LBL Round 17 (Regular Season): Champville beat Antranik by three after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Sixth-ranked Antranik (8-10) was very close to win a game against fourth ranked Champville (12-6) in Dik El Mehdi on Thursday. Champville managed to secure only three-point victory 89-86. However their fans expected easier game. Champville outrebounded Antranik 39-28 including 24 on the defensive glass. American-Syrian guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn, agency: Haylett Sports) orchestrated the victory by scoring 23 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. Senegalese forward Ibrahima Thomas (213-1987, college: Cincinnati, agency: BIG) contributed with 21 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Champville's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Christian Harvey (185, college: Marian, IN) answered with 29 points and 4 steals for Antranik. Champville maintains fourth place with 12-6 record, which they share with Homentmen. Antranik at the other side keeps the sixth position with ten games lost. They share it with Antonine.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Beirut: Al Riyadi (#1) and Sagesse (#2). Al Riyadi (15-3) won against visiting Sagesse (13-5) 113-99. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Sagesse. International guard Wael Arakji (193-1994) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 25 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists for the winners and Hayk Gyokchyan chipped in 12 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists. American point guard Jonathan Gibson (188-1987, college: NM State) responded with 34 points (!!!) and 8 assists. Sagesse's coach Jad El Hajj rotated ten players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Defending champion maintains first place with 15-3 record. Sagesse at the other side keeps the second position with five games lost. They share it with Beirut Club.
The game in was also quite interesting. Fifth ranked Homentmen (12-6) played at the court of 8th ranked NSA (5-13). Homentmen defeated NSA 94-84 on Thursday. Dewayne Jackson nailed a double-double by scoring 27 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals for the winning side. Homentmen's coach Joe Moujaes allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Derick Newton came up with 23 points and 6 rebounds for NSA in the defeat. Homentmen have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Champville. Newly promoted NSA keeps the eighth position with 13 games lost.

In the last two games of round 17 Beirut Club smashed Mayrouba on the road 110-91. Hoops lost to Antonine on its own court 66-77.



Al Riyadi - Sagesse 113-99

Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Beirut: Al Riyadi (#1) and Sagesse (#2). Al Riyadi (15-3) won against visiting Sagesse (13-5) 113-99. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Sagesse. Al Riyadi players were unselfish on offense dishing 33 assists. International guard Wael Arakji (193-1994) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 25 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists for the winners and the former international forward Hayk Gyokchyan (203-1990, college: F&M) chipped in 12 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists. American point guard Jonathan Gibson (188-1987, college: NM State) responded with 34 points (!!!) and 8 assists and the other American import forward Cleanthony Early (203-1991, college: Wichita St.) scored 26 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Sagesse's coach Jad El Hajj rotated ten players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Defending champion maintains first place with 15-3 record. Sagesse at the other side keeps the second position with five games lost. They share it with Beirut Club.
Top scorers:
Sagesse: J.Gibson 34+4reb+8ast, C.Early 26+6reb+5ast, O.Jamaleddine 12+4reb+2ast, K.Ezzeddine 11+8reb+3ast, A.Ibrahim 10+1reb+2ast, A.Abdel Massih 2+1reb
Al Riyadi: W.Arakji 25+5reb+11ast, M.Harris 24+3reb+2ast, K.Zeinoun 22+5reb+5ast, E.Kikanovic 15+5reb, H.Gyokchyan 12+13reb+8ast, A.Ismail 7+5reb+2ast

Champville - Antranik 89-86

Sixth-ranked Antranik (8-10) was very close to win a game against fourth ranked Champville (12-6) in Dik El Mehdi on Thursday. Champville managed to secure only three-point victory 89-86. However their fans expected easier game. Champville outrebounded Antranik 39-28 including 24 on the defensive glass. American-Syrian guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn, agency: Haylett Sports) orchestrated the victory by scoring 23 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. Senegalese forward Ibrahima Thomas (213-1987, college: Cincinnati, agency: BIG) contributed with 21 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Champville's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Christian Harvey (185, college: Marian, IN) answered with 29 points and 4 steals and the other American import forward Jordan Bruner (208-1997, college: Alabama, agency: Diamond Sports) added 20 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Antranik. Four Antranik players scored in double figures. Champville maintains fourth place with 12-6 record, which they share with Homentmen. Antranik at the other side keeps the sixth position with ten games lost. They share it with Antonine.
Top scorers:
Antranik: C.Harvey 29+2reb+3ast, J.Bruner 20+9reb+4ast, J.Coleman 15+9reb+6ast, S.Alaaeddine 11+4reb+1ast, A.Kopaly 9+2reb+3ast, E.Ahmad 2+2reb+1ast
Champville: J.Blake 23+7reb+8ast, I.Thomas 21+8reb+3ast, J.Artis 19+8reb+4ast, E.Rustom 9+5reb+1ast, P.Abboud 6+6reb+2ast, M.Lomayo 5+3reb+1ast

Mayrouba - Beirut Club 91-110

No shocking result in a game when third ranked Beirut Club (13-5) crushed on the road bottom-ranked Mayrouba (1-17) 110-91 on Thursday. Beirut Club shot 61.4 percent from the field. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 34 assists comparing to just 21 passes made by Mayrouba's players. American power forward Cliff Alexander (203-1995, college: Kansas, agency: MSG) nailed a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) for the winning side and the former international point guard Ali Mezher (182-1994) accounted for 15 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists. Five Beirut Club players scored in double figures. Beirut Club's coach Joe Ghattas allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American-New Zealand forward Marcel Jones (203-1985, college: Oregon St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 25 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists and American guard Victor Lewis II (196-1997, college: York, NE) added 26 points respectively for Mayrouba in the defeat. Beirut Club moved-up to second place, which they share with Sagesse. Mayrouba lost sixteenth consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay dead last with 17 lost games.
Top scorers:
Mayrouba: V.Lewis II 26+4reb+3ast, M.Jones 25+10reb+5ast, M.Akec 17+8reb+4ast, K.Christophe 9+4reb+4ast, A.Samra Joseph 8+3reb+4ast, S.Bechara 6+1reb+1ast
Beirut Club: M.Haidar 19+2reb+3ast, D.Tucker 18+5reb+6ast, C.Alexander 18+12reb+2ast, T.Corbett 17+5reb, A.Mezher 15+5reb+10ast, N.Rabay 14

Hoops - Antonine 66-77

Rather expected game when 9th ranked Hoops (3-15) lost to seventh ranked Antonine (8-10) in Beirut 66-77 on Wednesday. Antonine outrebounded Hoops 42-30 including 30 on the defensive glass. Azerbaijani-American guard Jordan Davis (188-1997, college: N.Colorado) nailed 16 points and 4 assists (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) for the winning side and forward Marc Abi-Kheres (197-1994) accounted for 12 points and 8 rebounds. American guard Brachon Griffin (185-1992, college: ECSU) came up with 12 points and 4 steals and Abed Sabbagh added 11 points respectively for Hoops in the defeat. Four Hoops players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Antonine moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Antranik. Hoops lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the ninth position with 15 games lost.
Top scorers:
Hoops: B.Griffin 12+3reb+3ast, S.Alaa 11+1reb, S.Abed 11+3reb+3ast, A.Jamal Omar 10+2reb, A.Amine 5+2reb+1ast, M.Zein 4+4reb
Antonine: J.Davis 16+4reb+4ast, B.Elio 12+1reb+1ast, M.Abi-Kheres 12+8reb+2ast, J.Makhlouf 10+7reb+1ast, E.Daniel 9+10reb+3ast, A.Anthony 8+2reb

NSA - Homentmen 84-94

The game in was also quite interesting. Fifth ranked Homentmen (12-6) played at the court of 8th ranked NSA (5-13). Homentmen defeated NSA 94-84 on Thursday. Homentmen dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to NSA's 28. Homentmen forced 22 NSA turnovers and outrebounded them 41-30 including 26 on the defensive glass. American forward Dewayne Jackson (203-1990, college: Morgan St.) nailed a double-double by scoring 27 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals for the winning side and the former international forward Gerard Hadidian (201-1995, college: Lake Land) accounted for 22 points and 8 rebounds. Four Homentmen players scored in double figures. Homentmen's coach Joe Moujaes allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American Derick Newton (198-1995, college: Stetson) came up with 23 points and 6 rebounds and the other American import guard Byron Wesley (196-1992, college: Gonzaga) added 24 points and 5 assists respectively for NSA in the defeat. Homentmen have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Champville. Newly promoted NSA keeps the eighth position with 13 games lost.
Top scorers:
NSA: B.Wesley 24+3reb+5ast, D.Newton 23+6reb+3ast, C.Godfrey 15+4reb+3ast, N.Souaid 8+2reb, H.Mike 5+1ast, S.Georges 4+5reb
Homentmen: D.Jackson 27+14reb+5ast, G.Hadidian 22+8reb+2ast, P.Ibeh 18+6reb+3ast, G.Ajemian 12+4reb+3ast, A.Serouj 7+2ast, D.Baghdadian 5+2reb