D1 Round 9 of Regular Season

Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

Round 9 most important game was a victory of Al Gharafa over 6th ranked Al Ahli 86-71 on Saturday night. Al Gharafa looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American players dominated the game. It was a good game for forward Aaron Nelson (205-91, college: S.Indiana) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 31 points and 15 rebounds. Power forward Joshua Caldwell (203-91, college: William Penn) contributed with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. Guard Jeff Newberry (188-92, college: Oklahoma St.) answered with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists for Al Ahli. Al Gharafa (5-3) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Al Rayyan and Al Shamal. Al Ahli at the other side keeps the sixth position with four games lost. They share it with Qatar Club.
Important game to mention about took place in Al Wakrah. Third ranked Al Wakrah (6-2) saved a 1-point derby victory at home edging 4th placed Al Rayyan (5-3) 63-62 on Saturday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Rayyan. It was a key game for the top position in the league. American players dominated also this game. Musa Abdul-Aleem (196-88, college: Troy) stepped up and scored 21 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and Julius Coles chipped in 16 points and 6 assists. The best for the losing side was guard Eric Lockett (196, college: NC State) with a double-double by scoring 13 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists. Al Wakrah keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Al Arabi. Al Rayyan at the other side dropped to the third place with three games lost. They share the position with Al Gharafa and Al Shamal.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Doha: Al Arabi (#1) and Al Shamal (#2). Al Arabi (6-2) crushed visiting Al Shamal (5-3) by 16 points 95-79. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Al Shamal. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Khalid Suliman nailed 30 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists for the winning side. Mikhail Berishvili came up with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists for Al Shamal in the defeat. Al Arabi maintains first place with 6-2 record, which they share with Al Wakrah. Defending champion Al Shamal dropped to the third position with three games lost. They share it with Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa.
Al Khor's fans can finally celebrate the first win of their team after seven consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Al Sadd (0-8) 88-63. The best player for the winners was Malcolm Bernard who had a double-double by scoring 28 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. Al Khor maintains eighth place with 1-7 record. It was Al Sadd's eighth loss in a row. They still close the standings with eight games lost.

Al Khor - Al Sadd 88-63

Al Khor's fans can finally celebrate the first win of their team after seven consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Al Sadd (0-8) 88-63. Al Khor dominated down low during the game scoring 64 of its points in the paint compared to Al Sadd's 32. Al Khor forced 22 Al Sadd turnovers and outrebounded them 47-34 including 17 on the offensive glass. The best player for the winners was American swingman Malcolm Bernard (198-94, college: Xavier) who had a double-double by scoring 28 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. His fellow American import center Khobi Williamson (201-92, college: Hampden-Sydney) chipped in a double-double by scoring 17 points and 14 rebounds. Four Al Khor players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American power forward Justin Baker (203-89, college: Utah Valley) who recorded a double-double by scoring 31 points and 14 rebounds and forward Babacar Dieng (198-97) added 13 points and 8 assists respectively. Al Khor maintains eighth place with 1-7 record. It was Al Sadd's eighth loss in a row. They still close the standings with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Khor: M.Bernard 28+10reb+7ast, A.Bobo Magassa 19+7reb, K.Williamson 17+14reb+1ast, M.Gibbs 13+5reb+11ast, M.Lashin 8+6reb, A.Al-Yousif 3+5reb+1ast
Al Sadd: J.Baker 31+14reb+2ast, B.Dieng 13+4reb+8ast, A.Al-Muftah 8+6reb+3ast, Y.Taha 6+8reb, O.Saad 2+1reb, A.Faisal 2+1reb

Al Wakrah - Al Rayyan 63-62

Important game to mention about took place in Al Wakrah. Third ranked Al Wakrah (6-2) saved a 1-point derby victory at home edging 4th placed Al Rayyan (5-3) 63-62 on Saturday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Rayyan. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Strangely Al Rayyan outrebounded Al Wakrah 50-27 including a 18-1 advantage in offensive rebounds. American players dominated also this game. Musa Abdul-Aleem (196-88, college: Troy) stepped up and scored 21 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and Julius Coles (193-89, college: Canisius) chipped in 16 points and 6 assists. The best for the losing side was guard Eric Lockett (196, college: NC State) with a double-double by scoring 13 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists and forward Tony Farmer (201-94, college: Lee JC) produced a double-double by scoring 15 points and 14 rebounds. Four Al Rayyan players scored in double figures. Al Wakrah keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Al Arabi. Al Rayyan at the other side dropped to the third place with three games lost. They share the position with Al Gharafa and Al Shamal.
Top scorers:
Al Wakrah: M.Abdul-Aleem 21+6reb+3ast, J.Coles 16+4reb+6ast, O.Seck 15+10reb, E.Saeed 5+3reb+2ast, A.Matalkeh 3, A.Al-Darwish 3+4reb+4ast
Al Rayyan: A.Abdelhaleem 18+11reb+1ast, T.Farmer 15+14reb+1ast, E.Lockett 13+14reb+4ast, A.Mohamad 10+6reb+3ast, T.Ngombo 4+3reb, M.Abdelaziz ElSayed 2+1reb+1ast

Al Ahli - Al Gharafa 71-86

Round 9 most important game was a victory of Al Gharafa over 6th ranked Al Ahli 86-71 on Saturday night. Al Gharafa looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American players dominated the game. It was a good game for forward Aaron Nelson (205-91, college: S.Indiana) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 31 points and 15 rebounds. Power forward Joshua Caldwell (203-91, college: William Penn) contributed with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. Caldwell is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Guard Jeff Newberry (188-92, college: Oklahoma St.) answered with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists and guard Louis Munks (190-90, college: PVAMU, agency: Interperformances) added 24 points in the effort for Al Ahli. Al Gharafa (5-3) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Al Rayyan and Al Shamal. Al Ahli at the other side keeps the sixth position with four games lost. They share it with Qatar Club.
Top scorers:
Al Gharafa: A.Nelson 31+15reb+3ast, J.Caldwell 23+8reb+7ast, T.Bussey 16+6reb+5ast, A.Saad 9+1reb+2ast, R.Abdulla 5+3reb+3ast, O.Ahmed 2+6reb+1ast
Al Ahli: L.Munks 24+4reb+1ast, J.Newberry 20+12reb+5ast, O.Ahmad 6+3reb, A.Rountree III 6+13reb+4ast, M.Ouiri 4+3reb+3ast, A.Hamza 4+2reb

Al Arabi - Al Shamal 95-79

Another exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Doha: Al Arabi (#1) and Al Shamal (#2). Al Arabi (6-2) crushed visiting Al Shamal (5-3) by 16 points 95-79. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Al Shamal. It was a key game for the top position in the league. It was a great shooting night for Al Arabi especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 55.0 percentage. The former international swingman Khalid Suliman (198-87) nailed 30 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists for the winning side and Algerian forward Mohamed Harath (198-90) accounted for 22 points and 14 rebounds. Four Al Arabi players scored in double figures. Georgian Mikhail Berishvili (204-87) came up with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists and American Lenny Daniel (203-87, college: CSUN) added 18 points and 4 assists respectively for Al Shamal in the defeat. Al Arabi maintains first place with 6-2 record, which they share with Al Wakrah. Defending champion Al Shamal dropped to the third position with three games lost. They share it with Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa.
Top scorers:
Al Arabi: K.Suliman 30+5reb+9ast, M.Harath 22+14reb+1ast, M.Todic 21+9reb+1ast, K.Galloway 14+4reb+4ast, A.Khaled 5+3reb+3ast, B.Bader 3+1reb
Al Shamal: M.Berishvili 26+15reb+4ast, L.Daniel 18+4reb+4ast, G.Tsintsadze 12+5reb+7ast, I.Hamed Moutasim 9+1reb+1ast, O.Salem 7+3reb+1ast, E.Mujkic 6+6reb



Tags : AARON NELSON, AL GHARAFA DOHA, QATARI BASKETBALL