TBL Round 5: Devil Rays lose the game and top position

Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

There was a change at the TBL leadership position after last games. The most important game of round 5 took place in Vietnam between two undefeated teams where MUBC crushed Devil Rays (4-1) 101-70 on Sunday night. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Devil Rays. It was a key game for the top position in the league. MUBC dominated down low during the game scoring 66 of its points in the paint compared to Devil Rays' 32. MUBC forced 25 Devil Rays turnovers and outrebounded them 51-38 including a 23-12 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 34 assists. The former international guard Jittaphon Towaroj (186-91) stepped up and scored 17 points and 6 assists for the winners and Natthaphat Biaesamrit chipped in 14 points and 7 rebounds. The former international swingman Chitchai Ananti (194-90) responded with 24 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Undefeated MUBC (5-0) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Hitech. Devil Rays at the other side dropped to the third place with one game lost. They share the position with TGE. They were replaced at the leadership position by Hitech. Devil Rays will play next round against league's leader Hitech trying to make it back to the top of the standings. MUBC will try to continue on its current victory against seventh ranked T-REX in Nakhon Ratchasima.
The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Hitech as it allowed them to take a leadership position after previous leader's (Devil Rays) loss. Hitech defeated 5th ranked SWU in Bangkok 79-71. International Montien Wongsawangtham (183-89) nailed a double-double by scoring 16 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals for the winning side and Frederick Jones-Goldstein accounted for 17 points and 5 rebounds. Center Afnan Charansarn (188-97) came up with 22 points for SWU in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for Hitech. As mentioned above they are at the top of the standings, which they share with MUBC. SWU at the other side keeps the fifth place with three games lost. They share the position with T-REX and Bangkok Tigers. SWU will play next round against strong TGE trying to get back on the winning streak. Hitech will try to continue on its current victory against third ranked Devil Rays at home.
Quite upsetting was Thunders' (#6) home defeat in a game versus seventh ranked Bangkok Tigers 92-83. The best player for the winners was Peeranat Semmesuk who scored 35 points (!!!) and 8 rebounds. Charles Christien produced a double-double by scoring 46 points (!!!) and 21 rebounds for the hosts. Thunders' coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Bangkok Tigers (2-3) moved-up to fifth place, which they share with T-REX and SWU. Thunders lost their fourth game in a row. They dropped to the eighth position with four games lost. Bangkok Tigers will meet at home bottom-ranked Mad Goat (#10) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Thunders will play against Dunkin' Raptors and hope to win that game.
Bottom-ranked Mad Goat (0-5) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their fifth consecutive match to fourth ranked TGE (4-1) 92-73. Sukhdave Ghogar orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 27 points and 21 rebounds. TGE's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for TGE. Defending champion moved-up to third place, which they share with Devil Rays. Mad Goat lost their fifth game in a row. They still close the standings with five games lost. TGE's next round opponent will be SWU (#5). Mad Goat will play against Bangkok Tigers (#6) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Bottom-ranked Dunkin' Raptors (0-5) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their fifth consecutive match to eighth ranked T-REX (2-3) 91-67 on Sunday evening. Americans were the main players on the court. DeAngelo Hamilton stepped up with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. T-REX's coach felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. T-REX moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Bangkok Tigers and SWU. Dunkin' Raptors lost their fifth game in a row. They still close the standings with five games lost. T-REX will face league's second-placed MUBC in Vietnam in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory.

TGE - Mad Goat 92-73

Bottom-ranked Mad Goat (0-5) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their fifth consecutive match to fourth ranked TGE (4-1) 92-73. TGE outrebounded Mad Goat 60-43 including a 25-10 advantage in offensive rebounds. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. The former international center Sukhdave Ghogar (195-90) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 27 points and 21 rebounds. Point guard Ngongo Bienvenue (182) contributed with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. Five TGE players scored in double figures. TGE's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Center Jonathan Chan-Has (204) answered with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 14 rebounds and point guard Wirakul Denkesineechailai (180) added 17 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for Mad Goat. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for TGE. Defending champion moved-up to third place, which they share with Devil Rays. Mad Goat lost their fifth game in a row. They still close the standings with five games lost. TGE's next round opponent will be SWU (#5). Mad Goat will play against Bangkok Tigers (#6) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
TGE: S.Ghogar 27+21reb+2ast, B.Ngongo 19+8reb+7ast, B.Lakhan 14+1reb+1ast, N.Kupadit 10+5reb+3ast, A.Langsui 10+4reb+1ast, P.Amornthep 5+4reb
Mad Goat: D.Wirakul 17+5reb, C.Jonathan 14+14reb+3ast, K.Dechsom 11+3reb+1ast, S.Maitampitak 8+4reb+7ast, J.Siri-In 8+4reb+1ast, W.Panklom 7+5reb+1ast

T-REX - Dunkin'' Raptors 91-67

Bottom-ranked Dunkin' Raptors (0-5) is still winless. This time they lost on the road their fifth consecutive match to eighth ranked T-REX (2-3) 91-67 on Sunday evening. T-REX dominated down low during the game scoring 74 of its points in the paint compared to Dunkin' Raptors' 52. They outrebounded Dunkin' Raptors 60-43 including 20 on the offensive glass. T-REX looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. Americans were the main players on the court. Power forward power forward DeAngelo Hamilton (203-90, college: WSU) (203-90, college: WSU) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners and point guard point guard Tanner Hazelbaker (184, college: WBU) (184, college: WBU) chipped in 26 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. T-REX's coach felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. Power forward power forward DeAngelo Hamilton (203-90, college: WSU) (203-90, college: WSU) responded with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists and point guard point guard Tanner Hazelbaker (184, college: WBU) (184, college: WBU) scored 26 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. T-REX moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Bangkok Tigers and SWU. Dunkin' Raptors lost their fifth game in a row. They still close the standings with five games lost. T-REX will face league's second-placed MUBC in Vietnam in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory.

Thunders - Bangkok Tigers 83-92

Quite upsetting was Thunders' (#6) home defeat in a game versus seventh ranked Bangkok Tigers 92-83. Bangkok Tigers forced 19 Thunders turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. The best player for the winners was the former international swingman Peeranat Semmesuk (195-95) who scored 35 points (!!!) and 8 rebounds. Filipino-American point guard Kevin Van-Hook (181-83, college: Corban) chipped in 22 points and 7 assists. American power forward Charles Christien (216-81, college: Villanova) produced a double-double by scoring 46 points (!!!) and 21 rebounds and guard Keeratikrit Inwicha (180-99) added 15 points and 4 assists respectively for the hosts. Thunders' coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Bangkok Tigers (2-3) moved-up to fifth place, which they share with T-REX and SWU. Thunders lost their fourth game in a row. They dropped to the eighth position with four games lost. Bangkok Tigers will meet at home bottom-ranked Mad Goat (#10) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Thunders will play against Dunkin' Raptors and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Bangkok Tigers: P.Semmesuk 35+8reb+1ast, K.Van Hook 22+4reb+7ast, P.Konan 11+8reb+3ast, K.Piyalangka 7+5reb+6ast, K.Niyomkan 5+6reb+3ast, K.Opamuratawongse 5+2reb+2ast
Thunders: C.Christien 46+21reb, I.Keeratikrit 15+4reb+4ast, S.Jamkrajang 8+7reb+1ast, S.Pattarapol 4+3reb+4ast, C.Natthaphong 4+1reb, M.Watthachai 2+2reb

Hitech - SWU 79-71

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Hitech as it allowed them to take a leadership position after previous leader's (Devil Rays) loss. Hitech defeated 5th ranked SWU in Bangkok 79-71. Hitech players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. International Montien Wongsawangtham (183-89) nailed a double-double by scoring 16 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals for the winning side and American-Israeli point guard Frederick Jones-Goldstein (178-88, college: USA) accounted for 17 points and 5 rebounds. Center Afnan Charansarn (188-97) came up with 22 points and Zimbabwean center John Kabwe (195-84) added 5 points and 15 rebounds respectively for SWU in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for Hitech. As mentioned above they are at the top of the standings, which they share with MUBC. SWU at the other side keeps the fifth place with three games lost. They share the position with T-REX and Bangkok Tigers. SWU will play next round against strong TGE trying to get back on the winning streak. Hitech will try to continue on its current victory against third ranked Devil Rays at home.
Top scorers:
Hitech: F.Jones-Goldstein 17+5reb+3ast, M.Wongsawangtham 16+13reb+5ast, C.Chuengyampin 12+5reb+1ast, N.Muangboon 8+9reb+5ast, K.Lertlaokul 6+1reb+2ast, N.Vivattanapongpetch 6+3reb+1ast
SWU: A.Charansarn 22+2reb+2ast, P.Tabtim 15+2reb+3ast, T.Noppachai 10+3reb, J.Srisuk 8+4reb+5ast, K.John 5+15reb+1ast, S.Jukkapong 4

MUBC - Devil Rays 101-70

There was a change at the TBL leadership position after last games. The most important game of round 5 took place in Vietnam between two undefeated teams where MUBC crushed Devil Rays (4-1) 101-70 on Sunday night. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Devil Rays. It was a key game for the top position in the league. MUBC dominated down low during the game scoring 66 of its points in the paint compared to Devil Rays' 32. MUBC forced 25 Devil Rays turnovers and outrebounded them 51-38 including a 23-12 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 34 assists. The former international guard Jittaphon Towaroj (186-91) stepped up and scored 17 points and 6 assists for the winners and Natthaphat Biaesamrit chipped in 14 points and 7 rebounds. Five MUBC players scored in double figures. The former international swingman Chitchai Ananti (194-90) responded with 24 points and the former international forward Teerawat Chanthachon (191-95) scored 16 points and 7 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. MUBC (5-0) have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Hitech. Devil Rays at the other side dropped to the third place with one game lost. They share the position with TGE. They were replaced at the leadership position by Hitech. Devil Rays will play next round against league's leader Hitech trying to make it back to the top of the standings. MUBC will try to continue on its current victory against seventh ranked T-REX in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Top scorers:
MUBC: J.Towaroj 17+4reb+6ast, B.Natthaphat 14+7reb+2ast, P.Chat 14+2reb+1ast, S.Peetchet 11+2reb+7ast, Y.Gabriel 11+8reb+3ast, B.Hiran 10+6reb+5ast
Devil Rays: C.Ananti 24+4reb+3ast, T.Chanthachon 16+7reb+3ast, B.Rittiphanyawong 10+2reb+4ast, N.Boonserm 7+8reb+5ast, B.Remington 4+5reb+2ast, J.Bundit 3+2reb+1ast



Tags : JITTAPHON TOWAROJ, MEKONG UNITED BC, THAILAND BASKETBALL