SBL Round 7 (Regular Season): Al Ahli hands first defeat to Al Nassr

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Al Nassr (6-1) in Jeddah on Friday night. Visitors were defeated by Al Ahli (7-0) 113-103. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Al Nassr. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Al Ahli looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. 25 personal fouls committed by Al Nassr helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The game was dominated by American players. Forward Devin Ebanks (206-1989, college: WVU) fired a double-double by scoring 28 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Forward Perry Jones III (211-1991, college: Baylor, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in 21 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. Guard Donte McGill (190-1995, college: FIU) produced 32 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Undefeated Al Ahli have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain first place with 7-0 record, which they share with Al Ittihad. Al Nassr at the other side keeps the third position with one game lost. Al Ahli's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Jeddah to the arena Al Ittihad.
Bottom-ranked Al Khewaildia (0-7) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 69-55 loss to seventh ranked Al Fateh (2-5) in Al Hasa. Worth to mention a great performance of Cameroonian center Junior MBida (206-1990) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 13 points and 14 rebounds. Shadell Millinghaus contributed with 11 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. American forward Chase Berry (198-1998, college: Boise St.) answered with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds for Al Khewaildia. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Al Fateh moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Al Khaleej and Al Safa. Al Khewaildia lost their seventh game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings with seven games lost. Al Fateh will play against higher ranked Al Salam (#5) in Al-Awamiyah in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Khewaildia will play on the road against Al Safa (#7) in Safwa and hopes to get finally their first victory.
The game in Al-Awamiyah supposed to be also quite interesting. Fourth ranked Al-Ula (5-2) played at the court of 5th ranked Al Salam (3-4). Al-Ula smashed Al Salam 88-57 on Friday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Salam. It was a great evening for Sylven Landesberg who led his team to a victory scoring 29 points and 7 rebounds. At the losing side Donte Clark responded with 14 points and 8 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Newly promoted Al-Ula maintains fourth place with 5-2 record. Loser Al Salam keeps the fifth position with four games lost. Al-Ula will meet at home higher ranked Al Nassr (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Salam will play against Al Fateh and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 7 Al Safa was defeated by Al Khaleej in a road game 86-80. Ohod lost to undefeated Al Ittihad at home 55-91.
The best stats of 7th round was 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists by Keron DeShields of Al Ittihad.



Al Salam - Al-Ula 57-88

The game in Al-Awamiyah supposed to be also quite interesting. Fourth ranked Al-Ula (5-2) played at the court of 5th ranked Al Salam (3-4). Al-Ula smashed Al Salam 88-57 on Friday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Al Salam. Al-Ula dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Al Salam's 22. They outrebounded Al Salam 54-30 including a 44-24 advantage in defensive rebounds. Al-Ula looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. It was a great evening for American-Austrian swingman Sylven Landesberg (198-1990, college: Virginia) who led his team to a victory scoring 29 points and 7 rebounds. American forward Thomas Wimbush (201-1993, college: Fairmont St., agency: Slash Sports) helped adding 15 points and 13 rebounds. Four Al-Ula players scored in double figures. At the losing side American guard Donte Clark (194-1994, college: Texas Southern) responded with 14 points and 8 rebounds and Senegalese-Spanish power forward Mamadou Samb (210-1989) produced a double-double by scoring 11 points and 10 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Newly promoted Al-Ula maintains fourth place with 5-2 record. Loser Al Salam keeps the fifth position with four games lost. Al-Ula will meet at home higher ranked Al Nassr (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Salam will play against Al Fateh and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Al Salam: D.Clark 14+8reb+2ast, M.Samb 11+10reb+1ast, A.AlQassab 10+1reb+2ast, R.Almatroud 8+1reb+1ast, M.Swaileh 7+3reb+2ast, T.Aldhaif 3+2reb
Al-Ula: S.Landesberg 29+7reb+3ast, T.Wimbush 15+13reb+2ast, A.Alalawi 14+3reb, M.Alsuwailem 10+12reb+4ast, M.Alsaqer 8+4reb+9ast, H.Hussain 5+9reb

Al Fateh - Al Khewaildia 69-55

Bottom-ranked Al Khewaildia (0-7) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 69-55 loss to seventh ranked Al Fateh (2-5) in Al Hasa. Worth to mention a great performance of Cameroonian center Junior MBida (206-1990) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 13 points and 14 rebounds. American guard Shadell Millinghaus (188-1994, college: Georgetown, KY) contributed with a double-double by scoring 11 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. American forward Chase Berry (198-1998, college: Boise St.) answered with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds and Manaf Alsalem added 13 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Al Khewaildia. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Al Fateh moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Al Khaleej and Al Safa. Al Khewaildia lost their seventh game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings with seven games lost. Al Fateh will play against higher ranked Al Salam (#5) in Al-Awamiyah in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Al Khewaildia will play on the road against Al Safa (#7) in Safwa and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Al Khewaildia: C.Berry 20+10reb+1ast, M.Alsalem 13+11reb+4ast, Z.Tyson 9+11reb, J.Jones 9+3reb, A.Al-Mahroos 2+1reb, K.Al-Ahmed 2+1reb
Al Fateh: J.MBida 13+14reb+1ast, A.Al-Khodeir 13+1ast, S.Millinghaus 11+13reb+4ast, T.Almuhanna 9+3reb+2ast, H.Aljohar 9+5reb+1ast, S.Al-Subaiei 9+2reb

Al Ahli - Al Nassr 113-103

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Al Nassr (6-1) in Jeddah on Friday night. Visitors were defeated by Al Ahli (7-0) 113-103. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Al Nassr. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Al Ahli looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. 25 personal fouls committed by Al Nassr helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The game was dominated by American players. Forward Devin Ebanks (206-1989, college: WVU) fired a double-double by scoring 28 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Forward Perry Jones III (211-1991, college: Baylor, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in a double-double by scoring 21 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. Guard Donte McGill (190-1995, college: FIU) produced 32 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists and Erik McCree (202-1993, college: La Tech) added 31 points and 11 rebounds respectively for lost side. Five Al Ahli and four Al Nassr players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Al Ahli have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They maintain first place with 7-0 record, which they share with Al Ittihad. Al Nassr at the other side keeps the third position with one game lost. Al Ahli's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Jeddah to the arena Al Ittihad.
Top scorers:
Al Nassr: D.McGill 32+8reb+7ast, E.McCree 31+11reb+3ast, S.Almutairi 12+1reb+4ast, N.Abo Jallas 10+4reb, A.Alhawsawi 9+10reb, Z.Hawsawi 5+2reb+1ast
Al Ahli: D.Ebanks 28+11reb+4ast, P.Jones III 21+13reb+4ast, A.Shubayli 18+2reb, K.Abdel-Gabar 15+5reb+6ast, M.Almuwallad 13+3reb+6ast, D.Hall 10+2reb+1ast

Al Khaleej - Al Safa 86-80

There was a minor upset when 6th ranked Al Safa (2-5) was defeated on the road by eighth ranked Al Khaleej (2-5) 86-80 on Friday. Al Khaleej dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Al Safa's 34. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Al Khaleej made 7 blocks. It was a great evening for American swingman Qyidar Davis (198-1993, college: Indiana St.) who led his team to a victory scoring 24 points and 8 rebounds. Canadian forward Richard Amardi (206-1990, college: Oregon, agency: BIG) helped adding 18 points and 12 rebounds. Davis is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Five Al Khaleej players scored in double figures. At the losing side American forward Cedrick Alley Jr (198, college: UTSA) responded with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists and South Sudanese guard Dhieu Abwok (196-2001, college: UTSA) scored 28 points and 6 rebounds. Al Khaleej moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Al Fateh and Al Safa. Al Khaleej will meet Ohod (#9) in the next round. Al Safa will play against Al Khewaildia and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Al Safa: D.Abwok 28+6reb+2ast, C.Alley Jr. 22+14reb+5ast, R.Alahmed 11+7reb+1ast, A.Qashqri 8+4reb+2ast, A.Alahmed 6+4reb, L.Robertin 2+8reb
Al Khaleej: Q.Davis 24+8reb+2ast, R.Amardi 18+12reb+1ast, A.Al-Darweesh 14+8reb+5ast, H.Ali 13+8reb+1ast, I.Entaif 12+4reb+2ast, M.Al-Hezam 5+4reb

Ohod - Al Ittihad 55-91

No shocking result in a game in Medina where leader Al Ittihad (7-0) smashed 9th ranked Ohod (1-6) 91-55 on Friday. Al Ittihad dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Ohod's 30. They outrebounded Ohod 51-28 including a 22-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. It was a great evening for American point guard Keron DeShields (190-1992, college: Tennessee St., agency: Diamond Sports) who led his team to a victory scoring 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. International forward Mohammed Kadi (192-1998) helped adding 17 points and 10 rebounds. Four Al Ittihad players scored in double figures. Al Ittihad's coach Slobodan Subotic felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to get some rest. At the losing side American guard Kenny Hayes (189-1987, college: Miami, OH) responded with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists (made all of his eleven free throws !!!) and the other American import center Fuquan Niles (211-1995, college: CWU, agency: Interperformances) scored 7 points and 6 rebounds. The victory was the seventh consecutive win for Al Ittihad. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Al Ahli. Loser Ohod keeps the ninth place with six games lost. Al Ittihad's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Jeddah Al Ahli.
Top scorers:
Ohod: K.Hayes 21+5reb+4ast, M.Altasan 8+1reb+2ast, F.Niles 7+6reb, M.Alhawsawi 6+4reb, O.Alzahrani 5+1reb, A.Mitrovic 4+3reb+2ast
Al Ittihad: K.DeShields 17+8reb+5ast, M.Kadi 17+10reb+1ast, M.Maker 11+8reb, S.Braimoh 11+7reb+3ast, N.Alabsi 8+1reb+1ast, O.Albargawi 6+3reb