QBL Round 14 (Regular Season): Al Sadd beat Al Wakrah by three after a very close game

Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 14 in the QBL took place in Doha. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of 5th ranked Al Wakrah (6-6) to fourth ranked Al Sadd (8-4) 97-94 on Wednesday evening. Al Sadd made 28-of-32 free shots (87.5 percent) during the game. American guard Steven Green (196-1993, college: OKBU) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!) and 11 rebounds. The other American import center Malik Toppin (206-1997, college: Salem) contributed with 23 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. American guard Aaron Mitchell (188-1989, college: Longwood) replied with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals for Al Wakrah. Al Sadd moved-up to third place. Al Wakrah at the other side keeps the fifth position with six games lost. Al Sadd's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Doha to the arena Qatar Club.
Another interesting game was a derby match between two teams from Doha: Al Gharafa (#7) and Qatar Club (#8). Al Gharafa (4-9) won against visiting Qatar Club (2-11) 103-99. American forward Josh Hall (206-2000) scored 33 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Rashad Williams chipped in 23 points and 8 assists during the contest. American guard Steven Green (196-1993, college: OKBU) responded with a double-double by scoring 32 points and 10 rebounds. Qatar Club's coach Dragan Vascanin rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Al Gharafa maintains seventh position with 4-9 record. Qatar Club lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 11 games lost. Al Gharafa's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Doha Al Ahli.
Another interesting game was again a derby between two local teams from Doha: Al Arabi (#2) and Al Ahli D. (#4). Al Arabi (11-2) won against visiting Al Ahli D. (8-5) 81-66. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Al Ahli D.. Elmedin Kikanovic notched 21 points and 7 rebounds to lead the effort. Al Arabi's coach Hatem Mamlouk used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 21 points and 8 rebounds by Nigel Johnson did not help to save the game for Al Ahli. Al Arabi have a solid four-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains second position with 11-2 record having just one point less than leader Al Rayyan. Loser Al Ahli D. keeps the fourth place with five games lost. Al Arabi's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Doha to the arena .

In the last game of round 14 bottom-ranked Al Khor was smashed by Al Rayyan on the road 101-80.
The most impressive performance of 14th round was 14 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists by Dee Bost of Al Arabi.



Al Sadd - Al Wakrah 97-94

The most exciting game of round 14 in the QBL took place in Doha. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of 5th ranked Al Wakrah (6-6) to fourth ranked Al Sadd (8-4) 97-94 on Wednesday evening. Al Sadd made 28-of-32 free shots (87.5 percent) during the game. American guard Steven Green (196-1993, college: OKBU) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!) and 11 rebounds. The other American import center Malik Toppin (206-1997, college: Salem) contributed with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 13 rebounds for the winners. Toppin is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American guard Aaron Mitchell (188-1989, college: Longwood) replied with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals and American-Mali guard Bakary Camara (198-1998, college: Bridgeport) added 17 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in the effort for Al Wakrah. Four Al Sadd and five Al Wakrah players scored in double figures. Al Sadd moved-up to third place. Al Wakrah at the other side keeps the fifth position with six games lost. Al Sadd's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Doha to the arena Qatar Club.
Top scorers:
Al Sadd: G.Steven 36+11reb, T.Malik 23+13reb+3ast, M.Fouda 13+2reb+7ast, O.Saad 11+3reb, B.Christos 7+9reb+6ast, F.Abuissa 7+2reb+1ast
Al Wakrah: A.Mitchell 24+6reb+8ast, W.Alcegaire 20+6reb+4ast, B.Camara 17+8reb+6ast, T.Momar 14+5reb, S.Ndour Mame 11+4reb, J.Mubarak 8+2reb

Al Rayyan - Al Khor 101-80

No shocking result in a game when first ranked Al Rayyan (11-1) crushed bottom-ranked Al Khor (1-11) in Doha 101-80 on Wednesday. Al Rayyan dominated down low during the game scoring 64 of its points in the paint compared to Al Khor's 32. They outrebounded Al Khor 56-29 including a 16-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. Al Rayyan looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Al Khor's players. Bobo Magassa notched a double-double by scoring 23 points and 18 rebounds to lead the effort and international forward Babacar Dieng (196-1997) supported him with 18 points and 6 assists. Four Al Rayyan players scored in double figures. Al Rayyan's coach Stathis Nerantzakis felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 42 points (!!!), 9 rebounds and 5 assists by American point guard Jesse Jones (183, college: Bridgeport) did not help to save the game for Al Khor. The other his fellow American import import guard Rashad Williams (188-2000, college: UAPB) added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the guests. Al Rayyan have an impressive six-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 11-1 record. Al Khor lost fifth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 11 games lost. Al Rayyan's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Doha to the arena Al Shamal.
Top scorers:
Al Rayyan: B.Magassa 23+18reb, D.Babacar 18+4reb+6ast, F.Rolands 11+6reb+2ast, B.Rion 10+7reb+7ast, H.Meho 9+13reb+1ast, I.Seck 8+2reb+1ast
Al Khor: J.Jones 42+9reb+5ast, D.Djibrirou 14+10reb+2ast, N.Karim 11+5reb+2ast, D.Abdoukhader 7+3reb+1ast, A.Adam 4+1reb+2ast, N.Waleed 2+1ast

Al Gharafa - Qatar Club 103-99

Another interesting game was a derby match between two teams from Doha: Al Gharafa (#7) and Qatar Club (#8). Al Gharafa (4-9) won against visiting Qatar Club (2-11) 103-99. Al Gharafa brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. American forward Josh Hall (206-2000) scored 33 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and the other American import guard Rashad Williams (188-2000, college: UAPB) chipped in 23 points and 8 assists during the contest. Hall is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American guard Steven Green (196-1993, college: OKBU) responded with a double-double by scoring 32 points and 10 rebounds and American-Jamaican guard Josh Nicholas (190-1998, college: ULM) scored 24 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Qatar Club's coach Dragan Vascanin rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Al Gharafa maintains seventh position with 4-9 record. Qatar Club lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 11 games lost. Al Gharafa's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Doha Al Ahli.
Top scorers:
Al Gharafa: H.Josh 33+7reb+1ast, Z.Jesse 23+4reb+6ast, W.Rashad 23+3reb+8ast, N.Muslic 13+12reb+4ast, M.Mohmmed 6+7reb, R.Al-Abdulla 5+1reb+1ast
Qatar Club: J.Dejan 32+10reb+3ast, J.Nicholas 24+6reb+5ast, A.Mitrovic 21+4reb+2ast, T.Thompson 16+13reb+1ast, S.Asem 5+7reb+2ast, A.Adam 1

Al Arabi - Al Ahli D. 81-66

Another interesting game was again a derby between two local teams from Doha: Al Arabi (#2) and Al Ahli D. (#4). Al Arabi (11-2) won against visiting Al Ahli D. (8-5) 81-66. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Al Ahli D.. Elmedin Kikanovic notched 21 points and 7 rebounds to lead the effort and Bulgarian-American point guard Dee Bost (189-1989, college: MSU) supported him with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Four Al Arabi players scored in double figures. Al Arabi's coach Hatem Mamlouk used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 21 points and 8 rebounds by American guard Nigel Johnson (187-1995, college: Virginia, agency: 6th Man Basketball Agency) did not help to save the game for Al Ahli. His fellow American import power forward Raekwon Rogers (203-1999, college: Wagner, agency: One Motive Sports) added 16 points and 8 rebounds for the guests. Al Arabi have a solid four-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains second position with 11-2 record having just one point less than leader Al Rayyan. Loser Al Ahli D. keeps the fourth place with five games lost. Al Arabi's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Doha to the arena .
Top scorers:
Al Arabi: A.Mustafa 25+3reb+1ast, E.Kikanovic 21+7reb+1ast, B.Dee 14+9reb+6ast, Y.Abdelrahman 10+9reb+1ast, O.Dieng 4+10reb+4ast, A.Saeed 3+4reb+1ast
Al Ahli D.: N.Johnson 21+8reb+2ast, R.Rogers 16+8reb+2ast, Y.Youssef 9+4reb+2ast, D.Mahmoud 7+6reb+1ast, T.Adway 6+10reb, A.Mohammed 4+7reb+1ast