SBL Round 18: Al Wehda keeps a leadership position

Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Al Wehda as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Al Wehda smashed 8th ranked Al Nahda in Mecca 83-63. Al Wehda dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Al Nahda's 26. They outrebounded Al Nahda 51-32 including a 38-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. Al Wehda looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Al Nahda's players. The former international center Mohammed AlMarwani (206-89) had a double-double by scoring 22 points and 16 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and American-Bahrain Wayne Chism (206-87, college: Tennessee) chipped in 18 points and 9 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward Jordan Washington (203-93, college: Iona) with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 16 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Al Wehda have a solid four-game winning streak. As mentioned above they are at the top of the standings, which they share with Al Fateh. Newly promoted Al Nahda keeps the eighth place with 13 games lost. They share the position with Al Ansar. There is only one round left in the Regular Season. strong Al Hilal trying to get back on the winning streak. Al Wehda will try to continue on its current victory against sixth ranked Al Ittihad in Jeddah.
Bottom-ranked Al Safa managed to get a third victory, breaking the fourteen-game losing streak. This time newly promoted Al Safa won against sixth-ranked Al Ittihad in Safwa 70-62. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Ittihad. American Michael Murray (196-91, college: Coppin St.) notched a double-double by scoring 28 points, 19 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the effort and Mohammed Hezam supported him with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Even 17 points and 9 rebounds by Montenegrin Vladimir Dasic (207-88) did not help to save the game for Al Ittihad. Newly promoted Al Safa maintains tenth position with 3-14 record. Al Ittihad at the other side keeps the sixth place with ten games lost. Al Safa will play against higher ranked Al Nasr (#3) in Riyadh in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Al Ittihad will play at home against the league's leader Al Wehda where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.

In the last game of round 18 Al Ahly lost to Al Fateh on the opponent's court 82-92.

Al Wehda - Al Nahda 83-63

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Al Wehda as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Al Wehda smashed 8th ranked Al Nahda in Mecca 83-63. Al Wehda dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Al Nahda's 26. They outrebounded Al Nahda 51-32 including a 38-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. Al Wehda looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Al Nahda's players. The former international center Mohammed AlMarwani (206-89) had a double-double by scoring 22 points and 16 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and American-Bahrain Wayne Chism (206-87, college: Tennessee) chipped in 18 points and 9 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward Jordan Washington (203-93, college: Iona) with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 16 rebounds and Saad Alsubaie scored 14 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Al Wehda have a solid four-game winning streak. As mentioned above they are at the top of the standings, which they share with Al Fateh. Newly promoted Al Nahda keeps the eighth place with 13 games lost. They share the position with Al Ansar. There is only one round left in the Regular Season. strong Al Hilal trying to get back on the winning streak. Al Wehda will try to continue on its current victory against sixth ranked Al Ittihad in Jeddah.
Top scorers:
Al Wehda: M.AlMarwani 22+16reb+3ast, W.Chism 18+9reb, R.Gunday 14+5reb+7ast, B.Husam 7+2reb+4ast, Q.Alaa 6+2reb+1ast, F.Abdulrahman 5+5reb+1ast
Al Nahda: J.Washington 29+16reb+1ast, A.Saad 14+2reb+2ast, K.Abdulrahman 8+3reb+1ast, O.Akyildiz 5+3reb+1ast, H.Osama 3+2reb, B.Abdulmajeed 2+2reb+1ast

Al Fateh - Al Ahly 92-82

Very expected game in Al Hasa where 7th ranked Al Ahly (5-12) was defeated by third ranked Al Fateh (13-4) 92-82. Algerian forward Mohamed Harath (198-90) notched a double-double by scoring 38 points (!!!), 17 rebounds and 4 assists (on 14-of-18 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and the former international point guard Mohammed Al Saqer (179-85) supported him with 24 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. Four Al Fateh players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 31 points and 11 rebounds by American guard Brian Halums (196-97, college: UAFS) did not help to save the game for Al Ahly. Guard Gad Algawadi added 17 points and 6 assists. Al Fateh keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Al Wehda. Al Ahly lost third consecutive game. They keep the seventh place with 12 games lost. Al Fateh will play against Al Ansar (#8) in Medina in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Al Ahly will play on the road against Ohod in Medina and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Al Fateh: M.Harath 38+17reb+4ast, M.Al Saqer 24+15reb+11ast, A.Hassan 10+9reb+1ast, A.Khodeir Ali 10+1reb+2ast, A.Altamar 5, A.Abdullah 5+1reb
Al Ahly: B.Halums 31+11reb+2ast, A.Gad 17+4reb+6ast, B.Ayob 9+1reb+1ast, Q.Mohammed 9+10reb, M.Hassan 8+1reb, N.Althalabi 4+2reb+1ast

Al Safa - Al Ittihad 70-62

Bottom-ranked Al Safa managed to get a third victory, breaking the fourteen-game losing streak. This time newly promoted Al Safa won against sixth-ranked Al Ittihad in Safwa 70-62. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Ittihad. They outrebounded Al Ittihad 46-34 including 31 on the defensive glass. Al Ittihad was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. American Michael Murray (196-91, college: Coppin St.) notched a double-double by scoring 28 points, 19 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the effort and Mohammed Hezam supported him with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Even 17 points and 9 rebounds by Montenegrin Vladimir Dasic (207-88) did not help to save the game for Al Ittihad. The former international Mathna Almarwani (186-92) added 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Newly promoted Al Safa maintains tenth position with 3-14 record. Al Ittihad at the other side keeps the sixth place with ten games lost. Al Safa will play against higher ranked Al Nasr (#3) in Riyadh in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Al Ittihad will play at home against the league's leader Al Wehda where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Al Safa: M.Murray 28+19reb+4ast, A.Hassan 15+1reb+3ast, H.Mohammed 11+13reb+1ast, A.Hassan 7+2reb+1ast, A.Hashem 4+2reb+5ast, A.Ali 3+1reb
Al Ittihad: V.Dasic 17+9reb+3ast, M.Almarwani 12+5reb+5ast, A.Khalid 9+7reb, A.Yasir 6+2reb+1ast, A.AlMadani 6+1reb, A.Abdullah 5+6reb+1ast



Tags : MOHAMMED ALMARWANI, AL WEHDA MECCA, SAUDI ARABIAN BASKETBALL