SBL Round 15: Al Ahli edge Ittihad by one point

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Seventh-ranked Ittihad (7-8) made lots of trouble for first ranked Al Ahli (13-1) in Jeddah on Friday. Al Ahli managed to secure only one-point victory 85-84. However their fans expected much easier game. Al Ahli looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international point guard Marzouq Almuwallad (180-1992) who had a double-double by scoring 20 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. British guard Kofi Josephs (198-1991, college: Fort Lewis, agency: Players Group) chipped in 18 points and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American power forward Charles Rhodes (203-1985, college: MSU) who recorded a double-double by scoring 27 points and 19 rebounds (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). Al Ahli maintains first place with 13-1 record. Ittihad at the other side keeps the seventh position with eight games lost. Al Ahli are looking forward to face Al Wehda (#6) in Mecca in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Ittihad will play at home against Al Salam and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Eighth-ranked Deba (5-9) made lots of trouble for third ranked Al Nassr (12-3) in Tabuk. The visitors from Riyadh managed to secure only one-point victory 72-71. However their fans expected much easier game. It was a good game for American forward Antonio Campbell (206-1994, college: Ohio) who saved his team from a defeat with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds. Musab Kadi contributed with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. American guard Unique McLean (188, college: SFC, agency: Blacktop Management) answered with 33 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds for Deba. Al Nassr have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Ohod. Deba at the other side keeps the eighth position with nine games lost. Al Nassr will play against bottom-ranked Al Ansar (#12) in Medina in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Deba will play at home against Ohod (#3) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game with biggest result difference took place in Al-Awamiyah. Local Al Salam (4-11) was outscored by fourth ranked Al Fateh (11-4) 80-57 on Friday night. Worth to mention a quality performance of Mohamed Harat who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 27 points, 24 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 blocks. The best for the losing side was Anthony McClain with 19 points and 9 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). 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 Fateh have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain fourth place with 11-4 record. Loser Al Salam keeps the ninth position with 11 games lost. Al Fateh will meet Al Hilal (#5) in the next round. Al Salam will play against Ittihad (#7) in Jeddah and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Other games of round 15 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Al Hilal defeated Al Ansar in Riyadh 102-84. Ohod beat Al Taawoun at home 77-65. Al Wehda won against Al Adalah on the opponent's court 97-79.
The best stats of 15th round was 17 points and 22 rebounds by Vladyslav Koreniuk of Deba.

Al Ansar - Al Hilal 84-102

There was no surprise in Medina where 12th ranked Al Ansar (1-13) was defeated by fifth ranked Al Hilal (10-6) 102-84 on Thursday. Al Hilal dominated down low during the game scoring 70 of its points in the paint compared to Al Ansar's 40. They outrebounded Al Ansar 51-22 including a 36-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. It was a great evening for American power forward Clinton Chapman (208-1989, college: Texas) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 20 rebounds. The former international center Mohammed Alsuwailem (211-1998) helped adding 25 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists (on 11-of-14 shooting from the field). Four Al Hilal players scored in double figures. Al Hilal's coach used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was American guard Kelechi Ajukwa (201-1995, college: Charlotte) with 35 points (!!!) and guard Salman Almoulad scored 17 points and 5 assists. Defending champion maintains fifth place with 10-6 record. Al Ansar lost thirteenth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 13 games lost. Al Hilal will meet at home higher ranked Al Fateh (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Ansar will play against the league's second-placed Al Nassr (#2) in Riyadh and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Al Ansar: K.Ajukwa 35+3reb+1ast, A.Salman 17+3reb+5ast, J.Davis 14+5reb+1ast, S.Khaled 8+8reb+3ast, A.Ahmed 6+2reb+1ast, A.Abdullah 4+1reb+1ast
Al Hilal: C.Chapman 29+20reb+3ast, A.Mohammed 25+10reb+6ast, O.Albargawi 22+7reb, K.Abdel-Gabar 13+9reb+7ast, M.Al Otaibi 5+1reb+2ast, M.Abdulrahman 4+1reb

Ohod - Al Taawoun 77-65

No shocking result in a game in Medina where third ranked Ohod (12-3) defeated 11th ranked Al Taawoun (2-13) 77-65 on Thursday. It was a great evening for American forward Jordan Washington (203-1993, college: Iona, agency: Interperformances) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. His fellow American import point guard James Justice (178-1989, college: UT Southern) helped adding 20 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was American guard Darious Clark (193-1990, college: Slippery Rock, agency: Domantay Sports) with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists and Serbian power forward Aleksandar Marelja (207-1992, agency: BeoBasket) scored 18 points and 8 rebounds. Four Al Taawoun players scored in double figures. Ohod have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Al Nassr. Al Taawoun lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the eleventh position with 13 games lost. Ohod will meet Deba (#8) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Al Taawoun will play against Al Adalah and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Al Taawoun: A.Marelja 18+8reb+2ast, D.Clark 14+11reb+4ast, S.Almutairi 14+3ast, A.Ahmad 13+7reb+1ast, A.Mustafa 4+8reb, A.Azhar 2
Ohod: J.Washington 22+12reb+4ast, J.Justice 20+7reb+4ast, F.Belal 12+9reb+2ast, F.Abdulrahman 8+3reb, A.Ahmed 6+2reb, A.Almukhtar 6+8reb+2ast

Al Salam - Al Fateh 57-80

The game with biggest result difference took place in Al-Awamiyah. Local Al Salam (4-11) was outscored by fourth ranked Al Fateh (11-4) 80-57 on Friday night. Al Fateh looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a quality performance of Algerian forward Mohamed Harat (198-1990) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 27 points, 24 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 blocks. American guard Falando Jones (193-1990, college: MVSU) helped adding 24 points. The best for the losing side was American center Anthony McClain (211-1988, college: Cincinnati) with 19 points and 9 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) and the other American import forward Nick Stover (198-1993, college: USA) produced a double-double by scoring 11 points and 12 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 Fateh have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain fourth place with 11-4 record. Loser Al Salam keeps the ninth position with 11 games lost. Al Fateh will meet Al Hilal (#5) in the next round. Al Salam will play against Ittihad (#7) in Jeddah and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Al Salam: A.McClain 19+9reb+1ast, N.Stover 11+12reb+3ast, A.Abdulaziz 11+5reb+1ast, A.Bader 7+2reb+1ast, S.Rashad 6+4reb+1ast, I.Mohammed 3
Al Fateh: M.Harat 27+24reb+8ast, F.Jones 24+3reb+2ast, H.Al Mohammed 7+3reb+4ast, A.Saad 6+2reb+1ast, A.Mohammed 5+6reb+2ast, A.Khodeir Ali 5+4reb+3ast

Al Adalah - Al Wehda 79-97

Very expected game when 10th ranked Al Adalah (3-12) was defeated at home by sixth ranked Al Wehda (9-6) 97-79 on Friday. Al Wehda forced 19 Al Adalah turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. It was a great evening for the former international center Mohammed AlMarwani (206-1989) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 18 rebounds and 4 assists. American point guard Chauncey Collins (183-1995, college: TCU) helped adding 15 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. Five Al Wehda players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was the former international guard Faisal Aldawsari (180-1990) with 24 points and Russian forward Andrey Semenov (200-1990, college: JMU) scored 21 points and 7 rebounds. Al Wehda maintains sixth place with 9-6 record. Al Adalah lost sixth consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the tenth position with 12 games lost. Al Wehda will meet at home league's leader Al Ahli in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Adalah will play against Al Taawoun (#11) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Al Adalah: F.Aldawsari 24+4reb+3ast, A.Semenov 21+7reb+3ast, I.Elajmi 16+3reb+5ast, S.Mahmoud 8+1reb+3ast, S.Mohanned 8+1reb+1ast, A.Moayad 2+13reb+2ast
Al Wehda: M.AlMarwani 28+18reb+4ast, D.Jackson 20+4reb+4ast, C.Collins 15+5reb+9ast, A.Mohammed 14+1reb+3ast, F.Abdulrahman 13+2reb+3ast, M.Thamer 5+2reb

Al Ahli - Ittihad 85-84

Seventh-ranked Ittihad (7-8) made lots of trouble for first ranked Al Ahli (13-1) in Jeddah on Friday. Al Ahli managed to secure only one-point victory 85-84. However their fans expected much easier game. Al Ahli looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international point guard Marzouq Almuwallad (180-1992) who had a double-double by scoring 20 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. British guard Kofi Josephs (198-1991, college: Fort Lewis, agency: Players Group) chipped in 18 points and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was American power forward Charles Rhodes (203-1985, college: MSU) who recorded a double-double by scoring 27 points and 19 rebounds (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line) and Tunisian point guard Omar Abada (189-1993) added 17 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists respectively. Four Al Ahli and five Ittihad players scored in double figures. Al Ahli maintains first place with 13-1 record. Ittihad at the other side keeps the seventh position with eight games lost. Al Ahli are looking forward to face Al Wehda (#6) in Mecca in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Ittihad will play at home against Al Salam and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Ittihad: C.Rhodes 27+19reb+2ast, A.Abdelmalek 19+3reb+2ast, O.Abada 17+6reb+9ast, M.Almarwani 11+6reb+4ast, A.Yasir 10+2reb+2ast, A.Fathi 0
Al Ahli: M.Almuwallad 20+10reb+8ast, K.Josephs 18+3reb+4ast, A.Shubayli 14+4reb+2ast, M.Abdulrahman 11+2reb+1ast, B.Ayman 11+3reb, D.Liggins 9+7reb+8ast

Deba - Al Nassr 71-72

Eighth-ranked Deba (5-9) made lots of trouble for third ranked Al Nassr (12-3) in Tabuk. The visitors from Riyadh managed to secure only one-point victory 72-71. However their fans expected much easier game. It was a good game for American forward Antonio Campbell (206-1994, college: Ohio) who saved his team from a defeat with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds. The former international forward Musab Kadi (196-1999) contributed with a double-double by scoring 13 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. American guard Unique McLean (188, college: SFC, agency: Blacktop Management) answered with 33 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds and Ukrainian center Vladyslav Koreniuk (210-1994, agency: BIG) added 17 points and 22 rebounds in the effort for Deba. Al Nassr have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Ohod. Deba at the other side keeps the eighth position with nine games lost. Al Nassr will play against bottom-ranked Al Ansar (#12) in Medina in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Deba will play at home against Ohod (#3) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Deba: U.McLean 33+7reb+2ast, V.Koreniuk 17+22reb+2ast, A.Abdullah 9+2reb+3ast, A.Osama 5+7reb, K.Mahmoud 4+2reb+4ast, H.Jassim 3
Al Nassr: A.Campbell 20+11reb, K.Musab 13+13reb+4ast, J.Al Kabe 12+2reb+1ast, T.Almuhanna 9+1reb+3ast, A.Khalid 5+2reb+1ast, A.Salem 2+1reb+1ast



Tags : MARZOUQ ALMUWALLAD, AL AHLI JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIAN BASKETBALL