LBL Round 11 (Regular Season): Al Riyadi keep a leadership position

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Al Riyadi as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Al Riyadi defeated 3rd placed Sagesse in Beirut 99-92. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Al Riyadi made 16-of-18 free shots (88.9 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was international guard Wael Arakji (193-1994) who scored 26 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international guard Amir Saoud (187-1991) chipped in 29 points (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line). American guard Zach Lofton (193-1992, college: NM State, agency: Slash Sports) produced 39 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 6 assists for the guests. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Sagesse at the other side keeps the third place with two games lost.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Beirut: Hoops (#7) and Antranik (#4). Antranik was crushed at home by 18 points 70-88 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. American guard AJ English (192-1992, college: Iona) orchestrated the victory by scoring 32 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Abayomi Iyiola contributed with 12 points and 20 rebounds for the winners. Hoops' coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American forward Tony Criswell (205-1991, college: Missouri, agency: Interperformances) answered with 23 points and 7 rebounds for Antranik. Hoops (5-6) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Homentmen. Antranik at the other side keeps the fourth position with four games lost.
Bottom-ranked NSA (0-10) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 100-64 loss to fifth ranked Antonine (6-5) in Antonine on Saturday evening. It was a great evening for Kerwin Roach II who led his team to a victory scoring 22 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Lucas Saleh responded with 11 points and 4 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Antonine. They maintain fifth place with 6-5 record. NSA lost their tenth game in a row. They still close the standings with ten games lost.

Other games of round 11 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Al Markaziyyah lost to undefeated Beirut Club in a road game 91-101. Homentmen beat Tadamon at home 83-82. Mayrouba lost to Maristes on the opponent's court 74-78.



Antonine - NSA 100-64

Bottom-ranked NSA (0-10) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 100-64 loss to fifth ranked Antonine (6-5) in Antonine on Saturday evening. Antonine outrebounded NSA 50-28 including a 40-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. Antonine looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. It was a great evening for American point guard Kerwin Roach II (192-1996, college: Texas) who led his team to a victory scoring 22 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. His fellow American import guard Kevin Murphy (197-1990, college: Tenn Tech, agency: The Crew A.M.) helped adding 25 points and 5 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field). Four Antonine players scored in double figures. American swingman Lucas Saleh (201-2000, college: Belm.Abbey) responded with 11 points and 4 assists (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) and Ghassan Tacca scored 9 points and 7 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Antonine. They maintain fifth place with 6-5 record. NSA lost their tenth game in a row. They still close the standings with ten games lost.
Top scorers:
Antonine: K.Murphy 25+5reb+2ast, K.Roach II 22+5reb+6ast, M.Watkins 13+14reb+2ast, I.Haddad 11+3reb, J.Makhlouf 8+5reb+1ast, A.Assi 7+2reb
NSA: L.Saleh 11+4reb+4ast, S.Alaeddine 9+2reb+2ast, G.Tacca 9+7reb, T.Baxter Jr. 6+1reb+1ast, E.Terry 6+1reb, E.Ghosn 5+2reb+1ast

Al Riyadi - Sagesse 99-92

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Al Riyadi as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Al Riyadi defeated 3rd placed Sagesse in Beirut 99-92. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Al Riyadi made 16-of-18 free shots (88.9 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was international guard Wael Arakji (193-1994) who scored 26 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international guard Amir Saoud (187-1991) chipped in 29 points (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line). American guard Zach Lofton (193-1992, college: NM State, agency: Slash Sports) produced 39 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 6 assists and the former international guard Omar Jamaleddine (193-2000, college: SLC) added 21 points, 16 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for the guests. Four Sagesse players scored in double figures. As mentioned above they are alone now at the top position. Sagesse at the other side keeps the third place with two games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Riyadi: A.Saoud 29+1reb+3ast, W.Arakji 26+6reb+5ast, I.Diop 11+13reb+1ast, I.Ahmad 7+6reb+1ast, M.Georges-Hunt 7+1reb+2ast, H.Gyokchyan 7+6reb+1ast
Sagesse: Z.Lofton 39+5reb+6ast, O.Jamaleddine 21+16reb+4ast, A.Majok 14+10reb+2ast, N.Rabay 10+5reb+1ast, M.Khoueiry 6+3reb+4ast, J.Khalil 2+1reb+1ast

Beirut Club - Al Markaziyyah 101-91

There was no surprise when 8th ranked Al Markaziyyah (4-7) was defeated on the road by leader Beirut Club (9-0) 101-91 on Sunday. Beirut Club looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. It was a great evening for the former international power forward Mohamad Haidar (203-1990, college: Michigan Tech) who led his team to a victory scoring 31 points and 5 rebounds. American forward Quincy Miller-Scott (206-1992, college: Baylor, agency: Slash Sports) helped adding 21 points and 8 rebounds. Four Beirut Club players scored in double figures. American forward Tyree Corbett (201-2000, college: Denver) responded with a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!) and 13 rebounds and the other American import guard Cameron Young (195-1996, college: Quinnipiac, agency: Slash Sports) scored 30 points. Al Markaziyyah's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. The victory was the ninth consecutive win for Beirut Club. They moved-up to second place. Newly promoted Al Markaziyyah keeps the eighth position with seven games lost. They share it with Maristes and Mayrouba.
Top scorers:
Beirut Club: M.Haidar 31+5reb, Q.Miller-Scott 21+8reb+3ast, R.Ledo 15+5reb+5ast, S.El Darwich 14+6reb+4ast, A.Mezher 9+6reb+14ast, K.Kadji 8+6reb
Al Markaziyyah: T.Corbett 36+13reb+2ast, C.Young 30+3reb+3ast, A.Nabaa 14+6reb, K.Wooten Jr. 7+8reb, J.Zaloum 2+2reb+10ast, G.Choueiry 2+3ast

Homentmen - Tadamon 83-82

No shocking result in a game in Beirut where seventh ranked Homentmen (5-6) edged 11th ranked Tadamon (2-9) 83-82 on Sunday. However just one-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. It was a great evening for American point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists. New Zealand-Kenyan center Yuat Alok (211-1997, college: NM State) helped adding 20 points and 11 rebounds. American guard Unique McLean (188-1997, college: SFC, agency: Blacktop Management) responded with a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!) and 10 rebounds and American-Palestinian Kyndall Dykes (192-1987, college: New Orleans, agency: Slash Sports) produced a double-double by scoring 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Tadamon's coach Ghassan Sarkis rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Homentmen moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Hoops. Newly promoted Tadamon keeps the eleventh position with nine games lost.
Top scorers:
Homentmen: J.Stevens 24+7reb+11ast, G.Chivichyan 21+2reb, Y.Alok 20+11reb+1ast, T.Bey 6+10reb+1ast, B.Harfouch 5+3reb+1ast, G.Ajemian 5+4reb+1ast
Tadamon: U.McLean 33+10reb+2ast, K.Dykes 23+10reb+5ast, G.Daaboul 11+3reb+2ast, M.Ziadeh 7+4reb+1ast, J.Massih 3+5reb, J.Mikulic 3+4reb+2ast

Maristes - Mayrouba 78-74

There was a minor upset in Dik El Mehdi where 8th ranked Mayrouba (4-7) was defeated by tenth ranked Maristes (4-7) 78-74 on Monday. Maristes made 19-of-25 free shots (76.0 percent) during the game. It was a great evening for American center Henry Sims (208-1990, college: Georgetown) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 15 rebounds. International power forward Karim Ezzeddine (206-1997, college: N.Mexico) helped adding 16 points and 8 rebounds. Four Maristes players scored in double figures. American point guard Roddy Peters (193-1995, college: Nicholls) responded with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists and the other American import power forward James Padgett (203-1991, college: Maryland) produced a double-double by scoring 20 points and 18 rebounds. Maristes moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Al Markaziyyah and Mayrouba. Mayrouba lost their third game in a row.
Top scorers:
Maristes: J.Blake 17+4reb+4ast, K.Ezzeddine 16+8reb+2ast, H.Sims 14+15reb+3ast, R.Zanbaka 10+2reb+1ast, J.Salem 8+7reb+3ast, J.Gray 6+1reb+1ast
Mayrouba: R.Peters 26+9reb+7ast, J.Padgett 20+18reb, A.Castillo 13+11reb+4ast, B.Saba 9+5reb+3ast, J.Nakhle 4+4reb+1ast, A.Koubba 2

Antranik - Hoops 70-88

Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Beirut: Hoops (#7) and Antranik (#4). Antranik was crushed at home by 18 points 70-88 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Hoops outrebounded Antranik 41-29 including a 30-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Hoops players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. American guard AJ English (192-1992, college: Iona) orchestrated the victory by scoring 32 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line). Nigerian-American center Abayomi Iyiola (208-1998, college: Kansas St.) contributed with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 20 rebounds for the winners. Hoops' coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American forward Tony Criswell (205-1991, college: Missouri, agency: Interperformances) answered with 23 points and 7 rebounds and American point guard Saeed Nelson (188-1998, college: American) added 13 points, 7 assists and 6 steals in the effort for Antranik. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Hoops (5-6) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Homentmen. Antranik at the other side keeps the fourth position with four games lost.
Top scorers:
Hoops: A.English 32+6reb+7ast, J.Jarrouge 21+1reb+2ast, R.Brown 16+9reb+3ast, A.Iyiola 12+20reb+1ast, A.Sabbagh 3+3reb+3ast, O.Al Jamal 2+2reb+1ast
Antranik: T.Criswell 23+7reb, R.Moussa 13+4reb+6ast, S.Nelson 13+4reb+7ast, N.Elmore 10+4reb+1ast, J.Abou Samra 6+4reb+2ast, K.Aoun 3+2reb