TPBL Round 9 (Regular Season): #1 Taiwan Beer L. is defeated by N.Taipei CTBC

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Leopards (10-2) against second ranked N.Taipei CTBC on Saturday night. N.Taipei CTBC were defeated by N.Taipei CTBC 85-75. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Leopards. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. N.Taipei CTBC outrebounded Taiwan Beer L. 53-38 including 38 on the defensive glass. Montenegrin forward Marko Todorovic (208-1992) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 17 rebounds for the winners and the former international forward Mohammad Gadiaga (188-1998) chipped in 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. N.Taipei CTBC's coach Momir Ratkovic used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was American-Liberian Lasan Kromah (198-1991, college: UConn, agency: LHZ Sport Agency) with a double-double by scoring 31 points and 12 rebounds (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!). N.Taipei CTBC have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain second place with 7-5 record having just three points less than leader Taiwan Beer L. Taiwan Beer L. at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. N.Taipei CTBC's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Taipei to the arena Kings.
Important game to mention about was the one when second ranked N.Taipei CTBC (7-5) saved a 3-point victory edging 6th ranked Kings (4-7) 114-111 on Sunday evening. Montenegrin forward Marko Todorovic (208-1992) nailed a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!), 17 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and Viktor Gaddefors accounted for 16 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). American-Jordanian Jalen Harris (196-1998, college: Nevada) came up with 31 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for Kings in the defeat. N.Taipei CTBC have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain second place with 7-5 record having just three points less than leader Taiwan Beer L. Kings lost third consecutive game. Defending champion keep the sixth position with seven games lost. N.Taipei CTBC's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Taipei to the arena Kings.
Bottom-ranked Aquas managed to get a fourth victory, breaking the series of two consecutive losses on Saturday night. This time they won against fifth-ranked Lioneers in Kaohsiung 99-89. The best player for the winners was Bogdan Bliznyuk who had a double-double by scoring 20 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Drew Pember who recorded a double-double by scoring 19 points and 17 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Kaohsiung A. maintains seventh place with 4-9 record. Lioneers lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the fifth position with six games lost. Kaohsiung A. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Lioneers will play against Taipei TM (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 9 Dreamers destroyed Kaohsiung A. 99-73.



Kaohsiung A. - Lioneers 99-89

Bottom-ranked Aquas managed to get a fourth victory, breaking the series of two consecutive losses on Saturday night. This time they won against fifth-ranked Lioneers in Kaohsiung 99-89. Kaohsiung A. made 16-of-18 free shots (88.9 percent) during the game. They also forced 24 Lioneers turnovers. Strangely Lioneers outrebounded Kaohsiung A. 42-30 including 29 on the defensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was Ukrainian Bogdan Bliznyuk (198-1995, college: EWU) who had a double-double by scoring 20 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists. Croatian center Kristijan Krajina (208-1990, college: Mt.St.Mary's, agency: 011 Sports) chipped in a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American power forward Drew Pember (211-2000, college: UNC Asheville) who recorded a double-double by scoring 19 points and 17 rebounds and guard Po-Yu Tseng (186-1996) added 10 points and 7 assists respectively. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Kaohsiung A. maintains seventh place with 4-9 record. Lioneers lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the fifth position with six games lost. Kaohsiung A. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Lioneers will play against Taipei TM (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Lioneers: D.Pember 19+17reb+1ast, T.Holyfield 16+5reb, A.Pasecniks 13+7reb, L.Cheng-Hsun 12+3reb+1ast, L.Kuan-Hsuan 11+3reb+2ast, P.Tseng 10+4reb+7ast
Kaohsiung A.: B.Bogdan 20+7reb+11ast, W.Su 19+2reb+4ast, O.Chris 18+2reb, H.Long-Mao 16+2reb, K.Kristijan 15+10reb+2ast, Y.Wu 5+4reb+4ast

N.Taipei CTBC - Taiwan Beer L. 85-75

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Leopards (10-2) against second ranked N.Taipei CTBC on Saturday night. N.Taipei CTBC were defeated by N.Taipei CTBC 85-75. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Leopards. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. N.Taipei CTBC outrebounded Taiwan Beer L. 53-38 including 38 on the defensive glass. Montenegrin forward Marko Todorovic (208-1992) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 17 rebounds for the winners and the former international forward Mohammad Gadiaga (188-1998) chipped in 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. N.Taipei CTBC's coach Momir Ratkovic used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was American-Liberian Lasan Kromah (198-1991, college: UConn, agency: LHZ Sport Agency) with a double-double by scoring 31 points and 12 rebounds (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!) and scored 13 points. N.Taipei CTBC have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain second place with 7-5 record having just three points less than leader Taiwan Beer L. Taiwan Beer L. at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. N.Taipei CTBC's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Taipei to the arena Kings.
Top scorers:
Taiwan Beer L.: L.Kromah 31+12reb+3ast, G.Jin-Wei 13+4reb+2ast, C.McCullough 9+6reb+1ast, L.Sin-Kuan 9+3ast, M.Miller 8+8reb+1ast, T.Yung-Chuan 3+3reb+1ast
N.Taipei CTBC: T.Marko 26+17reb+3ast, G.Bachir 17+8reb+5ast, Y.Hsieh 16+5reb+5ast, G.Viktor 9+7reb+1ast, R.Nemanja 9+9reb+1ast, H.Huang 4+2reb

Kaohsiung A. - Dreamers 73-99

Rather expected game when 7th ranked Aquas (4-9) were crushed by fourth ranked Dreamers (6-6) 99-73 on Sunday. Dreamers dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Aquas's 38. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Dreamers made 8 blocks. The best player for the winners was American forward Trey Thompkins (208-1990, college: Georgia, agency: Octagon Europe) who had a double-double by scoring 17 points and 11 rebounds. International center Brandon Gilbeck (213-1996, college: W.Illinois) chipped in a double-double by scoring 20 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocks (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). At the other side the best for losing team was Croatian center Kristijan Krajina (208-1990, college: Mt.St.Mary's, agency: 011 Sports) who recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points and 13 rebounds and Ukrainian Bogdan Bliznyuk (198-1995, college: EWU) added 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists respectively. Four Kaohsiung A. 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. Dreamers moved-up to third place. Loser Aquas stay at the bottom position with nine games lost. Dreamers will meet Lioneers (#5) in the next round. Kaohsiung A. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kaohsiung A.: C.Ortiz 14+3reb+2ast, S.Wen-Ju 13+2reb, K.Krajina 12+13reb+1ast, B.Bliznyuk 11+6reb+5ast, L.Hu 8+4reb+1ast, W.Yen-Lun 6+6reb+2ast
Dreamers: G.Brandon 20+11reb, W.Randall 17+4reb, T.Trey 17+11reb+3ast, K.Lu 11+1ast, Y.Chiang 9+5reb+3ast, C.Tsung-Hsien 7+2reb+2ast

N.Taipei CTBC - Kings 114-111

Important game to mention about was the one when second ranked N.Taipei CTBC (7-5) saved a 3-point victory edging 6th ranked Kings (4-7) 114-111 on Sunday evening. N.Taipei CTBC dominated down low during the game scoring 70 of its points in the paint compared to Kings' 50. N.Taipei CTBC players were unselfish on offense dishing 33 assists comparing to just 19 passes made by Kings' players. Montenegrin forward Marko Todorovic (208-1992) nailed a double-double by scoring 34 points (!!!), 17 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and Swedish forward Viktor Gaddefors (201-1992, agency: 011 Sports) accounted for 16 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). American-Jordanian Jalen Harris (196-1998, college: Nevada) came up with 31 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists and American-Bulgarian center Jason Washburn (213-1990, college: Utah, agency: Pensack Sports) added 21 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Kings in the defeat. Five N.Taipei CTBC and four Kings players scored in double figures. N.Taipei CTBC have a solid series of three victories in a row. They maintain second place with 7-5 record having just three points less than leader Taiwan Beer L. Kings lost third consecutive game. Defending champion keep the sixth position with seven games lost. N.Taipei CTBC's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Taipei to the arena Kings.
Top scorers:
Kings: J.Harris 31+6reb+6ast, J.Washburn 21+8reb, L.Yan-Ting 19+2reb+4ast, J.Gardner 14+7reb+1ast, H.Ryder 12+3reb, L.Joseph 9+1reb+7ast
N.Taipei CTBC: T.Marko 34+17reb+4ast, Y.Hsieh 17+4reb+7ast, G.Bachir 16+3reb+6ast, G.Viktor 16+10reb+5ast, C.Wei 13+2reb+7ast, R.Nemanja 12+5reb+4ast