Al Hilal win 23/24 championship title

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 23 in the SBL took place in Jeddah. This derby game ended with only one-point defeat on the road of second-ranked Ittihad (18-4) to fourth ranked Al Ahli (17-5) 81-80 on Thursday evening. The best player for the winners was American forward Deandre Liggins (198-1988, college: Kentucky) who had a double-double by scoring 22 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. U.S. Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican forward Ivan Aska (201-1990, college: Murray St., agency: 011 Sports) chipped in 17 points and 5 rebounds. American James Justice (178-1989, college: UT Southern) produced 27 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for the guests. Defending champion moved-up to third place. Ittihad at the other side keeps the second position with four games lost.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Riyadh: Al Hilal (#1) and Al Nassr (#4). Al Hilal (19-3) won against visiting Al Nassr (16-6) 64-59. The former international center Mohammed Alsuwailem (211-1998) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 20 rebounds. Osama Albargawi contributed with 16 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. American Carlton Bragg Jr (208-1995, college: N.Mexico) answered with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 11 rebounds for Al Nassr. Al Hilal have an impressive series of eleven victories in a row. They maintain first place with 19-3 record. Al Nassr lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth position with six games lost.
Al Taawoun can celebrate finally their first win this season after 21 consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Deba (3-19) 101-82 on Friday. It was a great evening for Markus Loncar who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 28 rebounds and 4 assists. Josh Nicholas responded with 33 points (!!!). Al Taawoun maintains twelfth place with 1-21 record. Loser Deba keeps the eleventh position with 19 games lost.

Other games of round 23 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Al Safa defeated Al Khaleej in Safwa 97-88. Al Fateh smashed Al Salam at home 83-59. Al Wehda lost to Ohod on the opponent's court 71-84.
The best stats of 23th round was 21 points and 13 rebounds by Deng Deng of Ohod.



Al Ahli - Ittihad 81-80

The most exciting game of round 23 in the SBL took place in Jeddah. This derby game ended with only one-point defeat on the road of second-ranked Ittihad (18-4) to fourth ranked Al Ahli (17-5) 81-80 on Thursday evening. The best player for the winners was American forward Deandre Liggins (198-1988, college: Kentucky) who had a double-double by scoring 22 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. U.S. Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican forward Ivan Aska (201-1990, college: Murray St., agency: 011 Sports) chipped in 17 points and 5 rebounds. American James Justice (178-1989, college: UT Southern) produced 27 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists and the other American import power forward Latavious Williams (203-1989) added 24 points and 12 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) respectively for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Defending champion moved-up to third place. Ittihad at the other side keeps the second position with four games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Ahli: D.Liggins 22+12reb+6ast, I.Aska 17+5reb+2ast, B.Ayman 13+4reb+2ast, A.Shubayli 12+5reb+3ast, K.Mohammed 6+7reb, M.Abdulrahman 5+1reb
Ittihad: J.Justice 27+9reb+6ast, L.Williams 24+12reb+2ast, M.Almarwani 13+3reb+8ast, M.AlMarwani 12+7reb, F.Abdulrahman 2+1ast, A.Mustafa 2+3reb

Al Khaleej - Al Safa 88-97

Everything could happen at the game between two tied teams. Both tenth ranked Al Safa and 9th ranked Al Khaleej had identical 7-14 record. But Al Khaleej was not able to use a home court advantage and was defeated by the opponent from Safwa 97-88 on Friday night. The game was dominated by American players. It was a great evening for guard Dallas Morgan (185, college: CMU) who led his team to a victory scoring 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Forward Dikembe Dixson (201-1996, college: UIC) helped adding 21 points and 8 rebounds. Four Al Safa players scored in double figures. Point guard Derek StHilaire (183-1998, college: New Orleans) responded with 26 points and forward James Farr (208-1992, college: Xavier) scored 18 points and 8 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Al Safa (8-14) moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Al Salam. Al Khaleej at the other side, also newcomer in the league, dropped to the tenth position with 15 games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Safa: D.Morgan 24+5reb+4ast, A.Ali 22+3reb+4ast, D.Dixson 21+8reb, S.Rashad 11+6reb+1ast, J.Friday 11+5reb+1ast, A.Hassan 4+6reb+9ast
Al Khaleej: D.St.Hilaire 26+3reb+1ast, N.Boungou-Colo 20+4reb+4ast, J.Farr 18+8reb+2ast, A.Al-Darweesh 9+6reb, A.Hassan 8+10reb, A.Mosa 4+3reb+1ast

Al Taawoun - Deba 101-82

Al Taawoun can celebrate finally their first win this season after 21 consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Deba (3-19) 101-82 on Friday. Al Taawoun dominated down low during the game scoring 76 of its points in the paint compared to Deba's 52. They outrebounded Deba 41-29 including 36 on the defensive glass. Al Taawoun looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists comparing to just 6 passes made by Deba's players. It was a great evening for Bosnian center Markus Loncar (213-1996) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 28 rebounds and 4 assists. American forward Corey Sanders (188-1997, college: Rutgers) helped adding 31 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. American-Jamaican guard Josh Nicholas (190-1998, college: ULM) responded with 33 points (!!!) and Guyanese-American forward Kevin Mickle (201-1993, college: Ohio) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Al Taawoun maintains twelfth place with 1-21 record. Loser Deba keeps the eleventh position with 19 games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Taawoun: C.Sanders 31+5reb+7ast, M.Loncar 23+28reb+4ast, A.Omar 23+5ast, A.Alwaleed 10+3reb, D.Gilmore 6+2reb+1ast, K.Mahmoud 4+1ast
Deba: J.Nicholas 33+3reb+2ast, K.Mickle 19+10reb+1ast, M.Mohammed 13+5reb, A.Abdullah 12+2reb+2ast, I.Suhail 5+9reb+1ast, D.Ibrahim 0

Al Fateh - Al Salam 83-59

No shocking result in a game in Al Hasa where sixth ranked Al Fateh (12-10) smashed 8th ranked Al Salam (8-14) 83-59 on Friday. Al Fateh forced 23 Al Salam turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. It was a great evening for American forward Antonio Campbell (206-1994, college: Ohio) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists. His fellow American import forward Anthony Fairley (203-1999, college: Miles) helped adding 22 points and 7 rebounds. Four Al Fateh players scored in double figures. American-Bahrain Wayne Chism (206-1987, college: Tennessee) responded with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 17 rebounds and American swingman Brandon Austin (198-1994, college: NW Florida St.) scored 10 points and 5 rebounds. The victory was the third consecutive win for Al Fateh. They maintain sixth place with 12-10 record. Loser Al Salam keeps the eighth position with 14 games lost. They share it with Al Safa.
Top scorers:
Al Fateh: A.Fairley 22+7reb, A.Campbell 18+15reb+5ast, A.Hesham 15+2reb+3ast, A.Saad 12+3reb+3ast, A.Ali 8+1reb+1ast, A.Hazim 4+4reb+1ast
Al Salam: W.Chism 22+17reb+1ast, Y.Fallatah 10+4reb+2ast, B.Austin 10+5reb+2ast, A.Khalid 7+3reb+1ast, A.Nimer Hussain 4+1reb+3ast, A.Hadi 2+1reb

Al Hilal - Al Nassr 64-59

Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Riyadh: Al Hilal (#1) and Al Nassr (#4). Al Hilal (19-3) won against visiting Al Nassr (16-6) 64-59. The former international center Mohammed Alsuwailem (211-1998) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 20 rebounds. The former international guard Osama Albargawi (188-1998) contributed with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. Four Al Hilal players scored in double figures. American Carlton Bragg Jr (208-1995, college: N.Mexico) answered with a double-double by scoring 17 points and 11 rebounds and the other American import guard PJ Hardy (185-1998, college: Louisiana) added 16 points in the effort for Al Nassr. Al Hilal have an impressive series of eleven victories in a row. They maintain first place with 19-3 record. Al Nassr lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth position with six games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Hilal: A.Scott 18+3reb+6ast, O.Albargawi 16+12reb+3ast, A.Mohammed 15+20reb+2ast, T.McCallum 13+3reb+2ast, N.Alabsi 2+4reb+3ast, M.Al-Otaibi 0
Al Nassr: C.Bragg Jr. 17+11reb+1ast, P.Hardy 16+3reb+1ast, A.Ayoub 12+4reb+3ast, T.Almuhanna 7+4reb+1ast, A.Jallas Nasser 3+11reb+2ast, C.Russell 3+4reb+1ast

Ohod - Al Wehda 84-71

Rather expected game in Medina where 7th ranked Al Wehda (9-13) was defeated by fifth ranked Ohod (14-8) 84-71 on Friday. It was a great evening for South Sudanese-Australian forward Deng Deng (203-1992, college: Baylor) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 13 rebounds. Osama Al-Zahrani helped adding 14 points. Ohod's coach used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Muhammed Ahmed (203, college: Bridgeport) responded with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds and international center Thamer Mohammed (205-1997) scored 15 points and 5 rebounds. Ohod maintains fifth place with 14-8 record. Al Wehda lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 13 games lost.
Top scorers:
Ohod: D.Deng 21+13reb+3ast, A.Osama 14+3reb+1ast, F.Belal 9+2reb+3ast, M.Alhawsawi 8+3reb, A.Yazan 7+1reb+2ast, A.Obaidi 6+5reb
Al Wehda: M.Thamer 15+5reb, M.Ahmed 15+10reb+3ast, B.Hussam 9+6reb+1ast, A.Ayob 9+6reb+1ast, A.Muhannad 8+2reb, B.Abdulmajeed 8+2reb+2ast