SBL Round 17: Al Ittihad beat Al Nahda by one after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

The most exciting game of round 17 in the SBL took place in Al Khobar. This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of 8th ranked Al Nahda (4-12) to sixth ranked Al Ittihad (7-9) 75-74 on Thursday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Nahda. Montenegrin Vladimir Dasic (207-88) saved the victory with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. The former international Mathna Almarwani (186-92) contributed with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. American forward Jordan Washington (203-93, college: Iona) answered with a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!) and 16 rebounds for Al Nahda. Al Ittihad maintains sixth place with 7-9 record. Newly promoted Al Nahda keeps the eighth position with 12 games lost. Al Ittihad are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Al Safa (#10) in Safwa in the next round. Al Nahda will play on the road against the league's second-placed Al Wehda in Mecca and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
The game in Jeddah supposed to be also worth to mention about. Fifth ranked Al Hilal (12-5) played at the court of 7th ranked Al Ahly (5-11). Al Hilal smashed Al Ahly 88-67. American swingman Dominique Sutton (198-86, college: NCCU) stepped up and scored 21 points and 9 rebounds for the winners and Mohammed Alsuwailem chipped in 16 points and 13 rebounds. American guard Brian Halums (196-97, college: UAFS) responded with 22 points and 7 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Al Hilal moved-up to fourth place. Al Ahly at the other side keeps the seventh position with 11 games lost. Al Hilal will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Al Ahly will play on the road against Al Fateh (#3) in Al Hasa and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game between third ranked Al Fateh (12-4) and 10th ranked Al Safa (2-14) in Al Hasa on Thursday ended with biggest points difference. Al Fateh outscored guests from Safwa 94-53. Ali Al Khodeir nailed 20 points and 7 assists for the winning side. Al Fateh's coach Muris Memic felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Michael Murray came up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 19 rebounds for Al Safa in the defeat. Al Fateh keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Al Nasr and Al Wehda. Al Safa lost fourteenth consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay at the bottom place with 14 games lost. Al Fateh will meet at home Al Ahly (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Al Safa will play against Al Ittihad and hope to secure a win.

In the last game of round 17 Al Ansar was beaten by Al Wehda on the road 77-59.

Al Fateh - Al Safa 94-53

The game between third ranked Al Fateh (12-4) and 10th ranked Al Safa (2-14) in Al Hasa on Thursday ended with biggest points difference. Al Fateh outscored guests from Safwa 94-53. Al Fateh dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Al Safa's 32. Al Fateh had a 37-23 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists comparing to just 8 passes made by Al Safa's players. Swingman Ali Al Khodeir (187) nailed 20 points and 7 assists for the winning side and the former international point guard Mohammed Al Saqer (179-85) accounted for 11 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Al Fateh's coach Muris Memic felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American Michael Murray (196-91, college: Coppin St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 19 rebounds and Hassan Alnasser added 9 points respectively for Al Safa in the defeat. Al Fateh keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Al Nasr and Al Wehda. Al Safa lost fourteenth consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay at the bottom place with 14 games lost. Al Fateh will meet at home Al Ahly (#7) in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Al Safa will play against Al Ittihad and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Al Fateh: A.Khodeir Ali 20+3reb+7ast, K.Marwan 15+6reb, A.Saqer Khalid 13+1reb+1ast, M.Al Saqer 11+8reb+5ast, F.Abdullah 8+12reb+1ast, A.Altamar 6+4reb+2ast
Al Safa: M.Murray 20+19reb+2ast, A.Hassan 9+2reb+3ast, A.Hassan 7+3reb+1ast, A.Ali 5+2reb+1ast, H.Mohammed 4+2reb+1ast, A.Reda 4+5reb

Al Wehda - Al Ansar 77-59

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Al Wehda (12-4) beat 9th ranked Al Ansar (4-13) in Mecca 77-59 on Thursday. Al Wehda looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists comparing to just 4 passes made by Al Ansar's players. American-Bahrain Wayne Chism (206-87, college: Tennessee) nailed a double-double by scoring 16 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) for the winning side and the former international center Mohammed AlMarwani (206-89) accounted for 14 points and 5 rebounds. Four Al Wehda players scored in double figures. Al Wehda's coach used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. American forward Kyle Washington (206-93, college: Cincinnati) came up with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 18 rebounds and the former international forward Musab Kadi (-99) added 11 points respectively for Al Ansar in the defeat. Al Wehda have a solid series of three victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Al Nasr and Al Fateh. Al Ansar lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the ninth place with 13 games lost. Al Wehda will meet at home Al Nahda (#8) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Al Ansar will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Al Wehda: R.Gunday 17+1reb+3ast, W.Chism 16+12reb+5ast, M.AlMarwani 14+5reb+3ast, F.Abdulrahman 13+1reb+3ast, B.Husam 6+5reb+2ast, M.Thamer 4+5reb
Al Ansar: K.Washington 25+18reb, K.Musab 11+2reb, A.Salman 8+2ast, F.Mostafa 6+5reb, H.AlFotawi 3+4reb+1ast, H.Hesham 3

Al Nahda - Al Ittihad 74-75

The most exciting game of round 17 in the SBL took place in Al Khobar. This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of 8th ranked Al Nahda (4-12) to sixth ranked Al Ittihad (7-9) 75-74 on Thursday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Nahda. Montenegrin Vladimir Dasic (207-88) saved the victory with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. The former international Mathna Almarwani (186-92) contributed with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. American forward Jordan Washington (203-93, college: Iona) answered with a double-double by scoring 33 points (!!!) and 16 rebounds and Turkish Ozan Akyildiz (-87) added 13 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Al Nahda. Al Ittihad maintains sixth place with 7-9 record. Newly promoted Al Nahda keeps the eighth position with 12 games lost. Al Ittihad are looking forward to face bottom-ranked Al Safa (#10) in Safwa in the next round. Al Nahda will play on the road against the league's second-placed Al Wehda in Mecca and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
Al Ittihad: V.Dasic 20+12reb+6ast, M.Almarwani 17+10reb+6ast, A.Yasir 16+5reb+1ast, O.Fallatah 9+1reb, M.Abdullah 5+2reb+2ast, A.Khalid 5+2reb+1ast
Al Nahda: J.Washington 33+16reb, O.Akyildiz 13+9reb+4ast, A.Saad 9+3reb+2ast, K.Abdulrahman 9+4reb+3ast, F.Fahad 3+6reb+1ast, A.Abdulrahman 3+2reb

Al Ahly - Al Hilal 67-88

The game in Jeddah supposed to be also worth to mention about. Fifth ranked Al Hilal (12-5) played at the court of 7th ranked Al Ahly (5-11). Al Hilal smashed Al Ahly 88-67. American swingman Dominique Sutton (198-86, college: NCCU) stepped up and scored 21 points and 9 rebounds for the winners and international center Mohammed Alsuwailem (211-98) chipped in 16 points and 13 rebounds. Four Al Hilal players scored in double figures. American guard Brian Halums (196-97, college: UAFS) responded with 22 points and 7 rebounds and Lebanese guard Karam Mechref (187-92, agency: BIG) scored 12 points and 7 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Al Hilal moved-up to fourth place. Al Ahly at the other side keeps the seventh position with 11 games lost. Al Hilal will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Al Ahly will play on the road against Al Fateh (#3) in Al Hasa and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Al Hilal: D.Sutton 21+9reb+2ast, A.Mohammed 16+13reb+2ast, F.Aldawsari 15+2reb+1ast, H.Zakaria 12+7reb+2ast, L.Roudesli 8+2ast, N.Alabsi 7+4reb+5ast
Al Ahly: B.Halums 22+7reb+1ast, A.Gad 17+3ast, K.Mechref 12+7reb+1ast, Q.Mohammed 8+6reb, B.Ayob 3+2reb, A.Mohammed 2+1reb



Tags : VLADIMIR DASIC, AL ITTIHAD JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIAN BASKETBALL