirut Club - Mayrouba 87-84

Very expected game when 10th ranked Mayrouba (1-9) was edged on the road by third ranked Beirut Club (7-2) 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. American-Jordanian Dar Tucker (193-1988, college: DePaul) nailed 25 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side and American power forward Cliff Alexander (203-1995, college: Kansas, agency: MSG) accounted for 15 points and 12 rebounds. American Dylan Smith (196-1997, college: Arizona, agency: Hendrix Sports Management) came up with 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 for Mayrouba in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Beirut Club maintains third place with 7-2 record behind leader Sagesse. Mayrouba lost eighth consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay at the bottom position with nine games lost.
Top scorers:
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
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

Homentmen - NSA 83-87

There was a surprise result when tenth ranked NSA (2-7) won against higher ranked Homentmen (5-5) in Beirut 87-83 on Wednesday. NSA made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. American guard Brian Halums (196-1997, college: UAFS) nailed 31 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side and his fellow American import Derick Newton (198-1995, college: Stetson) accounted for 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. U.S. Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican point guard Walter Hodge (183-1986, college: Florida) came up with 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 for Homentmen in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. NSA moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Hoops. Loser Homentmen keeps the fifth position with five games lost.
Top scorers:
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
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

Antonine - Hoops 84-81

A very close game took place in between Antonine and Hoops. Seventh ranked Antonine (4-5) got a very close home victory over 8th ranked Hoops (2-7). Antonine managed to escape with a 3-point win 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:
Antonine: T.Larrier 26+5reb+2ast, D.Bassil 22+11reb+3ast, J.Davis 17+7reb+10ast, M.Bryan 7+3reb+2ast, A.Assi 5+2reb, G.Beyrouty 5+6reb
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

Al Riyadi - Mayrouba 104-73

Not a big story in a game when 10th ranked Mayrouba (1-9) was outscored by second ranked Al Riyadi (8-2) in Beirut 104-73 on Thursday. Al Riyadi dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Mayrouba's 32 and made 16-of-21 free shots (76.2 percent) during the game. Al Riyadi looked well-organized offensively handing out 31 assists comparing to just 17 passes made by Mayrouba's players. International guard Wael Arakji (194-1994) nailed a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 assists for the winning side and Palestinian power forward Sani Sakakini (204-1988) accounted for 20 points and 6 rebounds. American guard Dashaun Wiggins (188-1991, college: Portland St.) came up with 16 points and 7 rebounds and Jamaican power forward Samardo Samuels (206-1989, college: Louisville) added 14 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Mayrouba in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. 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 have a solid series of four victories in a row. Defending champion maintains second place with 8-2 record having just one point less than leader Sagesse. Mayrouba lost eighth consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay at the bottom position with nine games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Riyadi: W.Arakji 22+4reb+10ast, S.Sakakini 20+6reb+2ast, A.Mansour 14+5reb+6ast, M.Harris 11+1ast, E.Kikanovic 10+7reb+1ast, B.Tabbara 9+3reb+1ast
Mayrouba: D.Wiggins 16+7reb+3ast, S.Samuels 14+9reb+3ast, K.Christophe 12+1reb+5ast, H.Abdallah 10+2reb+1ast, D.Sutton 6+7reb+2ast, J.Assi 5+2reb

Homentmen - Champville 84-88

Another exciting game for Champville (6-4) which played in Beirut against Homentmen (5-5). Fourth ranked Champville won 88-84. American guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn, agency: Haylett Sports) stepped up and scored 38 points (!!!), 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners and Senegalese forward Ibrahima Thomas (213-1987, college: Cincinnati, agency: BIG) chipped in 16 points and 12 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American forward Dewayne Jackson (203-1990, college: Morgan St.) with 18 points and 9 rebounds and U.S. Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican point guard Walter Hodge (183-1986, college: Florida) scored 16 points and 5 rebounds (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line). Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Champville maintains fourth place with 6-4 record. Homentmen at the other side keeps the fifth position with five games lost.
Top scorers:
Champville: J.Blake 38+8reb+7ast, I.Thomas 16+12reb+3ast, J.Artis 10+5reb+2ast, P.Abboud 10+6reb, E.Rustom 9+5reb+2ast, J.Aby Khers 2+1reb
Homentmen: D.Jackson 18+9reb, W.Hodge 16+5reb+3ast, G.Chivichyan 13+2reb, J.Salem 11+4reb+2ast, J.Khalil 10+3reb+1ast, G.Hadidian 7+2reb