MBL Round 23 (Regular Season): #1 Xac Broncos are defeated by Metal

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of top-ranked Broncos (18-6) in Ulaanbaatar on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by third ranked Metal (14-9) 78-74. Metal forced 20 Xac Broncos turnovers. It was a great evening for American guard Byron Wesley (196-1992, college: Gonzaga) who led his team to a victory scoring 35 points (!!!) and 4 assists. International point guard Uuganbayar Tumenbayar (180-1998) helped adding 9 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. American forward Jordan Tolbert (200-1992, college: SMU) responded with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds. Metal have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain third place with 14-9 record having five points less than leader Xac Broncos. Xac Broncos lost fourth consecutive game. They still keep top position with six games lost. Metal are looking forward to face Darkhan (#8) at home in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Xac Broncos will have a break next round.
Important game to mention about took place in . Third ranked Apes (14-7) saved a 3-point derby victory at home edging 4th placed Bodons (12-9) 81-78 on Sunday evening. It was an exceptional evening for American swingman Kris Clyburn (196-1996, college: UNLV) who led the winners and scored 20 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Deng Acuoth accounted for 10 points and 13 rebounds. Haitian forward Jeantal Cylla (201-1996, college: Arkansas) came up with 29 points and 7 rebounds for Selenge in the defeat. Apes have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They moved-up to second place. Selenge lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth position with nine games lost. Apes will play against Brothers (#6) in Uliastai in the next round. Selenge will play at home against Miners and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Sukhbaatar. 4th placed host Bodons (12-9) were smashed by third ranked Metal (14-9) 89-67. The best player for the winners was Byron Wesley who scored 25 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line). Jeantal Cylla produced 23 points and 6 rebounds for the hosts. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Metal. They maintain third place with 14-9 record having five points less than leader Xac Broncos. Selenge lost their third game in a row. They keep the fourth position with nine games lost. Metal will meet at home Darkhan (#8) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Selenge will play against Miners (#5) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 23: bottom-ranked Bison won against UB TLG on the opponent's court 97-88. Knights unfortunately lost to Brothers in a home game 84-93. Miners managed to beat Darkhan on the road 99-93.



UB TLG - Bison 88-97

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams in Ulaanbaatar where 9th ranked UB TLG (5-18) was defeated by tenth ranked Bizon (6-18) 97-88 on Saturday. Bison made 26-of-34 free shots (76.5 percent) during the game. They also forced 21 UB TLG turnovers. Strangely UB TLG outrebounded Bison 57-45 including a 20-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was American center Kyree Walker (198-2000) who had a double-double by scoring 40 points (!!!), 16 rebounds and 5 assists. Bat-Erdene B chipped in 26 points and 6 rebounds. American forward Kenny Wooten Jr (204-1998, college: Oregon) produced a double-double by scoring 21 points, 26 rebounds and 5 blocks and Bilguun Gan-Erdene added 12 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists respectively for the hosts. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Bison moved-up to ninth place. UB TLG lost their tenth game in a row. They dropped to the bottom position with 18 games lost. Bison will meet higher ranked Knights (#7) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. UB TLG will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
UB TLG: G.E. 21+3reb+2ast, K.Wooten Jr. 21+26reb, B.Gan-Erdene 12+10reb+6ast, A.Lhagva 11+4reb+4ast, M.Ganbat 8+9reb, H.Erdenebat 6+2reb+4ast
Bison: K.Walker 40+16reb+5ast, B.B. 26+6reb+3ast, M.Purevdorj 12+3reb, G.Damdinzhav 10+6reb, T.M. 6+6reb+10ast, B.B. 2+4reb+1ast

Selenge - Metal 67-89

The game between Top Four teams took place in Sukhbaatar. 4th placed host Bodons (12-9) were smashed by third ranked Metal (14-9) 89-67. Metal dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Bodons's 20 and made 23-of-27 free shots (85.2 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was American guard Byron Wesley (196-1992, college: Gonzaga) who scored 25 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line). His fellow American import power forward Devon Scott (205-1994, college: Dayton) chipped in 20 points and 9 rebounds. Four Metal players scored in double figures. Haitian forward Jeantal Cylla (201-1996, college: Arkansas) produced 23 points and 6 rebounds and center Enhtaivan Tserenbaatar (200) added 20 points and 5 rebounds respectively for the hosts. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Metal. They maintain third place with 14-9 record having five points less than leader Xac Broncos. Selenge lost their third game in a row. They keep the fourth position with nine games lost. Metal will meet at home Darkhan (#8) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Selenge will play against Miners (#5) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Selenge: J.Cylla 23+6reb, E.Tserenbaatar 20+5reb, T.Otgondari 12+1ast, T.Boldbaatar 5+9reb+2ast, N.Batbayar 3+2reb, M.Purevsuren 3+2ast
Metal: B.Wesley 25+6reb+5ast, D.Scott 20+9reb+2ast, E.Amarbayasgalan 16+5reb+3ast, S.Batzorig 10+2reb+1ast, M.N. 9+2reb+1ast, E.Z. 4+4reb+1ast

Knights - Brothers 84-93

There was a small surprise when seventh ranked Brothers (11-9) defeated on the road 5th ranked Knights (11-11) 93-84 on Saturday. The best player for the winners was American guard McKenzie Moore (198-1992, college: UTEP) who had a double-double by scoring 37 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 8 assists. His fellow American import power forward Diamond Stone (208-1997, college: Maryland) chipped in 23 points and 4 assists. American guard Pendarvis Williams (198-1991, college: Norfolk St.) produced a double-double by scoring 26 points and 13 rebounds and Togoldor Batmenh added 23 points and 8 rebounds respectively for the hosts. Four Knights players scored in double figures. Brothers moved-up to sixth place. Knights at the other side dropped to the seventh position with 11 games lost. Brothers will meet league's second-placed Apes in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Knights will play against Bison (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Knights: P.Williams 26+13reb+3ast, T.Batmenh 23+8reb+1ast, E.Ochirbat 16+2reb+3ast, U.Oyuntsetseg 12+5reb+4ast, B.Ganga 5+4reb+5ast, D.Davaadorj 2+5reb+1ast
Brothers: M.Moore 37+10reb+8ast, D.Stone 23+4reb+4ast, U.Chinguun 12+3reb, M.Baasandorj 5+2reb+1ast, D.Purevsuren 5+5reb+3ast, A.Erdenehuiag 3+1reb

Darkhan - Miners 93-99

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 8th ranked United's (10-12) home loss to seventh ranked Miners (12-12) 93-99 on Sunday. Miners made 19-of-21 free shots (90.5 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was international guard Bolor-Erdene Gantsolmon (183-2003) who scored 18 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. American guard Shamorie Ponds (185-1998, college: St.John's) chipped in 19 points and 7 assists. Five Miners players scored in double figures. American forward Terran Petteway (198-1992, college: Nebraska, agency: MSG) produced 27 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists and the other American import guard Tae Hardy (190, college: UTEP) added 30 points and 6 rebounds respectively for the hosts. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Miners. They moved-up to fifth place. Darkhan at the other side keeps the eighth position with 12 games lost. Miners will meet higher ranked Selenge (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Darkhan will play against Metal (#3) in Ulaanbaatar and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Darkhan: T.Hardy 30+6reb+2ast, T.Petteway 27+9reb+6ast, D.Uganbayar 12+1reb, B.T. 6+1ast, O.Sodnomjamts 6+4reb, M.Monhzolboo 3+3reb+1ast
Miners: M.Esho 23+4reb, S.Ponds 19+4reb+7ast, B.Gantsolmon 18+6reb+6ast, O.Ganzorig 13+6reb+1ast, T.Sedbazar 10+1reb, B.Ankhbayar 6

Xac Broncos - Metal 74-78

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of top-ranked Broncos (18-6) in Ulaanbaatar on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by third ranked Metal (14-9) 78-74. Metal forced 20 Xac Broncos turnovers. It was a great evening for American guard Byron Wesley (196-1992, college: Gonzaga) who led his team to a victory scoring 35 points (!!!) and 4 assists. International point guard Uuganbayar Tumenbayar (180-1998) helped adding 9 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. American forward Jordan Tolbert (200-1992, college: SMU) responded with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds and Baatar-Erdene Barsbold scored 14 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals. Five Xac Broncos players scored in double figures. Metal have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain third place with 14-9 record having five points less than leader Xac Broncos. Xac Broncos lost fourth consecutive game. They still keep top position with six games lost. Metal are looking forward to face Darkhan (#8) at home in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Xac Broncos will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Xac Broncos: J.Tolbert 18+12reb+1ast, B.Barsbold 14+5reb+7ast, S.Enkhbaatar 12+3reb+1ast, A.Azbayar 12+4reb+3ast, I.Chuluunbaatar 11+3reb+1ast, T.Chingis 5+1reb+3ast
Metal: B.Wesley 35+1reb+4ast, D.Scott 14+7reb, E.Amarbayasgalan 9+6reb+1ast, U.Tumenbayar 9+7reb+9ast, M.N. 6+3reb, S.Batzorig 5+3reb

Apes - Selenge 81-78

Important game to mention about took place in . Third ranked Apes (14-7) saved a 3-point derby victory at home edging 4th placed Bodons (12-9) 81-78 on Sunday evening. Apes made 20-of-24 charity shots (83.3 percent) during the game. Apes outrebounded Selenge 42-31 including 29 on the defensive glass. It was an exceptional evening for American swingman Kris Clyburn (196-1996, college: UNLV) who led the winners and scored 20 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. South Sudanese-Australian center Deng Acuoth (208-1996) accounted for 10 points and 13 rebounds for the winning side. Four Apes players scored in double figures. Haitian forward Jeantal Cylla (201-1996, college: Arkansas) came up with 29 points and 7 rebounds and American forward Ahmad Gilbert (200-1996, college: St.Thomas, FL) added 29 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Selenge in the defeat. Apes have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They moved-up to second place. Selenge lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth position with nine games lost. Apes will play against Brothers (#6) in Uliastai in the next round. Selenge will play at home against Miners and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Selenge: J.Cylla 29+7reb+2ast, A.Gilbert 29+6reb+2ast, B.Altantsas 10+5reb, T.Boldbaatar 4+1reb+2ast, E.Tserenbaatar 3+1reb+2ast, B.Borgil 3+4reb+1ast
Apes: K.Clyburn 20+8reb+6ast, T.Bataa 13+1reb+2ast, S.Tsagaanbaatar 12+3ast, D.Acuoth 10+13reb+2ast, U.Myagmarsuren 9+7reb+4ast, N.Ganbaatar 6+6reb