SBL Round 8 of Regular Season

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

First defeat of league's leader Al Ahli (7-1) against top-ranked Al Ittihad (8-0) 87-81 was the most important game of the last round. It ended at the same time the seven-game winning streak of Al Ahli. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Al Ittihad forced 20 Al Ahli turnovers. American point guard Keron DeShields (190-1992, college: Tennessee St., agency: Diamond Sports) orchestrated the victory by scoring 29 points and 6 assists (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line). Nigerian Suleiman Braimoh (203-1989, college: Rice) contributed with 14 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American forward Devin Ebanks (206-1989, college: WVU) replied with 25 points and 9 rebounds for Al Ahli. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Undefeated Al Ittihad have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader. Al Ahli at the other side dropped to the second place with one game lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Al Ittihad.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Al Nasr (6-2) against fourth ranked Al-Ula (6-2) on Friday night. Visiting Al Nasr was crushed by Al-Ula in 128-96. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international center Mohammed Alsuwailem (211-1998) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 12 points, 16 rebounds and 8 assists and Jonathan Gibson who added 29 points during the contest. American guard Donte McGill (190-1995, college: FIU) responded with 29 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. Al-Ula moved-up to third place, which they share with defeated Al Nasr.
Bottom-ranked Al Khewaildia is still unable to win any game. This time they lost on the road their eighth consecutive match to seventh ranked Al Safa (3-5) 79-64 on Friday evening. The winners were led by Cedrick Alley Jr who had that evening a double-double by scoring 19 points, 20 rebounds and 5 assists. Even 16 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists by Jermale Jones did not help to save the game for Al Khewaildia. Al Khewaildia's coach rotated ten players and allowed the starting five to rest. Al Safa moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Al Fateh and Al Salam. Al Khewaildia at the other side, also newcomer in the league, still closes the standings with eight games lost.

In the last two games of round 8 Al Fateh beat Al Salam on the road 82-78. Ohod won against Al Khaleej on its own court 76-68.



Al Ittihad - Al Ahli 87-81

First defeat of league's leader Al Ahli (7-1) against top-ranked Al Ittihad (8-0) 87-81 was the most important game of the last round. It ended at the same time the seven-game winning streak of Al Ahli. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Al Ittihad forced 20 Al Ahli turnovers. American point guard Keron DeShields (190-1992, college: Tennessee St., agency: Diamond Sports) orchestrated the victory by scoring 29 points and 6 assists (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line). Nigerian Suleiman Braimoh (203-1989, college: Rice) contributed with 14 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. American forward Devin Ebanks (206-1989, college: WVU) replied with 25 points and 9 rebounds and his fellow American import guard Darius Hall (188, college: Bryant & Str OH) added 13 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Al Ahli. Four Al Ahli players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Al Ittihad have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader. Al Ahli at the other side dropped to the second place with one game lost. They were replaced at the leadership position by Al Ittihad.
Top scorers:
Al Ittihad: K.DeShields 29+4reb+6ast, M.AlMarwani 14+7reb, S.Braimoh 14+7reb+1ast, O.Albargawi 8+5reb+1ast, M.Maker 6+6reb+2ast, N.Alabsi 5
Al Ahli: D.Ebanks 25+9reb, A.Shubayli 17+1reb+1ast, D.Hall 13+8reb+4ast, P.Jones III 13+9reb, K.Abdel-Gabar 7+2reb+2ast, A.Mahfuth 2+1ast

Al Salam - Al Fateh 78-82

There was a small surprise when eighth ranked Al Fateh (3-5) beat 5th ranked Al Salam (3-5) in Al-Awamiyah 82-78 on Friday. Al Fateh made 18-of-22 free shots (81.8 percent) during the game. The winners were led by American guard Shadell Millinghaus (188-1994, college: Georgetown, KY) who scored that evening 21 points and 8 rebounds and the former international guard Turki Almuhanna (183-1988) supported him with 15 points and 4 assists. Al Fateh's coach used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. Even a double-double of 25 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists and 7 blocks by Senegalese-Spanish power forward Mamadou Samb (210-1989) did not help to save the game for Al Salam. American guard Donte Clark (194-1994, college: Texas Southern) added 25 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists for the hosts. Al Fateh moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Al Safa and Al Salam.
Top scorers:
Al Fateh: S.Millinghaus 21+8reb+3ast, T.Almuhanna 15+3reb+4ast, H.Al-Mohammed 12+7reb+1ast, J.MBida 7+4reb, A.Al-Taher 4+1reb+2ast, H.Alrasheed 3+4reb
Al Salam: M.Samb 25+17reb+4ast, D.Clark 25+11reb+8ast, A.Swaileh 9+4reb+1ast, H.Binmohammed 9+1reb+4ast, M.Swaileh 8+4reb+3ast, R.Almatroud 2

Ohod - Al Khaleej 76-68

There was a minor upset when 6th ranked Al Khaleej (2-6) lost to ninth ranked Ohod (2-6) in Medina 68-76 on Friday. Ohod forced 25 Al Khaleej turnovers. The winners were led by American guard Kenny Hayes (189-1987, college: Miami, OH) who scored that evening 32 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists and Serbian forward Aleksandar Mitrovic (203-1990) supported him with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Even a double-double of 25 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks (was perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line !!!) by Canadian forward Richard Amardi (206-1990, college: Oregon, agency: BIG) did not help to save the game for Al Khaleej. American swingman Qyidar Davis (198-1993, college: Indiana St.) added 29 points and 8 rebounds for the guests. Ohod moved-up to eighth place, which they share with defeated Al Khaleej.
Top scorers:
Ohod: K.Hayes 32+6reb+6ast, A.Mitrovic 14+6reb+1ast, O.Alzahrani 11+3reb+2ast, A.Obaidi 8+6reb, E.Altasan 6+3reb+1ast, Y.Al-Hawosawi 5+1reb+1ast
Al Khaleej: Q.Davis 29+8reb, R.Amardi 25+14reb, A.Al-Darweesh 10+9reb+4ast, I.Entaif 2+2reb+1ast, H.Ali 2+7reb, M.Alahmed 0

Al Safa - Al Khewaildia 79-64

Bottom-ranked Al Khewaildia is still unable to win any game. This time they lost on the road their eighth consecutive match to seventh ranked Al Safa (3-5) 79-64 on Friday evening. The winners were led by American forward Cedrick Alley Jr (198, college: UTSA) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 19 points, 20 rebounds and 5 assists and South Sudanese guard Dhieu Abwok (196-2001, college: UTSA) supported him with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Even 16 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists by American guard Jermale Jones (185-1986, college: Tuskegee) did not help to save the game for Al Khewaildia. Manaf Alsalem added 18 points and 4 assists for the guests. Al Khewaildia's coach rotated ten players and allowed the starting five to rest. Al Safa moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Al Fateh and Al Salam. Al Khewaildia at the other side, also newcomer in the league, still closes the standings with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Safa: D.Abwok 23+10reb+2ast, C.Alley Jr. 19+20reb+5ast, A.Alahmed 14+7reb+3ast, L.Robertin 8+5reb, R.Almuaini 8+1reb, S.Hawsawi 5+4reb
Al Khewaildia: M.Alsalem 18+4reb+4ast, J.Jones 16+7reb+6ast, A.Al-Mahroos 13+5reb+1ast, Z.Tyson 6+14reb+1ast, K.Al-Ahmed 6, C.Berry 5+11reb+1ast

Al-Ula - Al Nasr 128-96

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Al Nasr (6-2) against fourth ranked Al-Ula (6-2) on Friday night. Visiting Al Nasr was crushed by Al-Ula in 128-96. Al-Ula dominated down low during the game scoring 74 of its points in the paint compared to Al Nasr's 38. They outrebounded Al Nasr 42-25 including a 31-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Al-Ula players were unselfish on offense dishing 28 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by Al Nasr's players. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international center Mohammed Alsuwailem (211-1998) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 12 points, 16 rebounds and 8 assists and American point guard Jonathan Gibson (188-1987, college: NM State) who added 29 points during the contest. American guard Donte McGill (190-1995, college: FIU) responded with 29 points and 8 rebounds and his fellow American import Erik McCree (202-1993, college: La Tech) scored 27 points and 5 rebounds. Five Al-Ula and four Al Nasr players scored in double figures. 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 moved-up to third place, which they share with defeated Al Nasr.
Top scorers:
Al-Ula: J.Gibson 29+2reb+3ast, T.Wimbush 24+3reb+3ast, S.Landesberg 21+7reb+2ast, A.Alalawi 13+2reb+4ast, M.Alsuwailem 12+16reb+8ast, A.Almukhtar 10+2reb
Al Nasr: D.McGill 29+8reb+3ast, E.McCree 27+5reb+3ast, N.Abo Jallas 16+3reb+3ast, S.Almutairi 14+1ast, F.Fakihi 4, Z.Hawsawi 3+6reb+1ast