QBL Round 18 (Regular Season): Al Ahli defeat Al Rayyan

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Al Rayyan (14-2) in Doha on Monday night. Visitors were defeated by third ranked Al Ahli (11-5) 76-64. It ended at the same time the nine-game winning streak of Al Rayyan. It was a good game for international forward Mohammed Abbasher (198-2004) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 11 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. International guard Mahmoud Darwish (191-2003) contributed with 14 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. International center Tyler Harris (208-1993, college: Auburn) replied with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 14 rebounds for Al Rayyan. Al Ahli have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 11-5 record having just three points less than leader Al Rayyan. Al Rayyan at the other side still keeps top place with two games lost. They share the position with Al Arabi.
Another interesting game was a derby match between two teams from Doha: Al Arabi (#2) and Al Sadd (#4). Al Sadd was defeated at home 75-89 and even the fact of playing on their own court did not help. Bosnian center Elmedin Kikanovic (211-1988) scored 30 points and 9 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Mustafa Ali chipped in 21 points and 6 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American guard Steven Green (196-1993, college: OKBU) with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 14 rebounds. Al Arabi (14-2) have an impressive seven-game winning streak. Defending champion (14-2) used an opportunity after Al Rayyan lost their game and moved up joining them at the top position. Al Sadd at the other side keeps the fourth place with six games lost.
The game between 9th ranked Al Khor (1-15) and sixth ranked Al Shamal (7-9) in Al Khor on Monday ended with biggest points difference. Guests from Doha outscored Al Khor 108-82. Oussama Abdenacer notched a double-double by scoring 26 points, 16 rebounds and 9 blocks (on 12-of-15 shooting from the field) to lead the effort. Even a double-double of 33 points (!!!) and 11 rebounds by Lazar Trunic did not help to save the game for Al Khor. Al Shamal maintains sixth position with 7-9 record. Al Khor lost ninth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 15 games lost.

In the last game of round 18 bottom-ranked Al Khor was beaten by Al Arabi on the road 119-108.
The most impressive performance of 18th round was 29 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists by Ousmanediatta Dieng of Al Arabi.



Al Ahli D. - Al Rayyan 76-64

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Al Rayyan (14-2) in Doha on Monday night. Visitors were defeated by third ranked Al Ahli (11-5) 76-64. It ended at the same time the nine-game winning streak of Al Rayyan. It was a good game for international forward Mohammed Abbasher (198-2004) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 11 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. International guard Mahmoud Darwish (191-2003) contributed with 14 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. International center Tyler Harris (208-1993, college: Auburn) replied with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 14 rebounds and American Rion Brown (198, college: Miami, FL) added 16 points in the effort for Al Rayyan. Five Al Ahli and four Al Rayyan players scored in double figures. Al Ahli have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 11-5 record having just three points less than leader Al Rayyan. Al Rayyan at the other side still keeps top place with two games lost. They share the position with Al Arabi.
Top scorers:
Al Ahli D.: R.Raekwon 20+2reb+2ast, M.Darwish 14+7reb+3ast, J.Nigel 13+3reb+5ast, M.Abbasher 11+12reb+4ast, A.Taylor 10+10reb+2ast, Y.Yagoub 8+1reb+3ast
Al Rayyan: T.Harris 21+14reb+1ast, R.Brown 16+4reb+2ast, M.Abdulla 11+1reb+4ast, B.Dieng 10+5reb+2ast, R.Freimanis 6+7reb+3ast, B.Aodhan 0

Al Khor - Al Shamal 82-108

The game between 9th ranked Al Khor (1-15) and sixth ranked Al Shamal (7-9) in Al Khor on Monday ended with biggest points difference. Guests from Doha outscored Al Khor 108-82. Al Shamal dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Al Khor's 48. Al Shamal looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Al Khor's players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Al Shamal made 10 blocks. Oussama Abdenacer notched a double-double by scoring 26 points, 16 rebounds and 9 blocks (on 12-of-15 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and American guard Shane Rector (188-1994, college: Utah St.) supported him with 24 points and 9 assists (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line). Five Al Shamal players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 33 points (!!!) and 11 rebounds by Italian-Serbian Lazar Trunic (198-2000) did not help to save the game for Al Khor. American point guard Jesse Jones (183, college: Bridgeport) added 22 points and 5 assists. Al Shamal maintains sixth position with 7-9 record. Al Khor lost ninth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 15 games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Shamal: C.Tyree 29+3reb+2ast, O.Abdenacer 26+16reb, R.Shane 24+3reb+9ast, G.Hajar 14+5reb+3ast, B.Troy 10+6reb+9ast, A.Ndoye 5+2reb+1ast
Al Khor: L.Trunic 33+11reb+2ast, J.Jones 22+4reb+5ast, N.Karim 11+3reb, A.Adam 7+2reb+1ast, D.Abdoukhader 6+10reb+3ast, D.Djibrirou 3+9reb+2ast

Al Arabi - Al Khor 119-108

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Al Arabi (14-2) beat bottom-ranked Al Khor (1-15) in Doha 119-108 on Friday. Al Arabi shot 63.4 percent from the field. Al Arabi outrebounded Al Khor 32-20 including 26 on the defensive glass. Al Arabi shot the lights out from three sinking 20 long-distance shots on high 55.6 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. The former international swingman Ousmanediatta Dieng (196-2001) notched 29 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists (on 11-of-13 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and American guard Sindou Diallo (194-2000, college: Montana Tech) supported him with 29 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists (on 13-of-16 shooting from the field). Even 35 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 9 assists by Italian-Serbian Lazar Trunic (198-2000) did not help to save the game for Al Khor. Adam Al-abdullah added 24 points and 6 steals. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Al Arabi have an impressive seven-game winning streak. Defending champion used an opportunity after Al Rayyan lost their game and moved up joining them at the top position. Al Khor lost ninth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 15 games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Arabi: D.Sindou 29+5reb+8ast, O.Dieng 29+9reb+4ast, A.Saeed 17+5reb+3ast, K.Abdi 12+7reb+6ast, K.Roushdy 12+2reb+5ast, E.Kikanovic 9+3reb
Al Khor: L.Trunic 35+5reb+9ast, A.Adam 24+2ast, J.Jones 16+3reb+3ast, N.Karim 15+2reb+1ast, D.Djibrirou 14+4reb+2ast, G.Ababacar 2

Al Sadd - Al Arabi 75-89

Another interesting game was a derby match between two teams from Doha: Al Arabi (#2) and Al Sadd (#4). Al Sadd was defeated at home 75-89 and even the fact of playing on their own court did not help. Bosnian center Elmedin Kikanovic (211-1988) scored 30 points and 9 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Bahrain point guard Mustafa Ali (177-2002) chipped in 21 points and 6 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American guard Steven Green (196-1993, college: OKBU) with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 14 rebounds and South Sudanese-Australian forward Deng Adel (201-1997, college: Louisville) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists (went 10 for 10 at the free throw line !!!). Al Arabi (14-2) have an impressive seven-game winning streak. Defending champion (14-2) used an opportunity after Al Rayyan lost their game and moved up joining them at the top position. Al Sadd at the other side keeps the fourth place with six games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Arabi: E.Kikanovic 30+9reb+1ast, A.Mustafa 21+6reb+3ast, B.Dee 14+8reb+6ast, A.Saeed 9+4reb, K.Roushdy 8+6reb+5ast, O.Dieng 5+6reb+1ast
Al Sadd: S.Green 24+14reb+1ast, D.Adel 19+13reb+4ast, F.Moustafa 14+2reb+4ast, S.Omar 5, C.Bratsiakos 5+4reb+1ast, A.Ahmed 3