LBL Round 11 (Regular Season): Derby game ends with Sagesse's defeat of Antranik

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Sagesse (#2) and Antranik (#6). Sagesse (9-2) won against visiting Antranik (5-6) 89-75. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Antranik. Sagesse looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American point guard Jonathan Gibson (188-1987, college: NM State) orchestrated the victory by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 9 assists. The former international swingman Ahmad Ibrahim (198-1992, college: Rice) contributed with 21 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American forward Jamir Coleman (201-1997, college: CCSU, agency: Haylett Sports) answered with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 17 rebounds for Antranik. Sagesse keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Al Riyadi. Antranik at the other side keeps the sixth place with six games lost. They share the position with Antonine.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Beirut Club (8-3) against fourth ranked Champville (7-4) on Saturday night. Visiting Beirut Club was defeated by Champville in Dik El Mehdi 85-71. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Beirut Club. It was a great evening for American guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn, agency: Haylett Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 12 assists. Jamel Artis helped adding 32 points and 5 rebounds. The former international power forward Mohamad Haidar (203-1990, college: Michigan Tech) responded with 15 points and 9 rebounds. Beirut Club's coach Joe Ghattas rotated eleven players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Champville maintains fourth place with 7-4 record. Beirut Club at the other side keeps the third position with three games lost.
LBL top team - Al Riyadi (9-2) managed to deliver another win on Sunday. This time they beat seventh ranked Antonine (5-6) 87-74. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Antonine. It was a quality performance for Manny Harris who led the winners and scored 22 points and 6 rebounds. Jordan Davis came up with 25 points and 6 rebounds for Antonine in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Al Riyadi have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 9-2 record, which they share with Sagesse. Newly promoted Antonine dropped to the sixth position with six games lost. They share it with Antranik.

In the last two games of round 11 bottom-ranked Mayrouba was beaten by NSA on the road 71-66. Hoops were destroyed by Homentmen on its own court 49-86.



Champville - Beirut Club 85-71

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Beirut Club (8-3) against fourth ranked Champville (7-4) on Saturday night. Visiting Beirut Club was defeated by Champville in Dik El Mehdi 85-71. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Beirut Club. Champville players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. It was a great evening for American guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn, agency: Haylett Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 12 assists. His fellow American import forward Jamel Artis (201-1993, college: Pittsburgh, agency: BIG) helped adding 32 points and 5 rebounds. The former international power forward Mohamad Haidar (203-1990, college: Michigan Tech) responded with 15 points and 9 rebounds and American-Jordanian Dar Tucker (193-1988, college: DePaul) produced a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds. Five Beirut Club players scored in double figures. Beirut Club's coach Joe Ghattas rotated eleven players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Champville maintains fourth place with 7-4 record. Beirut Club at the other side keeps the third position with three games lost.
Top scorers:
Beirut Club: C.Alexander 15+7reb, S.El Darwich 15+3reb+3ast, M.Haidar 15+9reb, A.Goodwin 12+4reb+1ast, D.Tucker 10+10reb+3ast, A.Mezher 4+4reb+5ast
Champville: J.Artis 32+5reb, J.Blake 26+2reb+12ast, E.Rustom 8+1reb+3ast, J.Aby Khers 7+8reb+3ast, I.Thomas 6+12reb+4ast, G.Salibi 3+3reb+1ast

NSA - Mayrouba 71-66

No shocking result in a game when eighth ranked NSA (3-8) beat at home bottom-ranked Mayrouba (1-10) 71-66 on Friday. It was an exceptional evening for American forward Calvin Godfrey (204-1990, college: Memphis) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 21 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Brian Halums (196-1997, college: UAFS) accounted for 16 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side. American swingman Dominique Sutton (193-1986, college: NCCU) came up with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 17 rebounds and the former international swingman Christophe Khalil (192-1999) added 18 points and 12 rebounds respectively for Mayrouba in the defeat. Four Mayrouba players scored in double figures. Newly promoted NSA maintains eighth place with 3-8 record. Mayrouba lost ninth consecutive game. Mayrouba at the other side, also newcomer in the league, stay at the bottom position with ten games lost.
Top scorers:
Mayrouba: K.Christophe 18+12reb+1ast, D.Sutton 13+17reb+1ast, S.Samuels 13+6reb+2ast, D.Wiggins 11+3reb+2ast, J.Assi 6+2reb+1ast, H.Abdallah 5+7reb+1ast
NSA: D.Newton 22+4reb+2ast, C.Godfrey 20+21reb+1ast, B.Halums 16+8reb+5ast, E.Helou Hicham 5+8reb+2ast, H.Mike 3+4reb, S.Georges 2+1reb

Hoops - Homentmen 49-86

Very expected game when 9th ranked Hoops (2-9) were smashed by fifth ranked Homentmen (6-5) in Beirut 86-49 on Saturday. Homentmen forced 20 Hoops turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Hoops' players. It was an exceptional evening for American center Elijah Holman (208-1989, college: Detroit) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 12 rebounds. His fellow American import forward Dewayne Jackson (203-1990, college: Morgan St.) accounted for 18 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the winning side. The former international swingman Mark Al-Khoury (196-1998) came up with 13 points and 9 rebounds and American point guard Jesse Jones (183, college: Bridgeport) added 11 points respectively for Hoops in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Homentmen maintains fifth place with 6-5 record. Hoops lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the ninth position with nine games lost.
Top scorers:
Hoops: M.Al-Khoury 13+9reb+1ast, J.Jones 11, S.Alaa 9+2ast, I.Haddad 5+5reb, D.Okeke 4+7reb, S.Abed 3+2reb+2ast
Homentmen: E.Holman 20+12reb+2ast, D.Jackson 18+8reb+7ast, G.Hadidian 16+4reb+2ast, G.Ajemian 10+1reb+1ast, G.Chivichyan 8+2reb+1ast, J.Salem 6+5reb+3ast

Antonine - Al Riyadi 74-87

LBL top team - Al Riyadi (9-2) managed to deliver another win on Sunday. This time they beat seventh ranked Antonine (5-6) 87-74. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Antonine. It was a quality performance for American Manny Harris (197-1989, college: Michigan, agency: Slash Sports) who led the winners and scored 22 points and 6 rebounds. Bosnian center Elmedin Kikanovic (211-1988) accounted for 22 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side. Four Al Riyadi players scored in double figures. Azerbaijani-American guard Jordan Davis (188-1997, college: N.Colorado) came up with 25 points and 6 rebounds and the former international guard Georges Beyrouty (193-1999) added 12 points and 11 rebounds respectively for Antonine in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Al Riyadi have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 9-2 record, which they share with Sagesse. Newly promoted Antonine dropped to the sixth position with six games lost. They share it with Antranik.
Top scorers:
Antonine: J.Davis 25+6reb+2ast, G.Beyrouty 12+11reb, A.Anthony 10+2reb+1ast, D.Bassil 8+9reb+3ast, Q.Campbell 7+6reb+3ast, M.Bryan 6+2reb+1ast
Al Riyadi: E.Kikanovic 22+7reb, M.Harris 22+6reb+2ast, A.Mansour 11+2reb+2ast, W.Arakji 11+1reb+5ast, A.Ismail 6+4reb+1ast, S.Sakakini 6+9reb+1ast

Sagesse - Antranik 89-75

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Sagesse (#2) and Antranik (#6). Sagesse (9-2) won against visiting Antranik (5-6) 89-75. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Antranik. Sagesse looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American point guard Jonathan Gibson (188-1987, college: NM State) orchestrated the victory by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 9 assists. The former international swingman Ahmad Ibrahim (198-1992, college: Rice) contributed with 21 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American forward Jamir Coleman (201-1997, college: CCSU, agency: Haylett Sports) answered with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 17 rebounds and the other American import guard Christian Harvey (185, college: Marian, IN) added 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Antranik. Sagesse keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Al Riyadi. Antranik at the other side keeps the sixth place with six games lost. They share the position with Antonine.
Top scorers:
Antranik: C.Harvey 24+5reb+4ast, J.Coleman 20+17reb+2ast, J.Bruner 18+8reb+3ast, Y.Ghantous 9+2reb, G.Elio 2+1reb+1ast, A.Kopaly 2+2reb
Sagesse: J.Gibson 34+3reb+9ast, A.Ibrahim 21+7reb+3ast, O.Jamaleddine 11+9reb+4ast, K.Ezzeddine 8+9reb+1ast, A.Deng 7+7reb+1ast, M.Khoueiry 5+1reb+1ast