LBL Round 19 (Regular Season): Derby game ends with Sagesse's defeat of Homentmen

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Sagesse (#3) and Homentmen (#5). Homentmen was defeated at home 102-114 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Sagesse outrebounded Homentmen 46-33 including 34 on the defensive glass. Sagesse looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Haitian center Cady Lalanne (208-1992, college: UMass) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 26 points and 10 rebounds. American guard Zach Lofton (193-1992, college: NM State, agency: Slash Sports) contributed with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists for the winners. American point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) answered with 28 points and 9 assists for Homentmen. Sagesse (14-2) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain third place behind leader Al Riyadi. Homentmen at the other side dropped to the fourth position with eight games lost.
The game in Jounieh was also worth to mention about. Fifth ranked Homentmen (9-8) played at the court of 8th ranked Al Markaziyyah (6-11). Homentmen managed to secure a 7-point victory 99-92. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Markaziyyah. It was a great evening for American point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) who led his team to a victory scoring 40 points (!!!) and 7 assists. Tyler Bey helped adding 19 points and 19 rebounds. At the losing side American guard Cameron Young (195-1996, college: Quinnipiac, agency: Slash Sports) responded with 27 points and 6 assists. Homentmen moved-up to fourth place. Newly promoted Al Markaziyyah keeps the eighth position with 11 games lost. They share it with 3 other teams.
A very close game took place in Beirut between Maristes and Hoops. Tenth ranked Maristes (6-11) got a very close victory on the road over 7th ranked Hoops (7-10). Maristes managed to escape with a 1-point win 72-71 on Monday evening. It was an exceptional evening for Javion Blake who led the winners and scored 18 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Dikembe Dixson came up with 39 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds for Hoops in the defeat. Hoops' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Maristes moved-up to eighth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Hoops lost their third game in a row. They keep the seventh position with ten games lost.

Other games in round 19 were not that significant. Beirut Club smashed Tadamon on the road 91-63. Bottom-ranked NSA lost to Antranik on its own court 82-96. Mayrouba unfortunately lost to Beirut Club in a road game 66-83. Antranik recorded a loss to Mayrouba at home 97-100.
The most impressive performance of 19th round was 35 points (!!!) and 10 rebounds by Tony Criswell of Antranik.



Tadamon - Beirut Club 63-91

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Beirut Club (15-2) crushed 9th ranked Tadamon (6-11) in Hrajel 91-63 on Wednesday. Beirut Club dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Tadamon's 28. Beirut Club looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Michael Frazier II (193-1994, college: Florida) who led the winners and scored 31 points. The former international guard Sergio El Darwich (194-1996, college: Maine) accounted for 18 points, 6 rebounds and 13 assists for the winning side. Four Beirut Club players scored in double figures. American guard Unique McLean (188-1997, college: SFC, agency: Blacktop Management) came up with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and U.S. Virgin Islands forward Romani Hansen (203-1997, college: Albany) added 11 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Tadamon 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. The victory was the third consecutive win for Beirut Club. They maintain second place with 15-2 record having just one point less than leader Al Riyadi. Newly promoted Tadamon dropped to the eighth position with 11 games lost. They share it with 3 other teams.
Top scorers:
Tadamon: U.McLean 15+5reb+4ast, N.Stover 12+3reb+3ast, R.Hansen 11+8reb, A.Alalia 8+2reb, G.Daaboul 6+6reb+3ast, M.Ziadeh 5+8reb+2ast
Beirut Club: M.Frazier II 31+4reb+2ast, S.El Darwich 18+6reb+13ast, A.Deng 13+3reb, K.Kadji 12+9reb+1ast, M.Al-Khoury 9+2reb, A.Mahmoud 2+4reb+3ast

Homentmen - Sagesse 102-114

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Beirut: Sagesse (#3) and Homentmen (#5). Homentmen was defeated at home 102-114 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. Sagesse outrebounded Homentmen 46-33 including 34 on the defensive glass. Sagesse looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Haitian center Cady Lalanne (208-1992, college: UMass) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 26 points and 10 rebounds. American guard Zach Lofton (193-1992, college: NM State, agency: Slash Sports) contributed with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists for the winners. American point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) answered with 28 points and 9 assists and the other American import forward Tyler Bey (201-1998, college: Colorado) added 11 points and 12 rebounds in the effort for Homentmen. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Sagesse (14-2) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain third place behind leader Al Riyadi. Homentmen at the other side dropped to the fourth position with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Homentmen: J.Stevens 28+4reb+9ast, K.Kevork 21+2reb+2ast, G.Ajemian 15+6ast, J.Soufan 13+5reb+3ast, T.Bey 11+12reb+2ast, M.Kayal 8
Sagesse: C.Lalanne 26+10reb, G.Hadidian 20+7reb+2ast, Z.Lofton 17+8reb+10ast, J.O'Bryant III 16+8reb+3ast, E.Rustom 13+2reb+5ast, M.Khoueiry 12+2reb+3ast

NSA - Antranik 82-96

Very expected game when 12th ranked NSA (1-16) lost at home to sixth ranked Antranik (8-10) 96-82 on Thursday. Antranik looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was an exceptional evening for Rudy Moussa who led the winners and scored 23 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. American forward Tony Criswell (205-1991, college: Missouri, agency: Interperformances) accounted for 26 points and 9 rebounds for the winning side. Criswell is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American Daniel Hamilton (201-1995, college: UConn) came up with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists and the other American import swingman Lucas Saleh (201-2000, college: Belm.Abbey) added 19 points respectively for NSA in the defeat. Five Antranik and four NSA players scored in double figures. Antranik maintains sixth place with 8-10 record. NSA lost their fifth game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 16 games lost.
Top scorers:
NSA: D.Hamilton 23+14reb+8ast, L.Saleh 19+3reb, D.Stone 13+5reb+2ast, D.Dorsey 12+4reb+6ast, M.Haddad 8+1reb, S.Alaeddine 4+6reb+2ast
Antranik: T.Criswell 26+9reb+2ast, R.Moussa 23+9reb+7ast, L.Bradley 18+12reb+3ast, S.Nelson 17+4reb+7ast, J.Abou Samra 12+5reb+4ast, A.Kopaly 0+2reb+1ast

Hoops - Maristes 71-72

A very close game took place in Beirut between Maristes and Hoops. Tenth ranked Maristes (6-11) got a very close victory on the road over 7th ranked Hoops (7-10). Maristes managed to escape with a 1-point win 72-71 on Monday evening. Maristes outrebounded Hoops 46-30 including a 38-24 advantage in defensive rebounds. It was an exceptional evening for American-Syrian guard Javion Blake (191-1997, college: Washburn) who led the winners and scored 18 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. American Matt Mobley (194-1994, college: St.Bonaventure) accounted for 17 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side. Five Maristes players scored in double figures. American forward Dikembe Dixson (201-1996, college: UIC) came up with 39 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds and the former international guard Jean-Marc Jarrouge (190-1995) added 8 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Hoops in the defeat. Hoops' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Maristes moved-up to eighth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Hoops lost their third game in a row. They keep the seventh position with ten games lost.
Top scorers:
Hoops: D.Dixson 39+9reb, A.Sabbagh 12+3reb, J.Jarrouge 8+6reb+2ast, A.English 6+2reb+3ast, J.Williams 4+6reb+4ast, E.Bassil 2
Maristes: J.Blake 18+7reb+5ast, M.Mobley 17+6reb+3ast, J.Salem 12+3reb+3ast, K.Ezzeddine 10+11reb+3ast, H.Sims 10+9reb+1ast, M.Sarkis 3+4reb

Al Markaziyyah - Homentmen 92-99

The game in Jounieh was also worth to mention about. Fifth ranked Homentmen (9-8) played at the court of 8th ranked Al Markaziyyah (6-11). Homentmen managed to secure a 7-point victory 99-92. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Markaziyyah. They outrebounded Al Markaziyyah 43-31 including 29 on the defensive glass. It was a great evening for American point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) who led his team to a victory scoring 40 points (!!!) and 7 assists. His fellow American import forward Tyler Bey (201-1998, college: Colorado) helped adding 19 points and 19 rebounds. At the losing side American guard Cameron Young (195-1996, college: Quinnipiac, agency: Slash Sports) responded with 27 points and 6 assists and point guard Joseph Zaloum (180-1990) scored 20 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Homentmen moved-up to fourth place. Newly promoted Al Markaziyyah keeps the eighth position with 11 games lost. They share it with 3 other teams.
Top scorers:
Al Markaziyyah: C.Young 27+3reb+6ast, J.Zaloum 20+6reb+9ast, K.Wooten Jr. 11+7reb, R.Brown 11+4reb+5ast, A.Nabaa 9+1reb+1ast, H.El Helou 6+1reb+2ast
Homentmen: J.Stevens 40+4reb+7ast, G.Ajemian 22+2reb+4ast, T.Bey 19+19reb+2ast, K.Kevork 16+4reb+2ast, P.Dekermedjian 2+8reb+1ast, J.Khoury 0+5reb

Beirut Club - Mayrouba 83-66

Very predictable result when second ranked Beirut Club (15-2) won against at home 11th ranked Mayrouba (6-11) 83-66 on Sunday. Beirut Club looked well-organized offensively handing out 31 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Mayrouba's players. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Michael Frazier II (193-1994, college: Florida) who led the winners and scored 24 points and 8 assists. South Sudanese-Australian forward Angok Deng (203-1992, college: Baylor) accounted for 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side. Four Beirut Club players scored in double figures. American forward Tim Dalger (201, college: St.Louis) came up with 30 points and the other American import forward Kahlil Thomas (203-1994, college: Rider) added 8 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists respectively for Mayrouba in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the third consecutive win for Beirut Club. They maintain second place with 15-2 record having just one point less than leader Al Riyadi. Loser Mayrouba dropped to the eighth position with 11 games lost. They share it with 3 other teams.
Top scorers:
Mayrouba: T.Dalger 30+4reb+2ast, J.Nelson 14+2reb+2ast, K.Thomas 8+10reb+6ast, B.Saba 4+3reb, A.Koubba 3+2reb+1ast, C.El-Hachem 3
Beirut Club: M.Frazier II 24+4reb+8ast, A.Deng 22+9reb+4ast, M.Haidar 13+7reb+2ast, C.Khalil 10+6reb+2ast, S.El Darwich 5+5reb+8ast, M.Al-Khoury 4+2reb+1ast

Antranik - Mayrouba 97-100

There was an upset when higher ranked Antranik (8-10) was edged by eleventh ranked Mayrouba (6-11) in Beirut 100-97 on Wednesday. Mayrouba looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Mayrouba made 9 blocks. American players dominated the game. It was an exceptional evening for forward Tim Dalger (201, college: St.Louis) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 30 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists. Forward Kahlil Thomas (203-1994, college: Rider) accounted for 18 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks for the winning side. Forward Tony Criswell (205-1991, college: Missouri, agency: Interperformances) came up with a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!) and 10 rebounds and point guard Saeed Nelson (188-1998, college: American) added 22 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for Antranik in the defeat. Four Mayrouba and five Antranik players scored in double figures. Mayrouba moved-up to eighth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Antranik keeps the sixth position with ten games lost.
Top scorers:
Antranik: T.Criswell 35+10reb+1ast, S.Nelson 22+15reb+5ast, J.Abou Samra 15+7reb+6ast, R.Moussa 13+7reb+4ast, D.Clark 11+6reb+8ast, A.Kopaly 1+2reb+1ast
Mayrouba: T.Dalger 30+15reb+5ast, J.Nelson 20+5reb+2ast, K.Thomas 18+7reb+6ast, G.Rizk 15+5reb+2ast, B.Saba 8+4reb+2ast, A.Koubba 6+2reb+1ast