LBL Round 15 (Regular Season): Antranik beats Maristes by two after a very close game

There will be only one (last) round of the Regular Season in LBL. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 15 in the LBL took place in Dik El Mehdi. This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of 8th ranked Maristes (4-9) to sixth ranked Antranik (7-6) 91-89 on Thursday evening. It was a good game for American point guard Saeed Nelson (188-1998, college: American) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 29 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists. American forward Tony Criswell (205-1991, college: Missouri, agency: Interperformances) contributed with 20 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American center Henry Sims (208-1990, college: Georgetown) answered with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 14 rebounds for Maristes. Antranik moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Homentmen. Maristes at the other side keep the eighth position with nine games lost. Antranik's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Beirut Homentmen.
Seventh-ranked Hoops (7-7) were very close to win a game against third ranked Sagesse (12-2) in Beirut. Sagesse managed to secure only three-point victory 110-107. However their fans expected much easier game. It was a great evening for Haitian center Cady Lalanne (208-1992, college: UMass) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 11 rebounds. Gerard Hadidian helped adding 24 points and 14 rebounds. Sagesse's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. The best for the losing side was American guard AJ English (192-1992, college: Iona) with 49 points (!!!) and 6 assists. Sagesse have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain third place with 12-2 record behind leader Al Riyadi. Hoops at the other side dropped to the sixth position with seven games lost. They share it with Antonine. Sagesse will play against Antonine (#6) on the road in the next round. Hoops will have a break next round.
The game in Mayrouba supposed to be also quite interesting. Second ranked Al Riyadi (13-1) played at the court of 8th ranked Mayrouba (4-10). Al Riyadi smashed Mayrouba 117-65 on Friday. It was an exceptional evening for Marin Maric who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 12 rebounds. Tim Dalger came up with 18 points and 4 assists for Mayrouba 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. Al Riyadi have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Defending champion keeps a position of league leader. Mayrouba lost sixth consecutive game. They dropped to the ninth place with ten games lost. They share the position with Al Markaziyyah.

In the last game of round 15 Al Markaziyyah was smashed by Hoops on the road 85-66.
The most impressive performance of 15th round was 32 points by Dikembe Dixson of Hoops.



Sagesse - Hoops 110-107

Seventh-ranked Hoops (7-7) were very close to win a game against third ranked Sagesse (12-2) in Beirut. Sagesse managed to secure only three-point victory 110-107. However their fans expected much easier game. Sagesse outrebounded Hoops 54-43 including 26 on the offensive glass. Sagesse players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. Hoops were plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a great evening for Haitian center Cady Lalanne (208-1992, college: UMass) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 11 rebounds. The former international forward Gerard Hadidian (201-1995, college: Lake Land) helped adding 24 points and 14 rebounds. Four Sagesse players scored in double figures. Sagesse's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. The best for the losing side was American guard AJ English (192-1992, college: Iona) with 49 points (!!!) and 6 assists and the other American import forward Dikembe Dixson (201-1996, college: UIC) produced a double-double by scoring 32 points and 10 rebounds. Sagesse have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain third place with 12-2 record behind leader Al Riyadi. Hoops at the other side dropped to the sixth position with seven games lost. They share it with Antonine. Sagesse will play against Antonine (#6) on the road in the next round. Hoops will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Sagesse: C.Lalanne 28+11reb+1ast, G.Hadidian 24+14reb+1ast, O.Jamaleddine 20+8reb+3ast, Z.Lofton 12+7reb+11ast, A.Abdel Massih 9+2reb+2ast, M.Khoueiry 8+3reb+3ast
Hoops: A.English 49+4reb+6ast, D.Dixson 32+10reb, J.Jarrouge 8+1reb, A.Iyiola 8+8reb+1ast, T.Akiki 4+6reb+4ast, A.Sabbagh 3+5reb+1ast

Maristes - Antranik 89-91

The most exciting game of round 15 in the LBL took place in Dik El Mehdi. This derby game ended with only two-point home defeat of 8th ranked Maristes (4-9) to sixth ranked Antranik (7-6) 91-89 on Thursday evening. It was a good game for American point guard Saeed Nelson (188-1998, college: American) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 29 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists. American forward Tony Criswell (205-1991, college: Missouri, agency: Interperformances) contributed with 20 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Criswell is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American center Henry Sims (208-1990, college: Georgetown) answered with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 14 rebounds and international power forward Karim Ezzeddine (206-1997, college: N.Mexico) added 15 points and 12 rebounds in the effort for Maristes. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Antranik moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Homentmen. Maristes at the other side keep the eighth position with nine games lost. Antranik's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Beirut Homentmen.
Top scorers:
Antranik: S.Nelson 29+12reb+7ast, T.Criswell 20+7reb, L.Bradley 19+2reb+1ast, J.Abou Samra 13+2reb+2ast, R.Moussa 10+9reb+5ast, E.Sebaaly 0+1reb
Maristes: H.Sims 26+14reb+1ast, J.Salem 18+9reb+2ast, J.Blake 16+11ast, K.Ezzeddine 15+12reb+3ast, M.Mobley 12+5reb+3ast, R.Zanbaka 2+2reb+3ast

Mayrouba - Al Riyadi 65-117

The game in Mayrouba supposed to be also quite interesting. Second ranked Al Riyadi (13-1) played at the court of 8th ranked Mayrouba (4-10). Al Riyadi smashed Mayrouba 117-65 on Friday. They outrebounded Mayrouba 45-29 including 17 on the offensive glass. Al Riyadi looked well-organized offensively handing out 41 assists comparing to just 16 passes made by Mayrouba's players. It was an exceptional evening for Croatian center Marin Maric (211-1994, college: DePaul, agency: BIG) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 12 rebounds. The former international forward Hayk Gyokchyan (203-1990, college: F&M) accounted for 15 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side. American forward Tim Dalger (201, college: St.Louis) came up with 18 points and 4 assists and Bechara Saba added 10 points respectively for Mayrouba in the defeat. Five Al Riyadi and four Mayrouba players 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 an impressive series of five victories in a row. Defending champion keeps a position of league leader. Mayrouba lost sixth consecutive game. They dropped to the ninth place with ten games lost. They share the position with Al Markaziyyah.
Top scorers:
Al Riyadi: B.Tabbara 20+1reb, H.Gyokchyan 15+7reb+3ast, K.Zeinoun 14+3reb+3ast, M.Georges-Hunt 13+3reb+6ast, M.Maric 12+12reb+3ast, T.Maker 11+6reb+2ast
Mayrouba: T.Dalger 18+4reb+4ast, K.Salam 11+3reb, G.Rizk 11+5reb+1ast, B.Saba 10+4reb+3ast, I.Hammons 6+3reb+5ast, A.Koubba 5+3reb

Hoops - Al Markaziyyah 85-66

The game between closely ranked teams ended with seventh ranked Hoops' (7-7) home victory over 8th ranked Al Markaziyyah (4-10) in Beirut 85-66 on Saturday. Hoops made 16-of-18 free shots (88.9 percent) during the game. It was an exceptional evening for American forward Dikembe Dixson (201-1996, college: UIC) who led the winners and scored 32 points. Nigerian-American center Abayomi Iyiola (208-1998, college: Kansas St.) accounted for 8 points and 14 rebounds for the winning side. Hoops' coach used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Tyree Corbett (201-2000, college: Denver) came up with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 12 rebounds and the other American import forward Kenny Wooten Jr (204-1998, college: Oregon) added 10 points and 12 rebounds respectively for Al Markaziyyah in the defeat. Hoops moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Antonine. Al Markaziyyah lost their fifth game in a row. Newly promoted team dropped to the ninth position with ten games lost. They share it with Mayrouba.
Top scorers:
Hoops: D.Dixson 32+4reb, A.English 15+3reb+3ast, A.Sabbagh 12+3reb+2ast, A.Iyiola 8+14reb+2ast, E.Bassil 5, J.Jarrouge 3+1reb+1ast
Al Markaziyyah: T.Corbett 22+12reb+3ast, C.Young 15+3reb+1ast, K.Wooten Jr. 10+12reb+3ast, H.El Helou 8+2reb, G.Choueiry 5+1reb, J.Zaloum 3+2reb+5ast