MBL Round 2 (Regular Season): NS Matrix lose their first game against Johor Tigers

There were only 2 rounds played so far and it's still very beginning of the Regular Season in MPL. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of NS Matrix at the home court on Friday night. Hosts were edged by Johor Tigers 102-99. Johor Tigers forced 21 NS Matrix turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 35 assists. American-Thailand Moses Morgan (198, college: CS Fullerton) scored 25 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the charge for the winners and American forward Arinze Chidom (206, college: UC Riverside) chipped in 18 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks during the contest. American DeQuan Abrom (188-1996, college: Belm.Abbey) responded with 33 points (!!!), 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Johor Tigers are looking forward to face KL Aseel in Kuala Lumpur in the next round. NS Matrix will play at home against KL Aseel and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very significant was Penang SY's 83-77 road victory against KL Aseel. American forward Jordan Tolbert (200-1992, college: SMU) notched a double-double by scoring 25 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists and 7 steals to lead the effort and Cameron Satterwhite supported him with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Even a double-double of 35 points (!!!) and 21 rebounds by Guyanese-American center Anthony Moe (207, college: Millersville) did not help to save the game for KL Aseel. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Penang SY will play against Adroit in Singapore in the next round. KL Aseel will play against NS Matrix and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of Penang SY against Rising Star on Sunday night. Visiting Penang SY was defeated by Rising Star in a tough game on the road 72-76. The best player for the winners was Tychique Bosango who scored 9 points and 14 rebounds. Cameron Satterwhite produced 28 points and 5 rebounds for the guests. Penang SY's coach Guan-Tan Seak tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Rising Star will again meet at home Penang SY in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Penang SY will play against Adroit in Singapore and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 2: KL Aseel lost to undefeated Johor Tigers on the opponent's court 83-87. NS Matrix outscored Rising Star in a home game 92-65. NS Matrix managed to beat KL Aseel on the road 96-89.



KL Aseel - Penang SY 77-83

Very significant was Penang SY's 83-77 road victory against KL Aseel. Penang SY made 24-of-30 charity shots (80.0 percent) during the game. They also forced 22 KL Aseel turnovers. American forward Jordan Tolbert (200-1992, college: SMU) notched a double-double by scoring 25 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists and 7 steals to lead the effort and the other American import guard Cameron Satterwhite (193-1997, college: Montana) supported him with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Four Penang SY players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 35 points (!!!) and 21 rebounds by Guyanese-American center Anthony Moe (207, college: Millersville) did not help to save the game for KL Aseel. American guard Brachon Griffin (185-1992, college: ECSU) added 19 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists for the hosts. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Penang SY will play against Adroit in Singapore in the next round. KL Aseel will play against NS Matrix and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Penang SY: J.Tolbert 25+17reb+4ast, L.Shu-Wen 18+1reb+1ast, C.Satterwhite 15+5reb+5ast, T.Kuek 13+2reb+1ast, H.Khor 5+3reb+4ast, K.Teo 3+6reb+2ast
KL Aseel: A.Moe 35+21reb+1ast, B.Griffin 19+5reb+8ast, T.Zhen-Jie 8+2ast, W.Yong-Gan 8+1reb+2ast, G.Teck-Hwa 3+2reb, M.Maegen 2+6reb

Johor Tigers - KL Aseel 87-83

Rather expected game in Johor Baharu where KL Aseel was defeated by Johor Tigers 87-83 on Saturday. Johor Tigers forced 20 KL Aseel turnovers. Strangely KL Aseel outrebounded Johor Tigers 38-25 including 31 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was American forward Arinze Chidom (206, college: UC Riverside) who scored 23 points and 5 rebounds. International point guard Yee-Tong Heng (180) chipped in 12 points and 6 assists. Guyanese-American center Anthony Moe (207, college: Millersville) produced a double-double by scoring 24 points and 18 rebounds and American guard Brachon Griffin (185-1992, college: ECSU) added 22 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) respectively for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Johor Tigers will again meet KL Aseel in the next round. KL Aseel will play against NS Matrix and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Johor Tigers: A.Chidom 23+5reb+3ast, L.Chee-Wei 17+2ast, Y.Heng 12+4reb+6ast, M.Morgan 11+6reb+5ast, K.Tang 9+1reb+1ast, K.Wong 9+6reb+1ast
KL Aseel: A.Moe 24+18reb+1ast, B.Griffin 22+7reb+11ast, T.Zhen-Jie 10+1reb, W.Yong-Gan 10+4reb, G.Lakksman 8+4reb+2ast, T.Jiar-Yang 3+1ast

NS Matrix - Rising Star 92-65

Rather predictable result when NS Matrix smashed at home Rising Star 92-65 on Saturday. NS Matrix looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. The best player for the winners was American DeQuan Abrom (188-1996, college: Belm.Abbey) who scored 15 points and 5 rebounds. The former international guard Wei-Long Tan (188-1993) chipped in 15 points and 7 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Four NS Matrix players scored in double figures. DR Congolese guard Tychique Bosango (189-2001) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists and guard Zheng-Yang Chong (180-2003) added 18 points and 5 assists respectively for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. NS Matrix will meet at home KL Aseel in the next round. Rising Star will play against Penang SY and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
NS Matrix: O.Xian-Fu 15+6reb+1ast, W.Tan 15+7reb+1ast, D.Abrom 15+5reb+3ast, Y.Wong 14+1reb+4ast, W.Liew 8+2reb+1ast, H.Jia-Hao 7+4reb+3ast
Rising Star: C.Zheng-Yang 18+3reb+5ast, B.Tychique 16+13reb+4ast, L.Jia-Jun 10+4reb+2ast, L.Wan-Seong 7+2reb+1ast, L.Kok-Weng 6+1reb, S.Toyloy 4+5reb+4ast

KL Aseel - NS Matrix 89-96

Not a big story in a game in Kuala Lumpur where KL Aseel was defeated by NS Matrix 96-89 on Sunday. NS Matrix made 22-of-29 free shots (75.9 percent) during the game, while KL Aseel only scored six points from the stripe. NS Matrix forced 23 KL Aseel turnovers. The best player for the winners was American DeQuan Abrom (188-1996, college: Belm.Abbey) who scored 31 points and 6 rebounds. The former international forward Yi-Hou Wong (195-1996) chipped in 24 points and 5 steals. NS Matrix's coach Felton Sealey used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. The former international guard Zhen-Jie Tem (177-1998) produced 22 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists and Guyanese-American center Anthony Moe (207, college: Millersville) added 16 points and 13 rebounds respectively for the hosts. Four NS Matrix and five KL Aseel players scored in double figures. NS Matrix will meet at home Adroit in the next round. KL Aseel will play again against NS Matrix and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
NS Matrix: D.Abrom 31+6reb, Y.Wong 24+3reb+1ast, H.Jia-Hao 12+3reb+2ast, C.Ting 10+10reb+2ast, O.Xian-Fu 10+2reb, D.Wee-Yiang 5+5reb+4ast
KL Aseel: T.Zhen-Jie 22+5reb+6ast, W.Yong-Gan 16+1reb+2ast, A.Moe 16+13reb+2ast, B.Griffin 16+9reb+5ast, Y.Kwaan 11+7reb+3ast, G.Lakksman 6+2reb

Rising Star - Penang SY 76-72

Very important is a road loss of Penang SY against Rising Star on Sunday night. Visiting Penang SY was defeated by Rising Star in a tough game on the road 72-76. The best player for the winners was DR Congolese guard Tychique Bosango (189-2001) who scored 9 points and 14 rebounds. Guard Jia-Jun Lee (180) chipped in 22 points. Four Rising Star players scored in double figures. American guard Cameron Satterwhite (193-1997, college: Montana) produced 28 points and 5 rebounds and his fellow American import forward Jordan Tolbert (200-1992, college: SMU) added 15 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for the guests. Penang SY's coach Guan-Tan Seak tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Rising Star will again meet at home Penang SY in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Penang SY will play against Adroit in Singapore and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Rising Star: L.Jia-Jun 22+2reb+1ast, C.Zheng-Yang 15+3reb+5ast, S.Toyloy 12+6reb+2ast, C.Jin-Yen 11+12reb+1ast, B.Tychique 9+14reb+3ast, C.Yew-Thung 5+5reb+3ast
Penang SY: C.Satterwhite 28+5reb+2ast, T.Kuek 16+9reb+1ast, J.Tolbert 15+15reb+5ast, L.Shu-Wen 7+4reb+2ast, H.Khor 3+2reb, P.Yoon-Khong 2+1reb

NS Matrix - Johor Tigers 99-102

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of NS Matrix at the home court on Friday night. Hosts were edged by Johor Tigers 102-99. Johor Tigers forced 21 NS Matrix turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 35 assists. American-Thailand Moses Morgan (198, college: CS Fullerton) scored 25 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the charge for the winners and American forward Arinze Chidom (206, college: UC Riverside) chipped in 18 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks during the contest. American DeQuan Abrom (188-1996, college: Belm.Abbey) responded with 33 points (!!!), 9 rebounds and 9 assists and the former international guard Chun-Hong Ting (193-1996) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. Four NS Matrix players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Johor Tigers are looking forward to face KL Aseel in Kuala Lumpur in the next round. NS Matrix will play at home against KL Aseel and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Johor Tigers: M.Morgan 25+9reb+7ast, A.Chidom 18+17reb+5ast, Y.Heng 17+1reb+10ast, K.Wong 9+3reb+5ast, L.Chee-Wei 8+3reb+5ast, J.Lee 7+2reb
NS Matrix: D.Abrom 33+9reb+9ast, Y.Wong 21+3reb+5ast, C.Ting 16+11reb+6ast, Z.Chang 11+7reb+1ast, D.Wee-Yiang 9+8reb+1ast, W.Tan 5+5reb