SBL Round 3 (Regular Season): Al Hilal defeat Al Wehda

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Al Wehda (2-1) in Riyadh on Friday night. Visitors were rolled over by Al Hilal (3-0) 104-46. Al Hilal dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Al Wehda's 28. Al Hilal forced 23 Al Wehda turnovers and outrebounded them 45-27 including 32 on the defensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Al Wehda's players. It was a good game for the former international center Mohammed Alsuwailem (211-1998) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 18 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). American guard Antwan Scott (185-1992, college: Colorado St.) contributed with 17 points, 7 assists and 5 steals for the winners. Al Hilal's coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Alaa Qashqri answered with 15 points for Al Wehda. Al Hilal is looking forward to face Ohod (#12) in Medina in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Al Wehda will play at home against Al Nassr (#3) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Al Ahli (3-0) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed Deba (0-3) in Jeddah 101-68. It was a great evening for American forward Deandre Liggins (198-1988, college: Kentucky) who led his team to a victory scoring 22 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Devin Ebanks helped adding 29 points and 6 rebounds. Coach Ali Alsanhani's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play all 12 players and allowed the starting five to rest. The best for the losing side was American-Jamaican guard Josh Nicholas (190-1998, college: ULM) with 36 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds. Al Ahli will play against Al Taawoun (#10) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Deba will play against Ittihad and hopes to get finally their first victory.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 3: winless Ohod lost to undefeated Al Nassr on the road 75-81. Ittihad destroyed Al Taawoun on its own court 98-65. Al Khaleej managed to outperform Al Salam in a road game 75-66. Al Fateh managed to beat Al Safa at home 88-77.



Al Ahli - Deba 101-68

Al Ahli (3-0) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed Deba (0-3) in Jeddah 101-68. They outrebounded Deba 54-42 including 40 on the defensive glass. Al Ahli players were unselfish on offense dishing 28 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Deba's players. It was a great evening for American forward Deandre Liggins (198-1988, college: Kentucky) who led his team to a victory scoring 22 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. His fellow American import forward Devin Ebanks (206-1989, college: WVU) helped adding 29 points and 6 rebounds. Four Al Ahli players scored in double figures. Coach Ali Alsanhani's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play all 12 players and allowed the starting five to rest. The best for the losing side was American-Jamaican guard Josh Nicholas (190-1998, college: ULM) with 36 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds and Guinean center Oumar Barry (211-1996, college: SJSU, agency: Helping Ballers) scored 9 points and 17 rebounds. Al Ahli will play against Al Taawoun (#10) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Deba will play against Ittihad and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Al Ahli: D.Ebanks 29+6reb+2ast, D.Liggins 22+9reb+8ast, A.Shubayli 19+5reb+2ast, K.Kadji 12+3reb+1ast, M.Almuwallad 12+4reb+8ast, A.Salman 4
Deba: J.Nicholas 36+7reb+1ast, A.Eyad 12+3reb+2ast, O.Barry 9+17reb+2ast, H.Hassan 4+5reb+4ast, A.Abdullah 3+2reb+4ast, I.Suhail 2+7reb

Al Nassr - Ohod 81-75

No shocking result in a game when Al Nassr (3-0) beat Ohod (0-3) in Riyadh 81-75. However just six-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. American players dominated the game. It was a great evening for guard PJ Hardy (185-1998, college: Louisiana) who led his team to a victory scoring 27 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Carlton Bragg Jr. (208-1995, college: N.Mexico) helped adding 8 points and 16 rebounds. The best for the losing side was guard Jonathon Simmons (198-1989, college: Houston) with 29 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and center Henry Sims (208-1990, college: Georgetown) scored 11 points and 8 rebounds. Al Nassr will play against Al Wehda (#5) in Mecca in the next round. Ohod will play at home against Al Hilal (#2) and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Al Nassr: P.Hardy 27+5reb+6ast, P.Purifoy 20+2reb+1ast, K.Musab 12+2reb+2ast, C.Bragg Jr. 8+16reb, A.Jallas Nasser 7+8reb+1ast, T.Almuhanna 5+1reb+3ast
Ohod: J.Simmons 29+9reb+4ast, S.Mohammad 15+4reb+2ast, H.Sims 11+8reb+2ast, D.Deng 8+6reb+5ast, A.Almukhtar 7+3reb+4ast, F.Belal 5+1reb+1ast

Ittihad - Al Taawoun 98-65

Very expected game when Al Taawoun (0-3) was smashed by Ittihad (3-0) in Jeddah 98-65. Ittihad players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Al Taawoun's players. It was a great evening for American guard Kevin Murphy (197-1990, college: Tenn Tech) who led his team to a victory scoring 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. His fellow American import power forward Latavious Williams (203-1989) helped adding 18 points and 10 rebounds. Five Ittihad players scored in double figures. Coach Mohamed Kardani's team had such big advantage that he gave the chance to play for all 12 players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was Bosnian center Markus Loncar (213-1996) with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds and American guard Jordan Barham (194-1994, college: Davidson) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds. Ittihad will play against Deba (#11) in Tabuk in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Al Taawoun will play at home against Al Ahli and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Ittihad: L.Williams 18+10reb+2ast, K.Murphy 17+7reb+7ast, A.Yasir 14+6reb+3ast, J.Al Kabe 14+1reb+1ast, M.AlMarwani 13+11reb+4ast, J.Edwards Jr. 11+3reb+4ast
Al Taawoun: J.Barham 19+12reb, M.Loncar 18+12reb+2ast, B.Murad 9+2reb+5ast, A.Alwaleed 7+4reb+1ast, A.Abdullah 5+1reb+1ast, A.Faisal 5+1ast

Al Salam - Al Khaleej 66-75

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams when Al Khaleej (1-2) won against Al Salam (1-2) in Al-Awamiyah 75-66. Al Salam was plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a great evening for Derek Cedor who led his team to a victory scoring 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Congolese-French forward Nobel Boungou-Colo (202-1988) helped adding 13 points and 8 rebounds. Four Al Khaleej players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American-Bahrain Wayne Chism (206-1987, college: Tennessee) with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 18 rebounds and American forward Tony Farmer (201-1994, college: Lee JC) scored 27 points. Al Salam's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Al Khaleej will play against Al Fateh (#6) in Al Hasa in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Salam will play on the road against Al Safa in Safwa and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Al Khaleej: C.Derek 25+5reb+5ast, M.Almutairi 16+4reb, N.Boungou-Colo 13+8reb+1ast, A.James 10+3reb+1ast, A.Al-Darweesh 8+4reb+2ast, E.Ibrahim 3+9reb+1ast
Al Salam: T.Farmer 27+4reb+3ast, W.Chism 16+18reb+1ast, E.Fawaz 9+3reb, B.Spearman 6+1reb, A.Khalid 3+9reb, Y.Fallatah 3+4reb+2ast

Al Fateh - Al Safa 88-77

Not a big story in a game when Al Safa (0-3) lost to Al Fateh (2-1) in Al Hasa 77-88. Al Safa was plagued by 27 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a great evening for American-Dominican forward Edgar Sosa (189-1988, college: Louisville) who led his team to a victory scoring 33 points (!!!) and 7 assists. Forward Mohammed Alsaqer helped adding 20 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. The best for the losing side was American guard Dallas Morgan (185, college: CMU) with 27 points and the other American import Isaac Copeland (206-1995, college: Nebraska) produced a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds. Al Safa's coach Vanja Gusa rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Al Fateh will play against Al Khaleej (#7) in the next round. Al Safa will play against Al Salam and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Al Fateh: E.Sosa 33+7ast, A.Mohammed 20+7reb+8ast, A.Saad 11+3reb+1ast, A.Fairley 9+11reb+2ast, D.Planinic 8+5reb+1ast, H.Al-Mohammed 5+5reb
Al Safa: D.Morgan 27+3reb+3ast, I.Copeland 13+10reb+2ast, S.Rashad 9+1reb, D.Dixson 8+2reb, A.Hassan 6+4reb+2ast, A.Rayan 5+2reb

Al Hilal - Al Wehda 104-46

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Al Wehda (2-1) in Riyadh on Friday night. Visitors were rolled over by Al Hilal (3-0) 104-46. Al Hilal dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Al Wehda's 28. Al Hilal forced 23 Al Wehda turnovers and outrebounded them 45-27 including 32 on the defensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Al Wehda's players. It was a good game for the former international center Mohammed Alsuwailem (211-1998) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 18 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). American guard Antwan Scott (185-1992, college: Colorado St.) contributed with 17 points, 7 assists and 5 steals for the winners. Five Al Hilal players scored in double figures. Al Hilal's coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Alaa Qashqri answered with 15 points and forward Hussam Baghdadi added 9 points in the effort for Al Wehda. Al Hilal is looking forward to face Ohod (#12) in Medina in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Al Wehda will play at home against Al Nassr (#3) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Al Hilal: A.Mohammed 23+18reb, A.Scott 17+3reb+7ast, D.Walton 15+4reb+3ast, K.McDaniels 14+8reb+3ast, N.Alabsi 14+2reb+5ast, A.Sultan 7+1reb
Al Wehda: Q.Alaa 15+4reb+1ast, B.Hussam 9+4reb+1ast, A.Mohammed 7+1reb+4ast, A.Abbas 5+4reb+1ast, A.Muhannad 5+2reb, A.Ayob 3+1reb