MBL Round 21 (Regular Season): Leader Xac Broncos lose to Knights

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Top ranked Broncos (18-4) recorded its fourth loss on the court of sixth ranked Knights on Saturday night. Visitors were defeated by Knights 71-56. Knights forced 19 Xac Broncos turnovers. The best player for the winners was American guard Pendarvis Williams (198-1991, college: Norfolk St.) who scored 23 points and 5 rebounds. The former international swingman Dulguunmurun Davaadorj (193-1999) chipped in 17 points and 7 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international Saruul-Erdene Enkhbaatar (-1999) who recorded 10 points and 4 assists. Knights (10-10) moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Darkhan. Xac Broncos at the other side still keep top position with four games lost. Knights is looking forward to face UB TLG (#9) in Ulaanbaatar in the next round. Xac Broncos will play on the road against Miners (#7) in Erdenet and are hoping to win this game.
Very important is a road loss of second ranked Bodons (12-7) against seventh ranked United (10-10) on Sunday night. Visiting Bodons were defeated by United in a tough game in Darkhan 80-85. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Bodons. It was a good game for American guard Tae Hardy (190, college: UTEP) who led his team to a victory with 25 points and 6 rebounds. Terran Petteway contributed with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners. Haitian forward Jeantal Cylla (201-1996, college: Arkansas) answered with 23 points and 9 rebounds for Selenge. Darkhan moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Knights. Selenge at the other side keeps the second position with seven games lost. They share it with Apes. Darkhan will play against league's second-placed Apes in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Selenge will have a break next round.
Ninth-ranked Bizon (5-17) made lots of trouble for fourth ranked Apes (12-7) in Nalaikh on Sunday. The visitors managed to secure only two-point victory 86-84. However their fans expected much easier game. Deng Acuoth stepped up with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. The best for the losing side was Justin Moss with a double-double by scoring 31 points and 10 rebounds. Apes have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Selenge. Bison lost seventh consecutive game. They dropped to the bottom position with 17 games lost. Apes will meet Darkhan (#6) on the road in the next round. Bison will play against Brothers (#8) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 21 Metal defeated UB TLG in Ulaanbaatar 89-78. Brothers were beaten by Miners at home 88-93.



UB TLG - Metal 78-89

There was no surprise in Ulaanbaatar where 9th ranked UB TLG (5-16) was defeated by fourth ranked Metal (12-9) 89-78 on Saturday. Metal dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to UB TLG's 26. Metal forced 21 UB TLG turnovers and outrebounded them 45-33 including a 22-10 advantage in offensive rebounds. Metal looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. American guard Byron Wesley (196-1992, college: Gonzaga) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists for the winners and international guard Enkhbayasgalan Amarbayasgalan (195-1997) chipped in 17 points and 6 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American forward Kenny Wooten Jr (204-1998, college: Oregon) with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks and Bilguun Gan-Erdene scored 16 points and 8 assists. Four Metal and five UB TLG players scored in double figures. Metal maintains fourth place with 12-9 record. UB TLG lost eighth consecutive game. They keep the ninth position with 16 games lost. Metal will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. UB TLG will play against Knights (#5) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
UB TLG: B.Gan-Erdene 16+2reb+8ast, C.Munkh Ulzii 16+3reb+3ast, K.Wooten Jr. 16+11reb, A.Lhagva 14+4reb+2ast, H.Erdenebat 14+4reb+3ast, M.Ganbat 0
Metal: B.Wesley 26+11reb+9ast, E.Amarbayasgalan 17+6reb+3ast, D.Scott 12+9reb+2ast, E.E. 11+2reb+1ast, U.Tumenbayar 8+4reb+7ast, E.Z. 6+5reb

Knights - Xac Broncos 71-56

Top ranked Broncos (18-4) recorded its fourth loss on the court of sixth ranked Knights on Saturday night. Visitors were defeated by Knights 71-56. Knights forced 19 Xac Broncos turnovers. The best player for the winners was American guard Pendarvis Williams (198-1991, college: Norfolk St.) who scored 23 points and 5 rebounds. The former international swingman Dulguunmurun Davaadorj (193-1999) chipped in 17 points and 7 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international Saruul-Erdene Enkhbaatar (-1999) who recorded 10 points and 4 assists and American forward Jordan Tolbert (200-1992, college: SMU) added 12 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Knights (10-10) moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Darkhan. Xac Broncos at the other side still keep top position with four games lost. Knights is looking forward to face UB TLG (#9) in Ulaanbaatar in the next round. Xac Broncos will play on the road against Miners (#7) in Erdenet and are hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Xac Broncos: J.Tolbert 12+5reb+1ast, S.Enkhbaatar 10+4reb+4ast, J.Gray 10+2reb+1ast, A.Azbayar 8+6reb, B.Barsbold 6+3reb+1ast, I.Chuluunbaatar 3+5reb+2ast
Knights: P.Williams 23+5reb+2ast, D.Davaadorj 17+7reb, T.Batmenh 9+6reb+2ast, L.Thomas 9+4reb, B.Ganga 5+8reb+5ast, U.Oyuntsetseg 4+2reb+2ast

Brothers - Miners 88-93

There was a small surprise in Uliastai where eighth ranked Miners (10-12) defeated 6th ranked Brothers (9-9) 93-88 on Sunday. Miners looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Nigerian-American power forward Maxie Esho (206-1991, college: UMass) stepped up and scored 31 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and American guard Shamorie Ponds (185-1998, college: St.John's) chipped in 17 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). The best for the losing side was American guard McKenzie Moore (198-1992, college: UTEP) with a double-double by scoring 31 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists and the other American import power forward Diamond Stone (208-1997, college: Maryland) scored 32 points and 6 rebounds. Miners have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to seventh place. Loser Brothers dropped to the eighth position with nine games lost. Miners will meet at home league's leader Xac Broncos in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Brothers will play against Bison (#10) in Nalaikh and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Brothers: D.Stone 32+6reb+2ast, M.Moore 31+15reb+6ast, U.Chinguun 9+10reb+2ast, M.Baasandorj 7+2reb+2ast, D.Purevsuren 4+3reb+1ast, S.Monkhbaatar 3+2reb+3ast
Miners: M.Esho 31+7reb+3ast, S.Ponds 17+6reb+9ast, B.Gantsolmon 12+5reb+7ast, B.Bat-Erdene 7+3reb+1ast, E.Dorj-Arild 6, G.Nasanjargal 5+2reb+1ast

Darkhan - Selenge 85-80

Very important is a road loss of second ranked Bodons (12-7) against seventh ranked United (10-10) on Sunday night. Visiting Bodons were defeated by United in a tough game in Darkhan 80-85. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Bodons. Darkhan outrebounded Selenge 45-29 including 32 on the defensive glass. Darkhan players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. Selenge was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a good game for American guard Tae Hardy (190, college: UTEP) who led his team to a victory with 25 points and 6 rebounds. His fellow American import forward Terran Petteway (198-1992, college: Nebraska, agency: MSG) contributed with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists for the winners. Haitian forward Jeantal Cylla (201-1996, college: Arkansas) answered with 23 points and 9 rebounds and American forward Ahmad Gilbert (200-1996, college: St.Thomas, FL) added 16 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Selenge. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Darkhan moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Knights. Selenge at the other side keeps the second position with seven games lost. They share it with Apes. Darkhan will play against league's second-placed Apes in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Selenge will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Selenge: J.Cylla 23+9reb+2ast, A.Gilbert 16+12reb+4ast, T.Boldbaatar 11+2reb, N.Batbayar 10+3reb+1ast, B.Enkhsaikhan 8+1reb+1ast, E.Tserenbaatar 7+1reb+3ast
Darkhan: T.Hardy 25+6reb+3ast, T.Petteway 15+7reb+8ast, T.Taiwan 10+7reb+3ast, O.Sodnomjamts 10+6reb+1ast, D.Uganbayar 6+3reb+1ast, B.G. 6+5reb

Bison - Apes 84-86

Ninth-ranked Bizon (5-17) made lots of trouble for fourth ranked Apes (12-7) in Nalaikh on Sunday. The visitors managed to secure only two-point victory 86-84. However their fans expected much easier game. Apes outrebounded Bison 41-30 including 27 on the defensive glass. South Sudanese-Australian center Deng Acuoth (208-1996) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 13 rebounds for the winners and forward Sanchir Tsagaanbaatar (193-2000) chipped in 24 points and 5 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American power forward Justin Moss (203-1993, college: Buffalo) with a double-double by scoring 31 points and 10 rebounds and the other American import center Kyree Walker (198-2000) scored 14 points. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Apes have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Selenge. Bison lost seventh consecutive game. They dropped to the bottom position with 17 games lost. Apes will meet Darkhan (#6) on the road in the next round. Bison will play against Brothers (#8) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Bison: J.Moss 31+10reb+1ast, T.Elbeg 15+3reb+1ast, K.Walker 14+3reb+3ast, T.T. 11+4reb+5ast, B.B. 7+2reb, T.M. 2+3reb+7ast
Apes: S.Tsagaanbaatar 24+5reb+1ast, D.Acuoth 17+13reb+3ast, T.Bataa 15+6reb+2ast, N.Ganbaatar 14+5reb, M.Enkhbaatar 5+2reb+2ast, U.Myagmarsuren 5+3reb+11ast