LBL Round 14 (Regular Season): Beirut Club beats Antonine in the most crucial game of the week

There are only two more rounds left in the Regular Season in LBL. Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Beirut. First ranked Beirut Club faced 4th ranked Antonine. Host Beirut Club (12-1) defeated guests from Antonine (7-6) 84-71. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Antonine. Beirut Club made 18-of-19 free shots (94.7 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Antonine 46-33 including 17 on the offensive glass. Beirut Club looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international point guard Ali Mezher (182-1994) who had a triple-double by scoring 16 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. The former international guard Sergio El Darwich (194-1996, college: Maine) chipped in 17 points and 7 assists (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line). American forward Michael Watkins (206-1995, college: Penn State) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 14 rebounds for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Beirut Club maintains first position with 12-1 record, which they share with Al Riyadi. Antonine at the other side keeps the fourth place with six games lost. They share the position with Homentmen. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
We should mention about the upset which took place in Hrajel, where 8th ranked Mayrouba (4-9) lost to eleventh ranked Tadamon (3-10) in a road game 76-94. George Daaboul orchestrated the victory by scoring 21 points and 9 assists. Unique McLean contributed with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Tadamon's coach Ghassan Sarkis allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American forward Tim Dalger (201, college: St.Louis) replied with 28 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for Mayrouba. Newly promoted Tadamon maintains eleventh position with 3-10 record. Mayrouba lost fifth consecutive game. They dropped to the ninth place with nine games lost. They share the position with Al Markaziyyah. Tadamon will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Mayrouba will play at home against the league's second-placed Al Riyadi (#2) and will have a slim chance for a victory.

In the last two games of round 14 bottom-ranked NSA was defeated by Homentmen in Beirut 104-100. Al Riyadi beat Al Markaziyyah at home 104-89.



Tadamon - Mayrouba 94-76

We should mention about the upset which took place in Hrajel, where 8th ranked Mayrouba (4-9) lost to eleventh ranked Tadamon (3-10) in a road game 76-94. Tadamon dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Mayrouba's 40. They outrebounded Mayrouba 51-31 including 18 on the offensive glass. Tadamon players were unselfish on offense dishing 31 assists. George Daaboul orchestrated the victory by scoring 21 points and 9 assists. American guard Unique McLean (188-1997, college: SFC, agency: Blacktop Management) contributed with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Five Tadamon players scored in double figures. Tadamon's coach Ghassan Sarkis allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American forward Tim Dalger (201, college: St.Louis) replied with 28 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and Bechara Saba added 19 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals in the effort for Mayrouba. Newly promoted Tadamon maintains eleventh position with 3-10 record. Mayrouba lost fifth consecutive game. They dropped to the ninth place with nine games lost. They share the position with Al Markaziyyah. Tadamon will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Mayrouba will play at home against the league's second-placed Al Riyadi (#2) and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Tadamon: G.Daaboul 21+4reb+9ast, M.Chouman 18+6reb+2ast, U.McLean 17+8reb+6ast, R.Hansen 12+14reb+2ast, A.Ekkewi 11+5reb+1ast, M.Ziadeh 6+2reb
Mayrouba: T.Dalger 28+7reb+4ast, B.Saba 19+5reb+6ast, J.Nakhle 14+8reb+1ast, A.Koubba 9+1reb, G.Rizk 6+6reb+5ast, K.Licha 0+2reb+3ast

Homentmen - NSA 104-100

There was no surprise in Beirut where 12th ranked NSA (1-12) was defeated by seventh ranked Homentmen (7-6) 104-100. However just four-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Homentmen outrebounded NSA 50-39 including 35 on the defensive glass. American point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 40 points (!!!), 8 rebounds and 10 assists. The other American import forward Tyler Bey (201-1998, college: Colorado) contributed with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 20 rebounds for the winners. Four Homentmen players scored in double figures. American Daniel Hamilton (201-1995, college: UConn) replied with a triple-double by scoring 31 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists and Montenegrin center Marko Perovic (204-1992, agency: BIG) added 29 points and 11 rebounds in the effort for NSA. Homentmen have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Antonine. NSA at the other side stay at the bottom position with 12 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Homentmen: J.Stevens 40+8reb+10ast, T.Bey 25+20reb+2ast, Y.Alok 18+11reb+2ast, G.Chivichyan 15+9reb+1ast, B.Harfouch 3, G.Ajemian 3+1reb+2ast
NSA: D.Hamilton 31+16reb+12ast, M.Perovic 29+11reb+2ast, D.Dorsey 24+2reb+7ast, L.Saleh 9+6reb+2ast, M.Haddad 5+1reb+2ast, K.Mechref 2+3reb+1ast

Al Riyadi - Al Markaziyyah 104-89

No shocking result in a game in Beirut where second ranked Al Riyadi (12-1) defeated 8th ranked Al Markaziyyah (4-9) 104-89. Al Riyadi dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Al Markaziyyah's 32. They outrebounded Al Markaziyyah 48-30 including 16 on the offensive glass. Al Riyadi players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. Australian-South Sudanese center Thon Maker (216-1997) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 14 rebounds. The former international guard Amir Saoud (187-1991) contributed with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Five Al Riyadi players scored in double figures. Al Riyadi's coach Ahmad Farran used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. American guard Cameron Young (195-1996, college: Quinnipiac, agency: Slash Sports) replied with 38 points (!!!) and his fellow American import forward Kenny Wooten Jr (204-1998, college: Oregon) added 11 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks in the effort for Al Markaziyyah. Al Riyadi have a solid four-game winning streak. Defending champion keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Beirut Club. Al Markaziyyah lost fourth consecutive game. Newly promoted team dropped to the ninth place with nine games lost. They share the position with Mayrouba. Al Riyadi will play against Mayrouba (#9) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Al Markaziyyah will play against Hoops in Beirut and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Al Riyadi: I.Ahmad 17+4reb+1ast, A.Saoud 13+6reb+4ast, W.Arakji 13+3reb+5ast, T.Maker 12+14reb+1ast, M.Maric 10+6reb+2ast, H.Gyokchyan 10+4reb+2ast
Al Markaziyyah: C.Young 38+1ast, K.Wooten Jr. 11+13reb+4ast, W.Sawan 11+1reb, J.Zaloum 7+2reb+11ast, G.Choueiry 6+2ast, E.Ghaleb 6+3reb+1ast

Beirut Club - Antonine 84-71

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Beirut. First ranked Beirut Club faced 4th ranked Antonine. Host Beirut Club (12-1) defeated guests from Antonine (7-6) 84-71. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Antonine. Beirut Club made 18-of-19 free shots (94.7 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Antonine 46-33 including 17 on the offensive glass. Beirut Club looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international point guard Ali Mezher (182-1994) who had a triple-double by scoring 16 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. The former international guard Sergio El Darwich (194-1996, college: Maine) chipped in 17 points and 7 assists (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line). Four Beirut Club players scored in double figures. American forward Michael Watkins (206-1995, college: Penn State) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 14 rebounds and the former international forward Patrick Abboud (199-1987) added 21 points and 6 rebounds respectively for the guests. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Beirut Club maintains first position with 12-1 record, which they share with Al Riyadi. Antonine at the other side keeps the fourth place with six games lost. They share the position with Homentmen. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Beirut Club: S.El Darwich 17+4reb+7ast, A.Deng 16+5reb+2ast, A.Mezher 16+13reb+11ast, M.Al-Khoury 12+6reb, K.Kadji 9+9reb, A.Mahmoud 5+2reb+2ast
Antonine: P.Abboud 21+6reb+2ast, M.Watkins 19+14reb+2ast, B.Mansour 12+3reb+5ast, I.Haddad 6+2reb+3ast, J.Makhlouf 4+1ast, M.Martinez 3+3reb+5ast