QBL Round 8 (Regular Season): Al Arabi beat Al Gharafa in a derby game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Doha: Al Arabi (#1) and Al Gharafa (#4). Al Arabi (7-1) won against visiting Al Gharafa (4-4) 66-55. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Gharafa. Al Arabi forced 20 Al Gharafa turnovers. The best player for the winners was center Mohamed Hussein (203-1996) who scored 15 points and 8 rebounds. International guard Khaled Abdelbaset (191-1997) chipped in 13 points and 7 rebounds. Al Arabi's coach Hatem Mamlouk used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The former international forward Nedim Muslic (196-1998) produced a double-double by scoring 11 points and 15 rebounds for the guests. Al Arabi have an impressive five-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 7-1 record. Al Gharafa at the other side dropped to the fifth place with four games lost. They share the position with Al Wakrah.
Another interesting game was again a derby between two teams from Doha: Al Rayyan (#3) and Al Sadd (#7). Al Sadd was smashed at home by 27 points 62-89 and even the fact of playing on their own court did not help. Senegalese power forward Mouhammad Faye (207-1985, college: SMU) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 18 rebounds. Shamorie Ponds contributed with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals for the winners. Al Rayyan's coach Stergios Koufos felt very confident that he used 10 players and allowed the starting five to rest. International forward Babacar Dieng (196-1997) replied with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds for Al Sadd. Defending champion maintains third position with 5-3 record having just two points less than leader Al Arabi, which they share with Qatar Club. Al Sadd lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the seventh place with six games lost. They share the position with Al Shamal.
Another interesting game was again a derby match of two local teams from Doha: Al Shamal (#8) and Al Rayyan (#3). Al Shamal (2-6) won against visiting Al Rayyan (5-3) 79-70. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Rayyan. Worth to mention a great performance of Shane Osayande who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds. Mouhammad Faye responded with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 12 rebounds. Al Shamal moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Al Sadd. Defending champion Al Rayyan keeps the third position with three games lost. They share it with Qatar Club.

In the last two games of round 8 Al Wakrah was crushed by Al Ahli in Doha 92-70. Al Khor was smashed by Qatar Club at home 77-99.



Al Arabi - Al Gharafa 66-55

The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Doha: Al Arabi (#1) and Al Gharafa (#4). Al Arabi (7-1) won against visiting Al Gharafa (4-4) 66-55. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Gharafa. Al Arabi forced 20 Al Gharafa turnovers. The best player for the winners was center Mohamed Hussein (203-1996) who scored 15 points and 8 rebounds. International guard Khaled Abdelbaset (191-1997) chipped in 13 points and 7 rebounds. Four Al Arabi players scored in double figures. Al Arabi's coach Hatem Mamlouk used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The former international forward Nedim Muslic (196-1998) produced a double-double by scoring 11 points and 15 rebounds and American forward Karim York (206, college: PVAMU) added 15 points and 7 rebounds respectively for the guests. Al Arabi have an impressive five-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 7-1 record. Al Gharafa at the other side dropped to the fifth place with four games lost. They share the position with Al Wakrah.
Top scorers:
Al Arabi: M.Hussein 15+8reb+2ast, K.Brown 14+5reb+3ast, A.Khaled 13+7reb+3ast, K.Abdi 10+7reb+4ast, A.Deng 9+5reb+1ast, N.Stover 5+4reb+1ast
Al Gharafa: P.McGlynn 17+2reb+1ast, K.York 15+7reb+1ast, N.Muslic 11+15reb+2ast, D.Adama 8+13reb+1ast, E.Ziyad 4+4reb+2ast, M.Yousuf Mohmmed 0+4reb+1ast

Al Sadd - Al Rayyan 62-89

Another interesting game was again a derby between two teams from Doha: Al Rayyan (#3) and Al Sadd (#7). Al Sadd was smashed at home by 27 points 62-89 and even the fact of playing on their own court did not help. Al Rayyan outrebounded Al Sadd 52-34 including a 39-23 advantage in defensive rebounds. Al Rayyan brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. Senegalese power forward Mouhammad Faye (207-1985, college: SMU) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 18 rebounds. American guard Shamorie Ponds (185-1998, college: St.John's, agency: Worldwide SM) contributed with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals for the winners. Al Rayyan's coach Stergios Koufos felt very confident that he used 10 players and allowed the starting five to rest. International forward Babacar Dieng (196-1997) replied with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 10 rebounds and international Faisal Abuissa (188-1999) added 14 points in the effort for Al Sadd. Defending champion maintains third position with 5-3 record having just two points less than leader Al Arabi, which they share with Qatar Club. Al Sadd lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the seventh place with six games lost. They share the position with Al Shamal.
Top scorers:
Al Rayyan: S.Ponds 21+7reb+6ast, M.Faye 21+18reb+2ast, M.Abdulla 18+3reb+4ast, N.Griffin 8+6reb+3ast, M.Haracic 8+4reb+1ast, A.Bobo Magassa 4+10reb
Al Sadd: B.Dieng 17+10reb+3ast, A.Faisal 14+3reb+1ast, O.Saad 12+2ast, O.Darryl 7+9reb+2ast, R.Delph 7+5reb+1ast, M.Ahmad 3+1reb+3ast

Al Ahli D. - Al Wakrah 92-70

There was no surprise in Doha where 4th ranked Al Wakrah (4-4) was crushed by second ranked Al Ahli (6-2) 92-70 on Tuesday. Al Ahli made 19-of-24 free shots (79.2 percent) during the game. Al Ahli outrebounded Al Wakrah 47-34 including a 35-23 advantage in defensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of international forward Ndoye Seydou (201-1999) who helped to win the game recording 28 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and Greek center Stavros Toutziarakis (210-1987) who added 18 points and 17 rebounds during the contest. Five Al Ahli D. players scored in double figures. American guard Aaron Mitchell (188-1989, college: Longwood) responded with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and the former international center Ndour Mame Souleye (206-1987) produced a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds. Al Ahli have an impressive six-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 6-2 record behind leader Al Arabi. Loser Al Wakrah dropped to the fifth place with four games lost. They share the position with Al Gharafa.
Top scorers:
Al Ahli D.: N.Seydou 28+6reb+4ast, A.Mohammed 18+11reb+1ast, S.Toutziarakis 18+17reb+1ast, N.Mohamed 16+7reb+1ast, B.Massey 10+5reb+9ast, D.Mohmoud 2+1reb
Al Wakrah: A.Mitchell 25+6reb+5ast, N.Mame Souleye 18+10reb, G.Abdirahman 9+5reb+2ast, A.Matalkeh 8+1reb, J.Mubarak 5+3reb, D.Clark 3+6reb+8ast

Al Khor - Qatar Club 77-99

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Qatar Club (5-3) smashed on the road bottom-ranked Al Khor (1-7) 99-77 on Saturday. Qatar Club looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Al Khor's players. The game was dominated by American players. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Sindou Diallo (194-2000, college: Montana Tech) who helped to win the game recording 34 points (!!!) and guard Holland Woods II (184-1999, college: GCU, agency: Octagon Europe) who added 21 points and 13 assists during the contest. Guard Tyree Crump (185-1997, college: Georgia, agency: BIG) responded with 24 points and 7 rebounds and swingman Jerald Gillens-Butler (196-1997, college: Elon) produced a double-double by scoring 11 points and 11 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Qatar Club moved-up to third place, which they share with Al Rayyan. Al Khor lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the bottom position with seven games lost.
Top scorers:
Qatar Club: S.Diallo 34+3reb+3ast, H.Woods II 21+4reb+13ast, A.Abdalla Ali 16+3reb+1ast, F.Avdic 15+12reb+5ast, A.Ndoye 6+1reb+2ast, A.Adam 5+1reb+1ast
Al Khor: T.Crump 24+7reb+3ast, A.Kosar 16+5reb, O.Salem 14+8reb+1ast, J.Gillens-Butler 11+11reb+3ast, M.Ali 8+5reb+1ast, K.Mohamed 4+1reb+4ast

Al Shamal - Al Rayyan 79-70

Another interesting game was again a derby match of two local teams from Doha: Al Shamal (#8) and Al Rayyan (#3). Al Shamal (2-6) won against visiting Al Rayyan (5-3) 79-70. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Rayyan. Worth to mention a great performance of Palestinian-Canadian forward Shane Osayande (200-1993, college: Saskatchewan) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds and American center Tyler Harris (208-1993, college: Auburn, agency: AG Sports Solutions) who added 15 points and 10 rebounds during the contest. Harris is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Senegalese power forward Mouhammad Faye (207-1985, college: SMU) responded with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 12 rebounds and American guard Shamorie Ponds (185-1998, college: St.John's, agency: Worldwide SM) scored 14 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Al Shamal moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Al Sadd. Defending champion Al Rayyan keeps the third position with three games lost. They share it with Qatar Club.
Top scorers:
Al Shamal: S.Osayande 20+11reb+1ast, T.Harris 15+10reb+3ast, U.Iroegbu 13+1reb+3ast, A.Fadi 10+7reb+4ast, M.Talla 9+7reb+1ast, A.Mohammed 6
Al Rayyan: M.Faye 20+12reb+3ast, M.Abdulla 14+4reb+2ast, S.Ponds 14+9reb+7ast, M.Haracic 10+2reb+4ast, N.Griffin 7+1reb+1ast, M.Salem 3+4reb+1ast