SBL Round 21: Al Hilal beat Al Ittihad in the most crucial game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Jeddah. First ranked Al Hilal faced 3rd placed Al Ittihad. Guests from Riyadh (20-1) defeated host Al Ittihad (16-5) 99-82. Al Hilal made 18-of-18 free shots (100 percent !!!) during the game. Al Hilal had a 37-25 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was American guard Antwan Scott (185-1992, college: Colorado St.) who scored 29 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists (went 14 for 14 at the free throw line !!!). International center Mohammed Alsuwailem (211-1998) chipped in 20 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). At the other side the best for losing team was Tunisian point guard Omar Abada (189-1993) who recorded 31 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Al Hilal have an impressive series of eight victories in a row. They maintain first place with 20-1 record. Al Ittihad at the other side keeps the third position with five games lost. Al Hilal's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Riyadh to the arena Al Nasr.
Abha can celebrate finally their first win this season after 20 consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Al Nahda (2-19) 82-73. It was a good game for Hesham Al Shareef who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 32 points and 11 rebounds. Omran Fallatah contributed with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. American center Malik Wineglass (203-1993, college: Harris-Stowe St.) answered with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 15 rebounds for Al Nahda. Newly promoted Abha maintains twelfth place with 1-20 record. It was Al Nahda's eleventh loss in a row. They keep the eleventh position with 19 games lost. Abha will play against higher ranked Al Ittihad (#3) in Jeddah in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Nahda will play at home against Al Wehda (#6) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game in Medina was also quite interesting. Second ranked Al Nasr (19-2) played at the court of 7th ranked Al Ansar (9-12). Al Nasr managed to secure a 7-point victory 73-66 on Monday. Chris Johnson stepped up with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. The best for the losing side was Lamonte Bearden with 26 points and 5 rebounds. The victory was the tenth consecutive win for Al Nasr. Defending champion maintains second place with 19-2 record behind leader Al Hilal. Loser Al Ansar keeps the seventh position with 12 games lost. They share it with Al Ahly. Al Nasr's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Riyadh Al Hilal.

Other games of round 21 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Al Wehda was crushed by Al Ahly in Jeddah 105-85. Al Fateh beat Ohod at home 83-77. Al Salam lost to Duba Club on the opponent's court 76-84.
The best stats of 21th round was 30 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists by Todd O'Brien of Duba Club.

Abha - Al Nahda 82-73

Abha can celebrate finally their first win this season after 20 consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Al Nahda (2-19) 82-73. It was a good game for Hesham Al Shareef who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 32 points and 11 rebounds. Omran Fallatah (187-1989) contributed with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. American center Malik Wineglass (203-1993, college: Harris-Stowe St.) answered with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 15 rebounds and Abdulmajeed Barnawi added 15 points and 6 rebounds in the effort for Al Nahda. Newly promoted Abha maintains twelfth place with 1-20 record. It was Al Nahda's eleventh loss in a row. They keep the eleventh position with 19 games lost. Abha will play against higher ranked Al Ittihad (#3) in Jeddah in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Nahda will play at home against Al Wehda (#6) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Abha: A.Shareef Hesham 32+11reb+2ast, O.Fallatah 23+9reb+5ast, A.Rayan 14+6reb+2ast, A.Abdullah 6+7reb+1ast, A.Mohannad 4+1reb+3ast, A.Monabihi Abdullah 3+1reb
Al Nahda: M.Wineglass 28+15reb+2ast, B.Abdulmajeed 15+6reb+2ast, K.Abdulrahman 14+7reb+1ast, H.Osama 7+1reb+2ast, A.Ayeed 5+1reb+3ast, A.Turki 4+6reb+5ast

Al Ansar - Al Nasr 66-73

The game in Medina was also quite interesting. Second ranked Al Nasr (19-2) played at the court of 7th ranked Al Ansar (9-12). Al Nasr managed to secure a 7-point victory 73-66 on Monday. American power forward Chris Johnson (210-1985, college: LSU) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 12 rebounds for the winners and the former international Ayoub Alhawsawi (188-1989) chipped in 18 points and 7 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field). The best for the losing side was American guard Lamonte Bearden (191-1995, college: WKU) with 26 points and 5 rebounds and the former international guard Yazeed Fallatah (182-1990) scored 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. The victory was the tenth consecutive win for Al Nasr. Defending champion maintains second place with 19-2 record behind leader Al Hilal. Loser Al Ansar keeps the seventh position with 12 games lost. They share it with Al Ahly. Al Nasr's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Riyadh Al Hilal.
Top scorers:
Al Nasr: C.Johnson 28+12reb+1ast, A.Ayoub 18+7reb, K.Musab 11+1reb+1ast, K.Abdel-Gabar 9+8reb+6ast, A.Yazid 5+3reb, J.Al Kabe 2
Al Ansar: L.Bearden 26+5reb+3ast, Y.Fallatah 15+6reb+4ast, B.Ayman 9+9reb+2ast, F.Mostafa 9+2reb, H.Attia 3+1reb+2ast, A.Salman 2

Al Ahly - Al Wehda 105-85

There was a minor upset in Jeddah where 6th ranked Al Wehda (10-11) was crushed by eighth ranked Al Ahly (9-12) 105-85 on Monday. Al Ahly shot 63.9 percent from the field. They shot the lights out from three sinking 13 long-distance shots on high 59.1 percentage. Al Ahly looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American forward Jordan Washington (203-1993, college: Iona, agency: Interperformances) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 38 points (!!!) and 16 rebounds (on 15-of-16 shooting from the field) for the winners and Abdulrahman Almowallad chipped in 25 points. The best for the losing side was Egyptian guard Ramy Gunday (185-1981) with 29 points and 5 assists and international center Thamer Mohammed (205-1997) scored 25 points and 8 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Al Ahly moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Al Ansar. Loser Al Wehda keeps the sixth position with 11 games lost. Al Ahly will meet at home higher ranked Al Fateh (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Wehda will play against Al Nahda in Al Khobar and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Al Ahly: J.Washington 38+16reb+2ast, A.Abdulrahman 25+4reb+3ast, F.Ibrahim 13+4reb+9ast, A.Abdulrahman 10+1reb, A.Shubayli 8+4reb+4ast, A.Abdulrahman 5+2ast
Al Wehda: R.Gunday 29+3reb+5ast, M.Thamer 25+8reb+1ast, B.Husam 13+6reb+1ast, F.Abdulrahman 12+1reb, A.Mohammed 6+3reb+8ast, S.Mohanad 0

Al Fateh - Ohod 83-77

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams in Al Hasa where fifth ranked Al Fateh (13-8) defeated 4th placed Ohod (15-6) 83-77 on Monday. Algerian forward Mohamed Harat (198-1990) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 32 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and Nigerian-American guard Michael Efevberha (195-1984, college: CSUN) chipped in 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line). Al Fateh's coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was American power forward Xavier Gibson (210-1988, college: FSU) with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 14 rebounds and the former international forward Ahmed Almukhtar (191-1993) scored 16 points and 9 rebounds. Five Ohod players scored in double figures. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for Al Fateh. They maintain fifth place with 13-8 record. Loser Ohod keeps the fourth position with six games lost. Al Fateh will meet Al Ahly (#7) in the next round. Ohod will play against Duba Club and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Al Fateh: M.Harat 32+15reb+4ast, M.Efevberha 23+10reb+2ast, A.Altamar 11+1reb, A.Mohammed 8+7reb+5ast, A.Abdullah 6, A.Hesham 3+1reb
Ohod: A.Almukhtar 16+9reb+2ast, I.Elajmi 15+2reb+3ast, X.Gibson 15+14reb+1ast, F.Belal 13+3reb+8ast, N.Abojalas 11+7reb+1ast, A.Ahmed 4+2reb

Al Ittihad - Al Hilal 82-99

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Jeddah. First ranked Al Hilal faced 3rd placed Al Ittihad. Guests from Riyadh (20-1) defeated host Al Ittihad (16-5) 99-82. Al Hilal made 18-of-18 free shots (100 percent !!!) during the game. Al Hilal had a 37-25 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was American guard Antwan Scott (185-1992, college: Colorado St.) who scored 29 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists (went 14 for 14 at the free throw line !!!). International center Mohammed Alsuwailem (211-1998) chipped in a double-double by scoring 20 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). At the other side the best for losing team was Tunisian point guard Omar Abada (189-1993) who recorded 31 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists and Nigerian-American power forward Maxie Esho (206-1991, college: UMass) added 21 points and 17 rebounds respectively. Al Hilal have an impressive series of eight victories in a row. They maintain first place with 20-1 record. Al Ittihad at the other side keeps the third position with five games lost. Al Hilal's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Riyadh to the arena Al Nasr.
Top scorers:
Al Hilal: A.Scott 29+9reb+6ast, N.Alabsi 20+5reb+4ast, A.Mohammed 20+12reb+8ast, O.Albargawi 9+4reb+3ast, M.Hadidane 9+10reb+1ast, F.Aldawsari 6
Al Ittihad: O.Abada 31+8reb+5ast, M.Esho 21+17reb+1ast, A.Yasir 14+5reb+5ast, M.Almarwani 8+7reb+5ast, A.Khalid 6+1ast, A.Abdullah 2+1reb

Duba Club - Al Salam 84-76

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams in Tabuk where 9th ranked Al Salam (8-13) was defeated by tenth ranked Duba Club (4-17) 84-76 on Monday. American-Armenian center Todd O'Brien (211-1989, college: UAB) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 30 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and Abdullah Aljohani chipped in 19 points and 5 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). The best for the losing side was American forward Nick Stover (198-1993, college: USA) with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and Algerian center Touhami Ghezzoul (209-1987, college: N.Dakota St.) produced a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds. Newly promoted Duba Club maintains tenth place with 4-17 record. Al Salam lost their fourth game in a row. Al Salam at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the ninth position with 13 games lost. Duba Club will meet higher ranked Ohod (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Salam will play against Al Ansar (#8) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Duba Club: T.O'Brien 30+12reb+6ast, A.Abdullah 19+5reb+3ast, R.Ghanem 11+2reb+2ast, I.Suhail 9+4reb, A.Osama 6+10reb, F.Hussain 6+1reb
Al Salam: N.Stover 24+8reb+6ast, A.Bader 22+3reb+6ast, T.Ghezzoul 19+12reb+1ast, S.Rashad 7+4reb+1ast, A.Talal 2, I.Mohammed 2+2reb+1ast



Tags : ANTWAN SCOTT, AL HILAL RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIAN BASKETBALL