MBL Round 5 (Regular Season): #1 NS Matrix is defeated by Johor Tigers

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked NS Matrix (9-3) in Johor Baharu on Friday night. Visitors were defeated by fourth ranked Johor Tigers (6-6) 104-95. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Johor Tigers outrebounded NS Matrix 47-32 including 35 on the defensive glass. Johor Tigers looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by NS Matrix's players. Americans were the main players on the court. Guard Jabari Bird (198-1994, college: California) stepped up with a triple-double by scoring 36 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the winners and forward Christian Anigwe (206, college: UC Davis) chipped in 19 points and 17 rebounds. DeQuan Abrom (188-1996, college: Belm.Abbey) responded with 26 points and 8 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Johor Tigers moved-up to second place, which they share with Sarawak CW and Penang SY. Defending champion NS Matrix still keeps top position with three games lost.
Important game to mention about took place in . Fourth ranked Johor Tigers (6-6) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging 5th ranked Putrajaya (3-9) 85-82 on Sunday evening. American forward Christian Anigwe (206, college: UC Davis) nailed 28 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side and Yee-Tong Heng accounted for 8 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists. Guyanese-American center Anthony Moe (207-1990, college: Millersville) came up with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists for Putrajaya in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Johor Tigers moved-up to second place, which they share with Sarawak CW and Penang SY. Putrajaya at the other side stay at the bottom position with nine games lost.
Very significant was Fire Horse's (#4, 6-6) victory against their close opponent Johor Tigers (6-6) 90-85. The best player for the winners was Alexander Mudronja who scored 22 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Fire Horse's coach Yuen-kwong See used entire bench in such tough game. Stephen Hurt produced a double-double by scoring 26 points and 18 rebounds for the guests. Sarawak CW moved-up to second place, which they share with Johor Tigers and Penang SY.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 5: bottom-ranked Putrajaya won against Sarawak CW on the opponent's court 91-84. Penang SY managed to outperform Putrajaya in a home game 75-69. Penang SY recorded a loss to NS Matrix on the road 100-90.



Sarawak CW - Putrajaya 84-91

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 4th placed Fire Horse (6-6) was defeated at home by bottom-ranked Putrajaya (3-9) 91-84 on Friday. The best player for the winners was Guyanese-American center Anthony Moe (207-1990, college: Millersville) who had a double-double by scoring 13 points and 23 rebounds. The former international guard Tychique Bosango (192-2001) chipped in 31 points. Australian guard Alexander Mudronja (196-1999, college: SMC) produced 25 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists (was perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line !!!) and Australian center Jock Perry (216-1997, college: UC Riverside) added 10 points and 21 rebounds respectively for the hosts. Five Sarawak CW players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Putrajaya maintains fifth place with 3-9 record. Sarawak CW lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the second position with six games lost. They share it with Johor Tigers and Penang SY.
Top scorers:
Putrajaya: T.Bosango 31+4reb+2ast, X.Ooi 24+5reb, A.Moe 13+23reb+2ast, Y.Chan 8+1reb, K.Pan 6+2reb+1ast, C.Sin 3+1reb+1ast
Sarawak CW: A.Mudronja 25+8reb+6ast, Y.Wee 16+3reb+2ast, J.Perry 10+21reb+2ast, W.Liew 10+5reb, A.Starling 10+10reb, Z.Tem 8+1ast

Johor Tigers - NS Matrix 104-95

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked NS Matrix (9-3) in Johor Baharu on Friday night. Visitors were defeated by fourth ranked Johor Tigers (6-6) 104-95. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Johor Tigers outrebounded NS Matrix 47-32 including 35 on the defensive glass. Johor Tigers looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by NS Matrix's players. Americans were the main players on the court. Guard Jabari Bird (198-1994, college: California) stepped up with a triple-double by scoring 36 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the winners and forward Christian Anigwe (206, college: UC Davis) chipped in 19 points and 17 rebounds. Four Johor Tigers players scored in double figures. DeQuan Abrom (188-1996, college: Belm.Abbey) responded with 26 points and 8 rebounds and forward Vance Jackson (206-1997, college: ECU) scored 22 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Johor Tigers moved-up to second place, which they share with Sarawak CW and Penang SY. Defending champion NS Matrix still keeps top position with three games lost.
Top scorers:
Johor Tigers: J.Bird 36+10reb+10ast, C.Anigwe 19+17reb+3ast, Y.Heng 15+2reb+7ast, J.Lee 13+4reb+3ast, C.Lim 10+1reb+1ast, S.Hurt 6+6reb+2ast
NS Matrix: D.Abrom 26+8reb+3ast, V.Jackson 22+6reb, Y.Wong 13+2reb, W.De 8+2reb+4ast, T.Obasa 7+5reb+2ast, C.Ting 7+5reb+1ast

Sarawak CW - Johor Tigers 90-85

Very significant was Fire Horse's (#4, 6-6) victory against their close opponent Johor Tigers (6-6) 90-85. The best player for the winners was Australian guard Alexander Mudronja (196-1999, college: SMC) who scored 22 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. American forward Alexander Starling (198-1989, college: BCU) chipped in 26 points and 7 rebounds. Fire Horse's coach Yuen-kwong See used entire bench in such tough game. American forward Stephen Hurt (211-1993, college: Kansas St.) produced a double-double by scoring 26 points and 18 rebounds and the other American import guard Jabari Bird (198-1994, college: California) added 20 points and 9 assists respectively for the guests. Four Johor Tigers players scored in double figures. Sarawak CW moved-up to second place, which they share with Johor Tigers and Penang SY.
Top scorers:
Sarawak CW: A.Starling 26+7reb+3ast, A.Mudronja 22+8reb+7ast, J.Perry 11+11reb, L.Chee 9+4reb, Y.Wee 6+2ast, K.Teo 5+2reb+2ast
Johor Tigers: S.Hurt 26+18reb+3ast, J.Bird 20+4reb+9ast, K.Wong 14+2reb+2ast, C.Anigwe 12+10reb+1ast, H.Ho 4, J.John 3

Penang SY - Putrajaya 75-69

Rather predictable result when second ranked Penang SY (6-6) defeated at home bottom-ranked Putrajaya (3-9) 75-69 on Saturday. Penang SY outrebounded Putrajaya 49-38 including 34 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was Ukrainian forward Yevgen Sakhniuk (201-1995, college: Jefferson) who had a double-double by scoring 10 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists. Shu-Wen Lee (-1999) chipped in 15 points and 9 rebounds. Guyanese-American center Anthony Moe (207-1990, college: Millersville) produced a double-double by scoring 15 points and 12 rebounds and the former international guard Tychique Bosango (192-2001) added 11 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for the guests. Four Penang SY and five Putrajaya players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Penang SY have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain second place with 6-6 record having just three points less than leader NS Matrix, which they share with Johor Tigers and Sarawak CW. Loser Putrajaya stay at the bottom position with nine games lost.
Top scorers:
Penang SY: S.Lee 15+9reb+3ast, J.Lee 13+4reb+1ast, F.Lish 12+6reb, Y.Sakhniuk 10+13reb+6ast, R.Miller 9+8reb+2ast, H.Khor 7+2reb+1ast
Putrajaya: A.Moe 15+12reb+2ast, Y.Chan 14+3reb+1ast, T.Bosango 11+10reb+4ast, G.Lakksman 10+2reb, C.Sin 10+3reb+2ast, J.Lee 2+1reb+1ast

NS Matrix - Penang SY 100-90

The game between closely ranked teams ended with second-ranked Penang SY's (6-6) road loss to first ranked NS Matrix (9-3) 90-100 on Sunday. NS Matrix looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was American forward Vance Jackson (206-1997, college: ECU) who had a double-double by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. His fellow American import DeQuan Abrom (188-1996, college: Belm.Abbey) chipped in 14 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Ukrainian forward Yevgen Sakhniuk (201-1995, college: Jefferson) produced a double-double by scoring 13 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists and American-Thailand point guard Frederick Lish (175-1988, college: USA) added 21 points respectively for the guests. Five NS Matrix and four Penang SY players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Defending champion maintains first place with 9-3 record. Loser Penang SY keeps the second position with six games lost. They share it with Johor Tigers and Sarawak CW.
Top scorers:
NS Matrix: V.Jackson 21+10reb+5ast, C.Ting 17+5reb+3ast, D.Abrom 14+8reb+7ast, Y.Wong 14+5reb+1ast, J.Hiew 12+1reb+1ast, C.Tan 6+2ast
Penang SY: F.Lish 21+3reb+3ast, R.Miller 14+9reb+3ast, Y.Sakhniuk 13+7reb+12ast, J.Chin 11+4reb+1ast, W.Lim 10+3reb, J.Lee 9+5reb+1ast

Putrajaya - Johor Tigers 82-85

Important game to mention about took place in . Fourth ranked Johor Tigers (6-6) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging 5th ranked Putrajaya (3-9) 85-82 on Sunday evening. Johor Tigers players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. American forward Christian Anigwe (206, college: UC Davis) nailed 28 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side and international point guard Yee-Tong Heng (180-1998) accounted for 8 points, 6 rebounds and 10 assists. Guyanese-American center Anthony Moe (207-1990, college: Millersville) came up with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists and the former international guard Tychique Bosango (192-2001) added 17 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Putrajaya in the defeat. Four Putrajaya players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Johor Tigers moved-up to second place, which they share with Sarawak CW and Penang SY. Putrajaya at the other side stay at the bottom position with nine games lost.
Top scorers:
Johor Tigers: C.Anigwe 28+7reb, J.John 16+2ast, Y.Te 10+4reb+2ast, Y.Heng 8+6reb+10ast, J.Bird 7+1reb+1ast, H.Ho 5+1reb+1ast
Putrajaya: X.Ooi 23+2reb+1ast, T.Bosango 17+8reb+3ast, A.Moe 17+11reb+5ast, G.Lakksman 12+5reb+1ast, S.Low 3+1ast, K.Tan 2+2reb+1ast