SBL Round 18: Leader Al Ahli gets another victory

The Regular Season in SBL is slowly approaching the end. But there may be still some important changes in the final standings in the last 4 rounds. The round 18 was rather boring as all games ended with very predictable results. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Leader Al Ahli delivered the sixteenth win on Friday night. This time they beat 8th ranked Deba (6-11) 89-72 in Tabuk. The best player for the winners was American forward Deandre Liggins (198-1988, college: Kentucky) who had a double-double by scoring 13 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists. The other American import forward King Revolution (206-1990, college: Southern, agency: BIG) chipped in 23 points and 7 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Ukrainian center Vladyslav Koreniuk (210-1994, agency: BIG) who recorded a double-double by scoring 13 points and 21 rebounds. Al Ahli have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 16-1 record. Deba at the other side keeps the eighth place with 11 games lost. Al Ahli are looking forward to face league's second-placed Al Nassr in Riyadh in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Deba will play on the road against Al Salam (#9) in Al-Awamiyah and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game with biggest result difference took place in Medina. Local Al Ansar (1-16) was outscored by third ranked Ohod (14-4) 122-82. It was a good game for the former international point guard Fahad Belal (181-1991) who led his team to a victory with 29 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. James Justice contributed with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. Ohod's coach Abdulrahim Akhtar felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American guard Kelechi Ajukwa (201-1995, college: Charlotte) replied with 38 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds for Al Ansar. Ohod maintains third position with 14-4 record having just one point less than leader Al Ahli. Al Ansar lost sixteenth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 16 games lost. Ohod will play against Al Adalah (#11) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Al Ansar will play against Ittihad in Jeddah to get more than just one victory in their record.

Rest of the games of round 18 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Al Adalah was crushed by Al Nassr in Riyadh 86-61. Al Fateh beat Ittihad at home 88-80. Al Salam destroyed Al Taawoun on the opponent's court 90-71. Al Hilal unfortunately lost to Al Wehda in a home game 68-73.

Al Nassr - Al Adalah 86-61

There was no surprise in Riyadh where 11th ranked Al Adalah (3-15) was crushed by second ranked Al Nassr (15-3) 86-61. It was a good game for Nasser Abo Jallas who led his team to a victory with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. American forward Antonio Campbell (206-1994, college: Ohio) contributed with 21 points and 9 rebounds for the winners. Five Al Nassr players scored in double figures. Russian forward Andrey Semenov (200-1990, college: JMU) replied with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds and Tunisian swingman Islem Elajmi (196-1991) added 17 points, 5 assists and 4 steals in the effort for Al Adalah. Al Nassr have an impressive seven-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 15-3 record behind leader Al Ahli. Al Adalah lost ninth consecutive game. Newly promoted team dropped to the tenth place with 15 games lost. They share the position with Al Taawoun. Al Nassr will play against league's leader Al Ahli in Jeddah in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Al Adalah will play at home against Ohod (#3) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Al Adalah: A.Semenov 25+11reb+3ast, I.Elajmi 17+2reb+5ast, A.Salman 4+1reb, A.Moayad 4+5reb, A.Saqer Khalid 4+5reb, F.Aldawsari 3+3reb+3ast
Al Nassr: A.Jallas Nasser 23+9reb+4ast, A.Campbell 21+9reb+2ast, T.Almuhanna 15+2reb+1ast, B.Austin 11+9reb+3ast, J.Al Kabe 10+5reb+7ast, F.Fahad 2+1reb

Al Fateh - Ittihad 88-80

No shocking result in a game in Al Hasa where fourth ranked Al Fateh (13-5) defeated 7th ranked Ittihad (8-9) 88-80. Al Fateh made 24-of-30 charity shots (80.0 percent) during the game. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. It was a good game for Algerian forward Mohamed Harat (198-1990) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 40 points (!!!) and 15 rebounds. American guard Falando Jones (193-1990, college: MVSU) contributed with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Al Fateh's coach Amer Al Soubai allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Guard Yasir Aljohani replied with 29 points and 5 assists and Tunisian point guard Omar Abada (189-1993) added 23 points and 5 assists in the effort for Ittihad. Al Fateh maintains fourth position with 13-5 record. Ittihad at the other side keeps the seventh place with nine games lost. Al Fateh will play against Al Wehda (#5) in Mecca in the next round. Ittihad will play at home against Al Ansar and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Ittihad: A.Yasir 29+3reb+5ast, O.Abada 23+4reb+5ast, M.Almarwani 13+6reb+2ast, C.Rhodes 7+14reb+2ast, A.Abdelmalek 6+2reb+3ast, A.AlMadani 2
Al Fateh: M.Harat 40+15reb+1ast, F.Jones 23+11reb+3ast, H.Al Mohammed 7+3reb+2ast, A.Mohammed 7+4reb+10ast, A.Saad 5+3reb+1ast, A.Hesham 4+1reb+2ast

Al Taawoun - Al Salam 71-90

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 10th ranked Al Taawoun's (3-15) home loss to ninth ranked Al Salam (5-13) 71-90. Al Salam dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Al Taawoun's 30. They outrebounded Al Taawoun 39-24 including a 29-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. It was a good game for American center Anthony McClain (211-1988, college: Cincinnati) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 17 rebounds (on 11-of-12 shooting from the field). The other American import forward Nick Stover (198-1993, college: USA) contributed with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Stover is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American guard Darious Clark (193-1990, college: Slippery Rock, agency: Domantay Sports) replied with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and Ahmad Aljezani added 17 points in the effort for Al Taawoun. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Al Salam maintains ninth position with 5-13 record. Newly promoted Al Taawoun keeps the tenth place with 15 games lost. They share the position with Al Adalah. Al Salam will play against higher ranked Deba (#8) in Tabuk in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Al Taawoun will play on the road against Al Hilal in Riyadh and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Al Taawoun: D.Clark 26+5reb+5ast, A.Ahmad 17+4reb+2ast, S.Almutairi 14+3reb+3ast, A.Marelja 11+10reb+1ast, A.Mustafa 3+2reb+1ast, A.Azhar 0
Al Salam: A.McClain 26+17reb+1ast, N.Stover 22+10reb+3ast, A.Abdulaziz 19+4reb, A.Bader 15+1ast, S.Rashad 6+6reb+1ast, A.Hadi 2+1reb+2ast

Al Hilal - Al Wehda 68-73

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams in Riyadh where sixth ranked Al Wehda (11-7) beat 5th ranked Al Hilal (11-7) 73-68. Strangely Al Hilal outrebounded Al Wehda 52-36 including 39 on the defensive glass. It was a good game for American forward Dewayne Jackson (203-1990, college: Morgan St.) who led his team to a victory with 23 points and 8 rebounds. The other American import point guard Chauncey Collins (183-1995, college: TCU) contributed with a double-double by scoring 13 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. Four Al Wehda players scored in double figures. The former international guard Khalid Abdel-Gabar (188-1990, college: Windsor) replied with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists and American power forward Clinton Chapman (208-1989, college: Texas) added 20 points and 11 rebounds in the effort for Al Hilal. Al Wehda moved-up to fifth place, which they share with defeated Al Hilal. Al Wehda will play against higher ranked Al Fateh (#4) in Al Hasa in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Al Hilal will play against Al Taawoun and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Al Hilal: C.Chapman 20+11reb, K.Abdel-Gabar 18+10reb+4ast, N.Alabsi 13+4reb+2ast, O.Albargawi 9+11reb+4ast, A.Mohammed 6+15reb+1ast, H.Zakaria 2+1reb
Al Wehda: D.Jackson 23+8reb+2ast, B.Husam 14+6reb+2ast, C.Collins 13+12reb+5ast, M.AlMarwani 13+6reb+1ast, F.Abdulrahman 6+3reb+3ast, M.Thamer 4+1reb+1ast

Deba - Al Ahli 72-89

Leader Al Ahli delivered the sixteenth win on Friday night. This time they beat 8th ranked Deba (6-11) 89-72 in Tabuk. The best player for the winners was American forward Deandre Liggins (198-1988, college: Kentucky) who had a double-double by scoring 13 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists. The other American import forward King Revolution (206-1990, college: Southern, agency: BIG) chipped in 23 points and 7 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Ukrainian center Vladyslav Koreniuk (210-1994, agency: BIG) who recorded a double-double by scoring 13 points and 21 rebounds and American guard Unique McLean (188, college: SFC, agency: Blacktop Management) added 24 points and 7 rebounds respectively. Five Al Ahli and four Deba players scored in double figures. Al Ahli have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 16-1 record. Deba at the other side keeps the eighth place with 11 games lost. Al Ahli are looking forward to face league's second-placed Al Nassr in Riyadh in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Deba will play on the road against Al Salam (#9) in Al-Awamiyah and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Deba: U.McLean 24+7reb+2ast, V.Koreniuk 13+21reb+1ast, K.Mahmoud 11+1reb+2ast, A.Abdullah 11+1reb+3ast, F.Hussain 7+2reb+1ast, H.Jassim 4+1reb+1ast
Al Ahli: K.Revolution 23+7reb+1ast, B.Ayman 19+6reb+1ast, M.Almuwallad 19+7reb+2ast, D.Liggins 13+8reb+11ast, A.Shubayli 11+6reb+2ast, S.Mohammed 4+3reb

Al Ansar - Ohod 82-122

The game with biggest result difference took place in Medina. Local Al Ansar (1-16) was outscored by third ranked Ohod (14-4) 122-82. Ohod dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Al Ansar's 40. It was a good game for the former international point guard Fahad Belal (181-1991) who led his team to a victory with 29 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. American point guard James Justice (178-1989, college: UT Southern) contributed with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. Four Ohod players scored in double figures. Ohod's coach Abdulrahim Akhtar felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American guard Kelechi Ajukwa (201-1995, college: Charlotte) replied with 38 points (!!!) and 7 rebounds and his fellow American import power forward KenDarrius Hamilton (206-1996, college: Tennessee St.) added 11 points and 13 rebounds in the effort for Al Ansar. Ohod maintains third position with 14-4 record having just one point less than leader Al Ahli. Al Ansar lost sixteenth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 16 games lost. Ohod will play against Al Adalah (#11) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Al Ansar will play against Ittihad in Jeddah to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
Al Ansar: K.Ajukwa 38+7reb+1ast, A.Salman 15+3reb+4ast, K.Hamilton 11+13reb+2ast, S.Khaled 7+1reb+4ast, A.Ahmed 6+2reb+1ast, A.Abdullah 3+6reb+1ast
Ohod: F.Belal 29+8reb+4ast, J.Washington 22+11reb+1ast, J.Justice 22+6reb+7ast, S.Mohammad 18+5reb+1ast, A.Almukhtar 9+3reb+1ast, A.Ahmed 6+5reb



Tags : DEANDRE LIGGINS, AL AHLI JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIAN BASKETBALL