MBL Round 8 (Regular Season): Apes lose to United

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The biggest surprise took place in Darkhan where host United (5-4) beat league's leader Apes (8-5) 79-63 on Tuesday evening. Darkhan forced 21 Apes turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists comparing to just 7 passes made by Apes' players. The best player for the winners was American center Marlon Johnson (208-1994, college: NMHU) who had a double-double by scoring 12 points and 12 rebounds. The other American import guard Anthony Nelson (193-1998, college: Manhattan) chipped in 12 points and 6 assists. South Sudanese guard Peter Jok (198-1994, college: Iowa) produced a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 rebounds for the guests. Despite that victory Darkhan went down to fifth position due to points difference. Apes lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the second place with five games lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by BCH Knights. Apes will play next round against Falcons trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Darkhan will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game.
Top ranked Apes (8-5) recorded its fifth loss in Sukhbaatar. Visitors were defeated by eighth ranked Bodons (5-5) 108-92. American forward Ahmad Gilbert (200-1996, college: St.Thomas, FL) orchestrated the victory by scoring 37 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds. Anand Ariunbold contributed with 23 points for the winners. American center Marlon Johnson (208-1994, college: NMHU) replied with 28 points, 5 assists and 4 steals for Apes. Selenge moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Brothers. Apes lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the second position with five games lost. Selenge will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Apes will play at home against Falcons and hope to get back on the winning track.
Tenth-ranked Mongolians (1-10) made lots of trouble for fifth ranked Miners (6-4) in Erdenet on Wednesday. Miners managed to secure only one-point victory 77-76. However their fans expected much easier game. Worth to mention a great performance of Bolor-Erdene Gantsolmon who helped to win the game recording 16 points and 6 assists. Sukhbat Bat-Erdene responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 12 rebounds. Miners have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place. Mongolians lost tenth consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay at the bottom position with ten games lost. Miners will meet at home league's leader BCH Knights in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Mongolians will play against Brothers (#6) in Uliastai and hope to win that game.

In the last game of round 8 Metal defeated Falcons in Ulaanbaatar 97-89.



Darkhan - Apes 79-63

The biggest surprise took place in Darkhan where host United (5-4) beat league's leader Apes (8-5) 79-63 on Tuesday evening. Darkhan forced 21 Apes turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists comparing to just 7 passes made by Apes' players. The best player for the winners was American center Marlon Johnson (208-1994, college: NMHU) who had a double-double by scoring 12 points and 12 rebounds. The other American import guard Anthony Nelson (193-1998, college: Manhattan) chipped in 12 points and 6 assists. Four United players scored in double figures. South Sudanese guard Peter Jok (198-1994, college: Iowa) produced a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 rebounds and added 12 points respectively for the guests. Despite that victory Darkhan went down to fifth position due to points difference. Apes lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the second place with five games lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by BCH Knights. Apes will play next round against Falcons trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Darkhan will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game.
Top scorers:
Darkhan: B.Gantulga 15+5reb, J.Marlon 12+12reb+3ast, N.Anthony 12+2reb+6ast, D.Dash-Ochir 10+2reb+3ast, O.Sodnomjamts 8+8reb, S.Enkhbat 8+3reb+1ast
Apes: M.Ulzii-Orshikh 12+3reb+2ast, P.Jok 12+10reb+1ast, B.Tului 11+4reb, E.Munkhbayar 7+3reb+1ast, D.Munkhtuvshin 6+1reb+1ast, E.Hyreltogo 5+2ast

Selenge - Apes 108-92

Top ranked Apes (8-5) recorded its fifth loss in Sukhbaatar. Visitors were defeated by eighth ranked Bodons (5-5) 108-92. Selenge forced 21 Apes turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. Apes were plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. American forward Ahmad Gilbert (200-1996, college: St.Thomas, FL) orchestrated the victory by scoring 37 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds. Anand Ariunbold contributed with 23 points for the winners. American center Marlon Johnson (208-1994, college: NMHU) replied with 28 points, 5 assists and 4 steals and the other his fellow American import import guard Anthony Nelson (193-1998, college: Manhattan) added 13 points and 8 rebounds in the effort for Apes. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Selenge moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Brothers. Apes lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the second position with five games lost. Selenge will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Apes will play at home against Falcons and hope to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Selenge: G.Ahmad 37+9reb+2ast, A.Ariunbold 23+4reb+2ast, W.Mike 18+8reb+2ast, S.Enkhbat 10+11reb+4ast, B.Enkhsaikhan 8+1reb+4ast, %PlayerNameFromUNbr% 4+2reb+2ast
Apes: M.Ulzii-Orshikh 28+3reb+5ast, B.Tului 16+2reb+2ast, E.Munkhbayar 13+8reb, G.Gan-Erdene 10+2reb+2ast, P.Jok 10+6reb+1ast, E.Saruul-Erdene 6+4reb+5ast

Falcons - Metal 89-97

There was no surprise in Khovd where 9th ranked Falcons (2-7) were defeated by sixth ranked Metal (5-7) 97-89 on Tuesday. Metal looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of Ch Margad who helped to win the game recording 24 points and 8 rebounds and Canadian forward Ben Stevens (207-1999, college: Laurier) who added 18 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals during the contest. American forward Ahmad Gilbert (200-1996, college: St.Thomas, FL) responded with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 12 rebounds and scored 18 points and 5 assists. Five Falcons players scored in double figures. Despite that victory Metal went down to eighth position due to points difference. Newly promoted Falcons keep the ninth place with seven games lost. Metal's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos.
Top scorers:
Metal: C.Margad 24+8reb+3ast, U.Tumenbayar 21+5reb+8ast, S.Ben 18+11reb+5ast, B.Christian 7+2reb+3ast, N.Vinh 7+2reb, Z.Enkhtor 6+3reb+8ast
Falcons: R.Brandis 18+2reb+5ast, O.Usukhbayar 17+12reb+1ast, M.Togoldor 13+3reb+1ast, A.Jones 10+10reb+2ast, O.Tsogt 10+5reb+1ast, B.Batmandakh 10+2reb+1ast

Miners - Mongolians 77-76

Tenth-ranked Mongolians (1-10) made lots of trouble for fifth ranked Miners (6-4) in Erdenet on Wednesday. Miners managed to secure only one-point victory 77-76. However their fans expected much easier game. Miners made 16-of-20 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. Worth to mention a great performance of Bolor-Erdene Gantsolmon who helped to win the game recording 16 points and 6 assists and Malaysian guard Chun-Hong Ting (193-1996) who added 13 points during the contest. Sukhbat Bat-Erdene responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 12 rebounds and Canadian forward Ben Stevens (207-1999, college: Laurier) scored 14 points and 8 rebounds. Five Miners and four Mongolians players scored in double figures. Miners have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place. Mongolians lost tenth consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay at the bottom position with ten games lost. Miners will meet at home league's leader BCH Knights in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Mongolians will play against Brothers (#6) in Uliastai and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Miners: B.Gantsolmon 16+3reb+6ast, T.Chun-Hong 13+4reb+1ast, E.Amgalan 13+3reb+2ast, B.Bat-Erdene 10+4reb, V.Chad 10+4reb+1ast, T.Sanchir 5
Mongolians: B.Sukhbat 23+12reb+2ast, N.Bat-Erdene 14+8reb+1ast, B.Togoldor 11+3reb+2ast, M.Ulziibat 10+1reb+1ast, D.Enkhbat 6+1reb+1ast, G.Nasanjargal 5+2reb+2ast