SBL Round 3 (Regular Season): Top-ranked Al Ahli win another game

The round 3 was rather boring as all games ended with very predictable results. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Al Ahli (3-0) had no problems winning another game on Monday. This time they crushed Al Khewaildia (0-3) in Jeddah 102-62. Al Ahli dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Al Khewaildia's 36. They outrebounded Al Khewaildia 40-29 including a 34-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. It was a good game for American guard Darius Hall (188, college: Bryant & Str OH) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 42 points (!!!) and 16 rebounds (on 18-of-21 shooting from the field). South Sudanese-Australian center Matur Maker (208-1998) contributed with 13 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Al Ahli's coach Ali Alsanhani felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Zo Tyson (206-1995, college: IUPUI) answered with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 14 rebounds for Al Khewaildia. Al Ahli is looking forward to face Al Fateh (#7) in Al Hasa in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Al Khewaildia will play against Al Khaleej and hopes to get finally their first victory.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 3: Al-Ula smashed Al Khaleej on the road 85-49. Al Safa won against Ohod on its own court 68-63. Winless Al Fateh lost to undefeated Al Nassr in Riyadh 82-92. Al Ittihad managed to beat Al Salam at home 94-81.
The most impressive performance of 3rd round was 33 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 10 assists by Donte Clark of Al Salam.



Al Ahli - Al Khewaildia 102-62

Al Ahli (3-0) had no problems winning another game on Monday. This time they crushed Al Khewaildia (0-3) in Jeddah 102-62. Al Ahli dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Al Khewaildia's 36. They outrebounded Al Khewaildia 40-29 including a 34-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. It was a good game for American guard Darius Hall (188, college: Bryant & Str OH) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 42 points (!!!) and 16 rebounds (on 18-of-21 shooting from the field). South Sudanese-Australian center Matur Maker (208-1998) contributed with 13 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Four Al Ahli players scored in double figures. Al Ahli's coach Ali Alsanhani felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Zo Tyson (206-1995, college: IUPUI) answered with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 14 rebounds and the other American import guard Jermale Jones (185-1986, college: Tuskegee) added 22 points in the effort for Al Khewaildia. Al Ahli is looking forward to face Al Fateh (#7) in Al Hasa in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Al Khewaildia will play against Al Khaleej and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Al Ahli: D.Hall 42+16reb+3ast, T.Mohammed 14+2reb+1ast, M.Maker 13+7reb+3ast, A.Almuwallad 10+4reb+3ast, M.Almuwallad 9+2reb+6ast, A.Mahfuth 7+1reb+1ast
Al Khewaildia: J.Jones 22+2reb+3ast, Z.Tyson 16+14reb, M.Alsalem 7+6reb+2ast, A.Al-Mahroos 6+4reb, I.Alahmed 3+1ast, A.Al-Sheef 3+1ast

Al Khaleej - Al-Ula 49-85

No shocking result in a game when Al-Ula (3-0) crushed on the road Al Khaleej (0-3) 85-49 on Monday. Al-Ula forced 19 Al Khaleej turnovers. It was a good game for American point guard Quinn Cook (188-1993, college: Duke) who led his team to a victory with 24 points and 4 assists. His fellow American import James Anderson (198-1989, college: OK State, agency: Octagon Europe) contributed with 22 points for the winners. Canadian forward Richard Amardi (206-1990, college: Oregon, agency: BIG) answered with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 13 rebounds and American swingman Qyidar Davis (198-1993, college: Indiana St.) added 16 points and 6 rebounds in the effort for Al Khaleej. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Al-Ula is looking forward to face Ohod (#8) in Medina in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Al Khaleej will play against Al Khewaildia also and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Al-Ula: Q.Cook 24+3reb+4ast, J.Anderson 22+3reb, T.Wimbush 13+4reb+5ast, M.Alsuwailem 9+8reb+2ast, M.Saleh 8+1ast, A.Alalawi 5+1ast
Al Khaleej: R.Amardi 16+13reb+2ast, Q.Davis 16+6reb+3ast, H.Ali 6+3reb, M.Alahmed 5+4reb+1ast, I.Entaif 4+9reb+1ast, M.Al-Qorain 2+1reb+1ast

Al Safa - Ohod 68-63

Very expected game when Ohod (0-2) lost to Al Safa (1-2) in Safwa 63-68 on Monday. However just five-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. It was a good game for South Sudanese guard Dhieu Abwok (196-2001, college: UTSA) who led his team to a victory with 23 points and 7 rebounds. Ali Alahmed contributed with 10 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American center Fuquan Niles (211-1995, college: CWU, agency: Interperformances) answered with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 18 rebounds and Osama Alzahrani added 19 points in the effort for Ohod. Al Safa is looking forward to face Al Salam (#6) in Al-Awamiyah in the next round. Ohod will play on the road against Al Fateh in Al Hasa also and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Al Safa: D.Abwok 23+7reb+1ast, A.Alahmed 10+7reb+2ast, R.Alahmed 10+1reb+2ast, H.Almahdi 8+2reb+1ast, L.Robertin 8+11reb, H.Albasha 5+1reb
Ohod: O.Alzahrani 19+2reb+3ast, A.Fallatah 16+5reb+1ast, F.Niles 14+18reb+3ast, M.Altasan 7+5reb+5ast, M.Alhawsawi 3+6reb, A.Obaidi 2+1ast

Al Nassr - Al Fateh 92-82

Very predictable result when Al Nassr (3-0) won against Al Fateh (0-2) in Riyadh 92-82 on Monday. Al Nassr dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Al Fateh's 36. They outrebounded Al Fateh 46-31 including 18 on the offensive glass. It was a good game for American guard Donte McGill (190-1995, college: FIU) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 36 points (!!!) and 12 rebounds. Bosnian-Croatian center Markus Loncar (213-1996) contributed with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 14 rebounds for the winners. McGill is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top summer league for players who want to play basketball overseas. Al Nassr's coach Abdulraheem Lal used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. American guard Shadell Millinghaus (188-1994, college: Georgetown, KY) answered with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line) and swingman Ali Al-Khodeir (187) added 19 points (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field) in the effort for Al Fateh. Al Nassr is looking forward to face Al Ittihad in Jeddah in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Al Fateh will play at home against Ohod (#8) also and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Al Nassr: D.McGill 36+12reb+2ast, M.Loncar 14+14reb+2ast, F.Fakihi 10+3reb+4ast, J.Taylor-Ford 9+3reb+1ast, M.Kadi 7+7reb+4ast, A.Alhawsawi 7+2reb+1ast
Al Fateh: S.Millinghaus 22+14reb+8ast, A.Al-Khodeir 19+1reb+3ast, S.Al-Subaiei 18+3reb+2ast, R.Putney 7+1reb+2ast, H.Al-Mohammed 6+4reb+1ast, T.Almuhanna 3

Al Ittihad - Al Salam 94-81

The game between closely ranked teams ended with Al Salam's (1-2) road loss to Al Ittihad (3-0) in Jeddah 81-94 on Friday. Al Ittihad looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists comparing to just 17 passes made by Al Salam's players. It was a good game for the former international Mathna Almarwani (186-1992) who led his team to a victory with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. American guard Antwan Scott (185-1992, college: Colorado St.) contributed with a double-double by scoring 13 points, 12 assists and 6 steals for the winners. Five Al Ittihad players scored in double figures. American guard Donte Clark (194-1994, college: Texas Southern) answered with a triple-double by scoring 33 points (!!!), 10 rebounds and 10 assists and Senegalese-Spanish power forward Mamadou Samb (210-1989) added 20 points and 16 rebounds in the effort for Al Salam. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Al Ittihad is looking forward to face Al Nassr (#3) in Riyadh in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Al Salam will play at home against Al Safa and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Al Ittihad: M.Maker 19+5reb, S.Braimoh 16+6reb, M.AlMarwani 15+8reb+2ast, M.Almarwani 15+7reb+7ast, A.Scott 13+4reb+12ast, O.Albargawi 8+2reb+3ast
Al Salam: D.Clark 33+10reb+10ast, M.Samb 20+16reb+1ast, A.Swaileh 9+2reb+1ast, A.AlQassab 9+5reb+1ast, T.Aldhaif 3, H.Aldarwish 3+1reb