LBL Round 18 (Regular Season): Beirut Club edge Homentmen by two points

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Fourth-ranked Homentmen (8-7) made lots of trouble for third ranked Beirut Club (13-2) on Saturday. The visitors managed to secure only two-point victory 82-80. However their fans expected easier game. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Homentmen. Beirut Club looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Beirut Club made 7 blocks. The best player for the winners was the former international point guard Ali Mezher (182-1994) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points and 15 assists. The former international guard Sergio El Darwich (194-1996, college: Maine) chipped in 24 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Beirut Club's coach Jad El Hajj used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Tyler Bey (201-1998, college: Colorado) who recorded a double-double by scoring 28 points and 12 rebounds. Beirut Club moved-up to second place, which they share with Sagesse. Homentmen at the other side keeps the fourth position with seven games lost. Beirut Club is looking forward to face Mayrouba (#10) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Homentmen will play against Al Markaziyyah (#8) in Jounieh and is hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
Leader Al Riyadi delivered the fifteenth victory. This time they crushed 12th ranked NSA (1-15) 102-75. It was a good game for Australian-South Sudanese center Thon Maker (216-1997) who led his team to a victory with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks. Marin Maric contributed with 14 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. American Daniel Hamilton (201-1995, college: UConn) replied with 28 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for NSA. 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 (15-1) have an impressive seven-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position. NSA lost fourth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 15 games lost. Al Riyadi will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. NSA will play at home against Antranik (#7) to get more than just one victory in their record.
We should mention about the upset which took place in Hrajel, where 7th ranked Antranik (7-9) lost to tenth ranked Tadamon (6-10) in a road game 80-88 on Saturday. Unique McLean scored 32 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners. Tadamon's coach Ghassan Sarkis allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was Tony Criswell with 31 points and 6 rebounds. Tadamon have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Al Markaziyyah. Antranik lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth position with nine games lost. They share it with Hoops. Tadamon will meet at home league's second-placed Beirut Club in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Antranik will play against NSA (#12) and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 18 Hoops were defeated by Antonine in a road game 90-84. Maristes were beaten by Al Markaziyyah at home 79-85.



Tadamon - Antranik 88-80

We should mention about the upset which took place in Hrajel, where 7th ranked Antranik (7-9) lost to tenth ranked Tadamon (6-10) in a road game 80-88 on Saturday. Tadamon made 16-of-20 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American guard Unique McLean (188-1997, college: SFC, agency: Blacktop Management) scored 32 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and George Daaboul chipped in 20 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists during the contest. Four Tadamon players scored in double figures. Tadamon's coach Ghassan Sarkis allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was American forward Tony Criswell (205-1991, college: Missouri, agency: Interperformances) with 31 points and 6 rebounds and American point guard Saeed Nelson (188-1998, college: American) scored 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals. Tadamon have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Al Markaziyyah. Antranik lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth position with nine games lost. They share it with Hoops. Tadamon will meet at home league's second-placed Beirut Club in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Antranik will play against NSA (#12) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Antranik: T.Criswell 31+6reb, S.Nelson 17+5reb+5ast, A.Kopaly 12+5reb+1ast, R.Moussa 8+5reb+9ast, J.Abou Samra 7+6reb+1ast, L.Bradley 5+4reb
Tadamon: U.McLean 32+7reb+6ast, G.Daaboul 20+7reb+10ast, N.Stover 19+7reb+1ast, R.Hansen 15+16reb+1ast, M.Chouman 2+1ast, A.Ekkewi 0+1reb+1ast

Homentmen - Beirut Club 80-82

Fourth-ranked Homentmen (8-7) made lots of trouble for third ranked Beirut Club (13-2) on Saturday. The visitors managed to secure only two-point victory 82-80. However their fans expected easier game. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Homentmen. Beirut Club looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Beirut Club made 7 blocks. The best player for the winners was the former international point guard Ali Mezher (182-1994) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points and 15 assists. The former international guard Sergio El Darwich (194-1996, college: Maine) chipped in 24 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Beirut Club's coach Jad El Hajj used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Tyler Bey (201-1998, college: Colorado) who recorded a double-double by scoring 28 points and 12 rebounds and his fellow American import point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) added 27 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists (went 12 for 12 at the free throw line !!!) respectively. Beirut Club moved-up to second place, which they share with Sagesse. Homentmen at the other side keeps the fourth position with seven games lost. Beirut Club is looking forward to face Mayrouba (#10) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Homentmen will play against Al Markaziyyah (#8) in Jounieh and is hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
Homentmen: T.Bey 28+12reb+1ast, J.Stevens 27+6reb+7ast, G.Ajemian 8+1reb+1ast, J.Soufan 6+7reb+2ast, B.Harfouch 4, Y.Alok 4+2reb
Beirut Club: S.El Darwich 24+5reb+5ast, A.Mezher 16+3reb+15ast, A.Deng 9+5reb+1ast, K.Kadji 8+10reb, M.Al-Khoury 8+4reb+1ast, M.Frazier II 7+2reb+2ast

Antonine - Hoops 90-84

Everything could happen at the game between two tied teams. Both fifth ranked Antonine and 6th ranked Hoops had identical 7-8 record. This time Antonine used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from Beirut 90-84 on Monday night. Antonine had a 31-19 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American forward Michael Watkins (206-1995, college: Penn State) had a double-double by scoring 39 points (!!!) and 12 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and the other American import guard Kevin Murphy (197-1990, college: Tenn Tech) chipped in 14 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists during the contest. Antonine's coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was Nigerian-American center Abayomi Iyiola (208-1998, college: Kansas St.) with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 15 rebounds and American forward Dikembe Dixson (201-1996, college: UIC) scored 25 points and 7 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Antonine maintains fifth position with 8-8 record. Loser Hoops keep the sixth place with nine games lost. They share the position with Antranik. Antonine will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Hoops will play against Maristes (#11) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Hoops: D.Dixson 25+7reb+3ast, A.Iyiola 22+15reb+2ast, A.English 13+3reb+3ast, A.Sabbagh 13+1reb+1ast, J.Jarrouge 9+2reb, A.Sabbagh 2+3reb+4ast
Antonine: M.Watkins 39+12reb+2ast, P.Abboud 18+5reb+2ast, K.Murphy 14+7reb+9ast, K.Roach II 10+7reb+9ast, J.Makhlouf 3+1reb+1ast, A.Assi 3+3reb

Maristes - Al Markaziyyah 79-85

Everything could happen in Dik El Mehdi at the game between two tied teams. Both eleventh ranked Al Markaziyyah and 10th ranked Maristes had identical 5-10 record. But Maristes were not able to use a home court advantage and lost to the opponent from Jounieh 85-79 on Tuesday night. American guard Cameron Young (195-1996, college: Quinnipiac, agency: Slash Sports) scored 35 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the charge for the winners and point guard Joseph Zaloum (180-1990) chipped in 14 points and 8 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was American center Henry Sims (208-1990, college: Georgetown) with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 23 rebounds and American-Syrian guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn) scored 16 points and 8 assists. Four Maristes players scored in double figures. Al Markaziyyah (6-10) moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Tadamon. Loser Maristes dropped to the eleventh position with 11 games lost. Al Markaziyyah will meet at home higher ranked Homentmen (#4) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Maristes will play against Hoops (#6) in Beirut and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Maristes: H.Sims 24+23reb+2ast, J.Blake 16+2reb+8ast, M.Mobley 15+6reb+2ast, K.Ezzeddine 12+5reb+2ast, J.Salem 9+3reb+1ast, R.Zanbaka 3
Al Markaziyyah: C.Young 35+5reb+7ast, J.Zaloum 14+2reb+8ast, K.Wooten Jr. 9+4reb, T.Corbett 8+8reb+2ast, E.Saad 6+6reb, A.Nabaa 6+2reb

NSA - Al Riyadi 75-102

Leader Al Riyadi delivered the fifteenth victory. This time they crushed 12th ranked NSA (1-15) 102-75. Al Riyadi dominated down low during the game scoring 74 of its points in the paint compared to NSA's 38 and made 16-of-20 charity shots (80.0 percent) during the game. They outrebounded NSA 48-37 including a 37-22 advantage in defensive rebounds. Al Riyadi players were unselfish on offense dishing 32 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by NSA's players. It was a good game for Australian-South Sudanese center Thon Maker (216-1997) who led his team to a victory with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks. Croatian center Marin Maric (211-1994, college: DePaul, agency: BIG) contributed with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Four Al Riyadi players scored in double figures. American Daniel Hamilton (201-1995, college: UConn) replied with 28 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists and his fellow American import power forward Diamond Stone (208-1997, college: Maryland, agency: Bell Basketball) added 16 points and 9 rebounds in the effort for NSA. 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 (15-1) have an impressive seven-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position. NSA lost fourth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 15 games lost. Al Riyadi will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. NSA will play at home against Antranik (#7) to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
NSA: D.Hamilton 28+8reb+7ast, D.Stone 16+9reb, L.Saleh 14+8reb+1ast, M.Haddad 8+1reb+1ast, G.Tacca 5+5reb, S.Alaeddine 2+1reb
Al Riyadi: T.Maker 21+9reb+2ast, H.Gyokchyan 15+8reb+1ast, M.Maric 14+11reb+1ast, W.Arakji 13+2reb+7ast, M.Georges-Hunt 10+3reb+3ast, B.Tabbara 9+1reb+1ast