SBL Round 19: Al Nasr defeat Al Ittihad in the game between Top 4 teams

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

An interesting game for Al Nasr (17-2) which hosted in Riyadh 3rd placed Al Ittihad (15-4). Second ranked Al Nasr had an easy win 117-74. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Al Ittihad. Al Nasr dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Al Ittihad's 38. Al Nasr had a 34-19 advantage in offensive rebounds. They shot the lights out from three sinking 16 long-distance shots on high 51.6 percentage. Al Nasr looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Al Ittihad's players. Worth to mention a great performance of American power forward Chris Johnson (210-85, college: LSU) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 30 points, 24 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international guard Khalid Abdel-Gabar (188-90, college: Windsor) contributed with 19 points and 17 assists for the winners. Al Nasr's coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tunisian point guard Omar Abada (189-93) answered with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for Al Ittihad. Al Nasr have an impressive series of eight victories in a row. Defending champion maintains second place with 17-2 record behind leader Al Hilal. Al Ittihad at the other side keeps the third position with four games lost. Al Nasr are looking forward to face Al Salam (#8) in Al-Awamiyah in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Al Ittihad will play at home against Al Ansar (#7) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that the loss was just an accident.
SBL top team - Al Hilal (18-1) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed ninth ranked Al Ahly (7-12) in Riyadh 111-87. It was a great evening for American guard Antwan Scott (185-92, college: Colorado St.) who led his team to a victory with a triple-double by scoring 39 points (!!!), 10 rebounds, 16 assists and 5 steals. Mohammed Alsuwailem helped adding 22 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks (perfect from the field making all ten shots !!!). At the losing side American forward Jordan Washington (203-93, college: Iona, agency: Interperformances) responded with a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 13 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. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Al Hilal. They maintain first place with 18-1 record. Al Ahly at the other side keeps the ninth position with 12 games lost. Al Hilal will play against Al Nahda (#11) in Al Khobar in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Al Ahly will play at home against Abha and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Bottom-ranked Abha is still unable to win any game. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their 19th consecutive match to fourth ranked Ohod (14-5) 91-88 on Friday evening. It was an exceptional evening for Khalid Boukichou who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. Scott Sill came up with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 20 rebounds and 6 assists for Abha in the defeat. Ohod maintains fourth place with 14-5 record. Abha lost their nineteenth game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings. Ohod will meet at home Al Wehda (#6) in the next round. Abha will play against Al Ahly (#9) in Jeddah and hopes to get finally their first victory.

Other games in round 19 were not that significant. Al Salam was beaten by Al Fateh on the road 80-64. Al Wehda won against Duba Club on its own court 66-57. Al Nahda unfortunately lost to Al Ansar in Medina 72-85.

Abha - Ohod 88-91

Bottom-ranked Abha is still unable to win any game. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their 19th consecutive match to fourth ranked Ohod (14-5) 91-88 on Friday evening. It was an exceptional evening for Moroccan-Belgian center Khalid Boukichou (208-92) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 16 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international point guard Fahad Belal (181-91) accounted for 23 points and 5 assists for the winning side. American center Scott Sill (206-92, college: Delaware St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 20 rebounds and 6 assists and Hesham Al Shareef added 31 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Abha in the defeat. Five Ohod and four Abha players scored in double figures. Ohod maintains fourth place with 14-5 record. Abha lost their nineteenth game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings. Ohod will meet at home Al Wehda (#6) in the next round. Abha will play against Al Ahly (#9) in Jeddah and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Ohod: F.Belal 23+4reb+5ast, N.Abojalas 16+6reb+1ast, K.Boukichou 16+13reb+4ast, A.Almukhtar 13+9reb+2ast, A.Ahmed 13+9reb+4ast, A.Mohammed 4+2reb+1ast
Abha: A.Shareef Hesham 31+7reb+3ast, S.Sill 20+20reb+6ast, O.Fallatah 12+4reb+1ast, A.Abdullah 12+3reb+1ast, A.Mohannad 7+2reb, A.Sami 3+3reb

Al Fateh - Al Salam 80-64

No shocking result in a game when fifth ranked Al Fateh (11-8) beat 8th ranked Al Salam (8-11) in Al Hasa 80-64 on Friday. Al Fateh looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. It was an exceptional evening for Algerian forward Mohamed Harat (198-90) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 17 rebounds and 4 assists. Nigerian-American guard Michael Efevberha (195-84, college: CSUN) accounted for 16 points for the winning side. American forward Nick Stover (198-93, college: USA) came up with 29 points and 7 rebounds and Algerian center Touhami Ghezzoul (209-87, college: N.Dakota St.) added 15 points and 13 rebounds respectively for Al Salam in the defeat. The victory was the third consecutive win for Al Fateh. They maintain fifth place with 11-8 record. Newly promoted Al Salam keeps the eighth position with 11 games lost. Al Fateh will meet Duba Club (#10) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Al Salam will play against the league's second-placed Al Nasr and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Al Fateh: M.Harat 28+17reb+4ast, M.Efevberha 16+3reb+3ast, M.Al-Saqer 9+6reb+5ast, A.Abdullah 9+2ast, A.Moussaad Mohamad 7+2reb+1ast, A.Hesham 5+1reb+5ast
Al Salam: N.Stover 29+7reb+2ast, T.Ghezzoul 15+13reb+1ast, H.Alnamer 6+4reb+3ast, S.Rashad 6+3reb+1ast, A.Bader 4+1reb+3ast, A.Talal 2+6reb+1ast

Al Wehda - Duba Club 66-57

Very expected game when 10th ranked Duba Club (3-16) lost to sixth ranked Al Wehda (10-9) in Mecca 57-66 on Friday. Al Wehda forced 22 Duba Club turnovers. Strangely Duba Club outrebounded Al Wehda 54-36 including 19 on the offensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was an exceptional evening for international center Thamer Mohammed (-97) who led the winners and scored 21 points and 9 rebounds. The former international center Mohammed AlMarwani (206-89) accounted for 18 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winning side. American center Jarred Shaw (208-90, college: Utah St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 23 rebounds and Swedish point guard Rami Ghanem (185-93, college: Keyano) added 20 points and 15 rebounds respectively for Duba Club in the defeat. Al Wehda maintains sixth place with 10-9 record. Newly promoted Duba Club keeps the tenth position with 16 games lost. Al Wehda will meet higher ranked Ohod (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Duba Club will play against Al Fateh (#5) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Al Wehda: M.Thamer 21+9reb+3ast, M.AlMarwani 18+9reb+3ast, R.Gunday 17+2reb+2ast, A.Mohammed 6+3reb+6ast, B.Husam 2+10reb+4ast, A.Adam 2
Duba Club: R.Ghanem 20+15reb+1ast, J.Shaw 20+23reb+1ast, A.Abdulmajeed 5+2reb+1ast, A.Eyad 4+8reb+2ast, A.Abdullah 3+6ast, F.Hussain 2+2reb+3ast

Al Ansar - Al Nahda 85-72

Rather predictable result when seventh ranked Al Ansar (9-10) won against 11th ranked Al Nahda (2-17) in Medina 85-72 on Friday. Al Ansar looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. It was an exceptional evening for American-Armenian center Todd OBrien (211-89, college: UAB) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 13 rebounds. Jordanian guard Sami Bzai (190-94, college: SE Oklahoma) accounted for 31 points and 6 assists for the winning side. Bzai is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Al Ansar's coach Issam Abdel Hamid let to play all 12 players and allowed the starting five to rest. American center Malik Wineglass (203-93, college: Harris-Stowe St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 21 points, 18 rebounds and 4 assists and Abdulrahman Kurdi added 20 points and 10 rebounds respectively for Al Nahda in the defeat. Al Ansar maintains seventh place with 9-10 record. Al Nahda lost their ninth game in a row. They keep the eleventh position with 17 games lost. Al Ansar will meet higher ranked Al Ittihad (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Nahda will play against the league's leader Al Hilal (#1) having rather not much hope for a victory.
Top scorers:
Al Ansar: S.Bzai 31+2reb+6ast, T.O'Brien 26+13reb+3ast, B.Ayman 9+3reb+9ast, A.Salman 7+4ast, H.Hammam 6+5reb, A.Ahmed 2+1ast
Al Nahda: M.Wineglass 21+18reb+4ast, K.Abdulrahman 20+10reb+2ast, K.Marwan 15+2reb+3ast, B.Abdulmajeed 8+3reb+3ast, A.Turki 6+7reb+4ast, A.Ishaq 2

Al Hilal - Al Ahly 111-87

SBL top team - Al Hilal (18-1) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed ninth ranked Al Ahly (7-12) in Riyadh 111-87. Al Hilal made 17-of-22 charity shots (77.3 percent) during the game. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Al Ahly's players. It was a great evening for American guard Antwan Scott (185-92, college: Colorado St.) who led his team to a victory with a triple-double by scoring 39 points (!!!), 10 rebounds, 16 assists and 5 steals. International center Mohammed Alsuwailem (211-98) helped adding 22 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks (perfect from the field making all ten shots !!!). Four Al Hilal players scored in double figures. At the losing side American forward Jordan Washington (203-93, college: Iona, agency: Interperformances) responded with a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!) and 13 rebounds and Canadian-Jordanian guard Freddy Ibrahim (190-96, college: Tampa) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Al Hilal. They maintain first place with 18-1 record. Al Ahly at the other side keeps the ninth position with 12 games lost. Al Hilal will play against Al Nahda (#11) in Al Khobar in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Al Ahly will play at home against Abha and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Al Hilal: A.Scott 39+10reb+16ast, H.Abbas 25+5reb+4ast, A.Mohammed 22+11reb+4ast, O.Albargawi 11+4reb+1ast, N.Alabsi 8+5reb, A.Adel 6+1reb
Al Ahly: J.Washington 34+13reb+2ast, A.Shubayli 17+5reb, F.Ibrahim 16+11reb+6ast, A.Abdulrahman 9+4reb, B.Raad 8+4reb+1ast, A.Raed 3

Al Nasr - Al Ittihad 117-74

An interesting game for Al Nasr (17-2) which hosted in Riyadh 3rd placed Al Ittihad (15-4). Second ranked Al Nasr had an easy win 117-74. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Al Ittihad. Al Nasr dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Al Ittihad's 38. Al Nasr had a 34-19 advantage in offensive rebounds. They shot the lights out from three sinking 16 long-distance shots on high 51.6 percentage. Al Nasr looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Al Ittihad's players. Worth to mention a great performance of American power forward Chris Johnson (210-85, college: LSU) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 30 points, 24 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international guard Khalid Abdel-Gabar (188-90, college: Windsor) contributed with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 17 assists for the winners. Al Nasr's coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tunisian point guard Omar Abada (189-93) answered with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and Nigerian-American power forward Maxie Esho (206-91, college: UMass) added 16 points and 11 rebounds in the effort for Al Ittihad. Five Al Nasr and four Al Ittihad players scored in double figures. Al Nasr have an impressive series of eight victories in a row. Defending champion maintains second place with 17-2 record behind leader Al Hilal. Al Ittihad at the other side keeps the third position with four games lost. Al Nasr are looking forward to face Al Salam (#8) in Al-Awamiyah in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Al Ittihad will play at home against Al Ansar (#7) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that the loss was just an accident.
Top scorers:
Al Nasr: C.Johnson 30+24reb+5ast, K.Abdel-Gabar 19+2reb+17ast, J.Al Kabe 18+3reb+3ast, T.Almuhanna 14+4reb+1ast, K.Musab 13+1reb, A.Ayoub 10+4reb+1ast
Al Ittihad: O.Abada 23+7reb+4ast, M.Esho 16+11reb, A.Khalid 11+1reb+1ast, M.Almarwani 10+7reb+3ast, A.Yasir 7+2reb+1ast, A.AlMadani 3+2reb



Tags : CHRIS JOHNSON, AL NASR RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIAN BASKETBALL