SBL Round 15 (Regular Season): Top-ranked Ittihad wins another game

Coincidentally all hosts won their games. The round 15 was rather boring as all games ended with very predictable results. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

SBL top team - Ittihad (13-2) had no problems winning another game on Monday. This time they crushed eleventh ranked Deba (0-12) in Jeddah 98-72. Ittihad looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Deba's players. It was a good game for American guard Kevin Murphy (197-1990, college: Tenn Tech) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists. His fellow American import center James Edwards Jr (211-1997, college: Southern) contributed with 28 points, 6 rebounds and 13 assists for the winners. Ittihad's coach Mohamed Kardani felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American-Jamaican guard Josh Nicholas (190-1998, college: ULM) answered with a double-double by scoring 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists for Deba. Ittihad have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place with 13-2 record. Deba at the other side still closes the standings with 12 games lost. Ittihad are looking forward to face Al Salam (#8) in Al-Awamiyah in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Deba will play on the road against Ohod in Medina and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Bottom-ranked Al Taawoun is still unable to win any game. This time they lost on the road their 14th consecutive match to third ranked Al Ahli (11-3) 117-54. It was a great evening for U.S. Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican forward Ivan Aska (201-1990, college: Murray St., agency: 011 Sports) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. Hollis Thompson helped adding 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. Al Ahli's coach Ali Alsanhani felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. The best for the losing side was Bosnian center Markus Loncar (213-1996) with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 16 rebounds. Al Ahli have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Defending champion maintains third place with 11-3 record having just three points less than leader Ittihad, which they share with Al Hilal. Al Taawoun at the other side still closes the standings with 14 games lost. Al Ahli will play against Al Fateh (#5) in Al Hasa in the next round. Al Taawoun will play on the road against Al Wehda (#7) in Mecca and looks forward to get finally their first victory.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 15: Al Wehda was beaten by Al Nassr on the road 77-67. Al Fateh destroyed Al Khaleej on its own court 104-83. Al Safa unfortunately lost to Al Salam in Al-Awamiyah 68-86. Al Hilal managed to beat Ohod at home 86-80.
The most impressive performance of 15th round was 31 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists by Antwan Scott of Al Hilal.



Al Ahli - Al Taawoun 117-54

Bottom-ranked Al Taawoun is still unable to win any game. This time they lost on the road their 14th consecutive match to third ranked Al Ahli (11-3) 117-54. Al Ahli forced 32 Al Taawoun turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 30 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Al Taawoun's players. It was a great evening for U.S. Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican forward Ivan Aska (201-1990, college: Murray St., agency: 011 Sports) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. American Hollis Thompson (203-1991, college: Georgetown) helped adding 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. Five Al Ahli players scored in double figures. Al Ahli's coach Ali Alsanhani felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. The best for the losing side was Bosnian center Markus Loncar (213-1996) with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 16 rebounds and American power forward Devin Gilmore (200-1997, college: Murray St.) scored 14 points and 5 rebounds. Al Ahli have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Defending champion maintains third place with 11-3 record having just three points less than leader Ittihad, which they share with Al Hilal. Al Taawoun at the other side still closes the standings with 14 games lost. Al Ahli will play against Al Fateh (#5) in Al Hasa in the next round. Al Taawoun will play on the road against Al Wehda (#7) in Mecca and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Al Ahli: I.Aska 21+6reb+6ast, M.Abdulrahman 19+1reb+3ast, H.Thompson 16+6reb+4ast, B.Ayman 15+2reb+4ast, A.Salman 11+3reb+3ast, A.Shubayli 10+1ast
Al Taawoun: M.Loncar 16+16reb+1ast, D.Gilmore 14+5reb+2ast, K.Mahmoud 9+3reb+5ast, A.Alwaleed 8+4reb, B.Murad 5+3reb+2ast, A.Faisal 2+2reb+2ast

Al Nassr - Al Wehda 77-67

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Al Nassr (12-2) beat 7th ranked Al Wehda (7-8) in Riyadh 77-67. It was a great evening for American guard PJ Hardy (185-1998, college: Louisiana) who led his team to a victory scoring 29 points and 9 rebounds. His fellow American import Carlton Bragg Jr (208-1995, college: N.Mexico) helped adding 13 points and 11 rebounds. Al Nassr's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was Senegalese-Spanish power forward Mamadou Samb (210-1989) with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 17 rebounds and Mohammed Alhwsawi scored 19 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Al Nassr maintains second place with 12-2 record behind leader Ittihad. Al Wehda lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with eight games lost. They share it with Al Salam. Al Nassr will play against Al Safa (#9) in Safwa in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Al Wehda will play against Al Taawoun and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Al Nassr: P.Hardy 29+9reb+3ast, C.Bragg Jr. 13+11reb, A.Ayoub 10+5reb, K.Musab 9+10reb+2ast, T.Almuhanna 7+1reb+3ast, P.Purifoy 6+1reb+2ast
Al Wehda: M.Samb 23+17reb+1ast, A.Mohammed 19+6reb+6ast, A.Ayob 9+1ast, B.Hussam 7+5reb+3ast, B.Abdulmajeed 7+5reb+2ast, Q.Alaa 2+3reb

Ittihad - Deba 98-72

SBL top team - Ittihad (13-2) had no problems winning another game on Monday. This time they crushed eleventh ranked Deba (0-12) in Jeddah 98-72. Ittihad looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Deba's players. It was a good game for American guard Kevin Murphy (197-1990, college: Tenn Tech) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists. His fellow American import center James Edwards Jr (211-1997, college: Southern) contributed with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 6 rebounds and 13 assists for the winners. Four Ittihad players scored in double figures. Ittihad's coach Mohamed Kardani felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American-Jamaican guard Josh Nicholas (190-1998, college: ULM) answered with a double-double by scoring 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists and Guyanese-American forward Kevin Mickle (201-1993, college: Ohio) added 19 points, 17 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for Deba. Ittihad have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain first place with 13-2 record. Deba at the other side still closes the standings with 12 games lost. Ittihad are looking forward to face Al Salam (#8) in Al-Awamiyah in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Deba will play on the road against Ohod in Medina and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Ittihad: J.Edwards Jr. 28+6reb+13ast, K.Murphy 28+14reb+6ast, M.Almarwani 13+7reb+2ast, M.AlMarwani 10+11reb+2ast, F.Abdulrahman 8+2reb+1ast, I.Mustafa 6+1ast
Deba: J.Nicholas 30+10reb+5ast, K.Mickle 19+17reb+5ast, I.Suhail 11+8reb+1ast, M.Mohammed 5+10reb+1ast, H.Fahd 5+2reb, A.Mohammed 2+5reb+3ast

Al Fateh - Al Khaleej 104-83

Rather expected game when 9th ranked Al Khaleej (4-11) was smashed by sixth ranked Al Fateh (8-6) in Al Hasa 104-83. Al Fateh dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Al Khaleej's 28. They outrebounded Al Khaleej 38-26 including 28 on the defensive glass. Al Fateh players were unselfish on offense dishing 34 assists comparing to just 7 passes made by Al Khaleej's players. 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 25 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. Mohammed Al-Saquer helped adding 11 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists. Five Al Fateh players scored in double figures. Coach George Geagea's team controlled all game and the coach could let to play 10 players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was American point guard Derek St.Hilaire (183-1998, college: New Orleans) with 23 points and Congolese-French forward Nobel Boungou-Colo (202-1988) scored 18 points (went 10 for 10 at the free throw line !!!). Al Fateh moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Ohod. Al Khaleej lost their fourth game in a row. Newly promoted team dropped to the tenth position with 11 games lost. Al Fateh will play against higher ranked Al Ahli (#3) in Jeddah in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Khaleej will play at home against Al Hilal (#4) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Al Fateh: A.Campbell 25+13reb+4ast, E.Sosa 18+3reb+9ast, A.Saad 14+1ast, M.Al-Saquer 11+11reb+13ast, F.Khalid 10+1reb+2ast, A.Fairley 10+6reb+1ast
Al Khaleej: D.St.Hilaire 23+3reb+1ast, N.Boungou-Colo 18+2reb+2ast, M.Almutairi 16+4reb+1ast, J.Farr 8+4reb+2ast, A.Mosa 6+3reb+1ast, E.Ibrahim 6+5reb

Al Salam - Al Safa 86-68

The game between closely ranked teams ended with eighth ranked Al Salam's (7-8) home victory over 9th ranked Al Safa (4-10) in Al-Awamiyah 86-68. It was a great evening for American-Bahrain Wayne Chism (206-1987, college: Tennessee) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 19 rebounds. American swingman Brandon Spearman (191-1991, college: Hawaii) helped adding 29 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Spearman is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. The best for the losing side was American guard Dallas Morgan (185, college: CMU) with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists and the other American import forward Dikembe Dixson (201-1996, college: UIC) scored 15 points and 9 rebounds. Four Al Safa players scored in double figures. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Al Salam. They moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Al Wehda. Newly promoted Al Safa keeps the ninth position with ten games lost. Al Salam will play against league's leader Ittihad in Jeddah in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Safa will play at home against the league's second-placed Al Nassr (#2) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Al Salam: B.Spearman 29+6reb+7ast, W.Chism 21+19reb+2ast, A.Bader 14+2ast, A.Khalid 8+3reb, Y.Fallatah 7+2reb+5ast, A.Nimer Hussain 6+1reb
Al Safa: D.Morgan 16+8reb+9ast, D.Dixson 15+9reb+1ast, J.Friday 13+7reb+2ast, A.Hassan 10+3reb+2ast, A.Musab 8+1reb+2ast, S.Rashad 6+4reb

Al Hilal - Ohod 86-80

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 5th ranked Ohod's (8-6) road loss to fourth ranked Al Hilal (11-3) in Riyadh 80-86. Al Hilal outrebounded Ohod 44-32 including 34 on the defensive glass. It was a great evening for American guard Antwan Scott (185-1992, college: Colorado St.) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 31 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. The former international center Mohammed Alsuwailem (211-1998) helped adding 18 points and 15 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American guard Jonathon Simmons (198-1989, college: Houston) with 25 points and 7 rebounds and the other American import center Henry Sims (208-1990, college: Georgetown) produced a double-double by scoring 17 points and 14 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The victory was the third consecutive win for Al Hilal. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Al Ahli. Ohod at the other side keeps the fifth position with six games lost. They share it with Al Fateh. Al Hilal will play against Al Khaleej (#10) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Ohod will play against Deba (#11) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Al Hilal: A.Scott 31+10reb+9ast, A.Mohammed 18+15reb+1ast, N.Alabsi 15+4reb+4ast, K.McDaniels 11+6reb, O.Albargawi 9+8reb+2ast, D.Walton 2+1reb
Ohod: J.Simmons 25+7reb+3ast, H.Sims 17+14reb+1ast, S.Mohammad 15+3reb, F.Belal 10+4reb+5ast, A.Abdulaziz 8, A.Alhosawi 3+2reb