BTL Round 9 (Regular Season): Hitech hands first defeat to Shoot it Dragons

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of undefeated Shoot it Dragons (8-1) at the home court on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Hitech (9-0) 89-82. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Shoot it Dragons. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Hitech forced 19 Shoot it Dragons turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was international center Emmanuel Ejesu (203-2004) who had a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds. American center Kierell Green (203-1997, college: Edinboro) chipped in 18 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Accheaus Fields (187-1997, college: Averett) who recorded a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!), 14 rebounds and 8 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Undefeated Hitech have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. They maintain first place with 9-0 record. Shoot it Dragons at the other side keep the second position with one game lost.
Bottom-ranked Gorillas (0-9) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 89-65 loss to fourth ranked TGE (6-3) in Bangkok. It was a good game for international center Anasawee Klaewnarong (199-1993) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 11 points and 17 rebounds. Jiravat Tantitanomwong contributed with 25 points for the winners. TGE's coach Apaipong Netsiriswan felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. American guard Daisone Hughes (189-2000, college: WOU) answered with a double-double by scoring 31 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals for Th.Gorillas. TGE moved-up to third place, which they share with Crypto Cobra. Th.Gorillas lost their ninth game in a row. They still close the standings with nine games lost.
The game in Pathum Thani supposed to be also quite interesting. Third ranked Crypto Cobra (6-3) played at the court of 7th ranked Pythons (3-6). Crypto Cobra smashed Pythons 111-89 on Saturday. Morakinyo Williams stepped up and scored 30 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. The best for the losing side was Sorot Sunthonsiri with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Crypto Cobra maintains third place with 6-3 record having just three points less than leader Hitech, which they share with TGE. Loser Pythons keep the seventh position with six games lost. They share it with Air Force.

In the last two games of round 9 White Lions were defeated by Banvas in Bangkok 76-67. Warriors were smashed by Air Force at home 63-126.
The best stats of 9th round was 40 points (!!!) and 24 rebounds by Donald Vaughn of Air Force.



TGE - Th.Gorillas 89-65

Bottom-ranked Gorillas (0-9) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 89-65 loss to fourth ranked TGE (6-3) in Bangkok. They also forced 19 Th.Gorillas turnovers and outrebounded them 52-30 including a 20-9 advantage in offensive rebounds. TGE players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. It was a good game for international center Anasawee Klaewnarong (199-1993) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 11 points and 17 rebounds. Forward Jiravat Tantitanomwong (195) contributed with 25 points for the winners. TGE's coach Apaipong Netsiriswan felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. American guard Daisone Hughes (189-2000, college: WOU) answered with a double-double by scoring 31 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals and forward Chinathip Poungmala (188-2003) added 22 points in the effort for Th.Gorillas. TGE moved-up to third place, which they share with Crypto Cobra. Th.Gorillas lost their ninth game in a row. They still close the standings with nine games lost.
Top scorers:
Th.Gorillas: D.Hughes 31+12reb+7ast, C.Poungmala 22+4reb+2ast, R.Duangkeaw 8+3reb+2ast, K.Peeraphat 2+3reb+1ast, J.Umnongbua 2+6reb+1ast, N.Sukdech 0+1reb
TGE: J.Tantitanomwong 25+2reb+1ast, A.Klaewnarong 11+17reb+1ast, L.Sornchat 11+2reb+2ast, P.Klahan 8+7reb+2ast, I.Diaby 7+4reb+4ast, T.Julathep 6+2reb

Pythons - Crypto Cobra 89-111

The game in Pathum Thani supposed to be also quite interesting. Third ranked Crypto Cobra (6-3) played at the court of 7th ranked Pythons (3-6). Crypto Cobra smashed Pythons 111-89 on Saturday. Crypto Cobra forced 20 Pythons turnovers and outrebounded them 52-40 including 16 on the offensive glass. Crypto Cobra looked well-organized offensively handing out 31 assists. British center Morakinyo Williams (209-1988, college: Citadel) stepped up and scored 30 points and 8 rebounds for the winners and American Shaheed Davis (206-1994, college: UCF) chipped in 25 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Four Crypto Cobra players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was the former international guard Sorot Sunthonsiri (186-1993) with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists and international guard Pongsakorn Jaimsawad (179-2000) scored 17 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. Crypto Cobra maintains third place with 6-3 record having just three points less than leader Hitech, which they share with TGE. Loser Pythons keep the seventh position with six games lost. They share it with Air Force.
Top scorers:
Pythons: J.Towaroj 17+2reb+1ast, P.Jaimsawad 17+4reb+2ast, S.Sunthonsiri 13+5reb+8ast, S.Thitikhunrat 7+3reb+3ast, K.Hanpanitsakul 6+4reb+5ast, B.Janthong 6+2reb+3ast
Crypto Cobra: M.Williams 30+8reb, S.Davis 25+6reb+6ast, N.Biasumrit 24+11reb+1ast, D.Thacharin 14+7reb+7ast, T.Sirijariyaporn 6+10reb+8ast, L.Kittitep 5+3reb+2ast

Shoot it Dragons - Hitech 82-89

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of undefeated Shoot it Dragons (8-1) at the home court on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Hitech (9-0) 89-82. It ended at the same time the eight-game winning streak of Shoot it Dragons. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Hitech forced 19 Shoot it Dragons turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The best player for the winners was international center Emmanuel Ejesu (203-2004) who had a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds. American center Kierell Green (203-1997, college: Edinboro) chipped in a double-double by scoring 18 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. Four Hitech players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Accheaus Fields (187-1997, college: Averett) who recorded a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!), 14 rebounds and 8 assists and the other American import Eric Freeman (201-1997, college: Brunswick) added 11 points, 14 rebounds and 7 blocks respectively. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Hitech have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. They maintain first place with 9-0 record. Shoot it Dragons at the other side keep the second position with one game lost.
Top scorers:
Shoot it Dragons: A.Fields 35+14reb+8ast, P.Techasamran 15+1reb, E.Freeman 11+14reb+2ast, J.Haase 9+3reb+1ast, T.Vichaithamkun 7+1reb+2ast, A.Piromtrakool 3
Hitech: E.Ejesu 19+12reb+2ast, K.Green 18+11reb+2ast, N.Muangboon 17+5ast, F.Lish 16+1reb+3ast, N.Jaisanuk 11+3reb+4ast, A.Leelaphipatkul 8+4reb+6ast

Banvas - White Lions 76-67

Everything could happen in Bangkok at the game between two tied teams. Both fifth ranked Banvas and 6th ranked White Lions had identical 4-4 record. This time Banvas used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from 76-67 on Saturday night. Banvas outrebounded White Lions 52-28 including a 40-25 advantage in defensive rebounds. Canadian-Jamaican swingman Kareem Jackson (195-1988) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 18 rebounds for the winners and American guard Marcus Hammond (191-2000, college: Notre Dame) chipped in 19 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. The best for the losing side was the former international forward Afnan Charansarn (186-1997) with 21 points and 6 assists and Beninese-Turkish guard Marc Seylan-Agbo (193-1992, college: UMES) scored 18 points and 5 rebounds. The victory was the third consecutive win for Banvas. They maintain fifth place with 5-4 record. Loser White Lions keep the sixth position with five games lost.
Top scorers:
White Lions: A.Charansarn 21+2reb+6ast, M.Seylan-Agbo 18+5reb+3ast, O.Thielemans 10+8reb+2ast, N.Franco 8+2reb+1ast, E.To-Ngiw 4+3reb, S.Kaeolaemya 4+7reb+5ast
Banvas: K.Jackson 21+18reb+3ast, M.Hammond 19+11reb+5ast, S.Rongruang 11+4reb+1ast, K.Samerjai 9+9reb+4ast, M.Weraporasu 8+4reb+2ast, S.Watngam 5+2reb+2ast

Warriors - Air Force 63-126

The game between closely ranked teams ended with eighth ranked Air Force's (3-6) road victory over 9th ranked Warriors (1-8) 126-63 on Saturday. Air Force dominated down low during the game scoring 84 of its points in the paint compared to Warriors' 38. Air Force forced 22 Warriors turnovers and outrebounded them 59-26 including a 19-7 advantage in offensive rebounds. Air Force looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 16 passes made by Warriors' players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Air Force made 8 blocks. American forward Donald Vaughn (195-1990, college: VWU) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 40 points (!!!) and 24 rebounds for the winners and center Phongphuet Thuphairo (197-2000) chipped in 18 points and 10 rebounds. Vaughn is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top summer league for players who want to play basketball overseas. The best for the losing side was American guard Javan Smith (188-1996, college: Palm Beach) with 36 points (!!!) and 5 rebounds and point guard Tanapon Saechua (175-1996) scored 9 points and 5 assists. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to get some rest. Air Force moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Pythons. Warriors lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the ninth position with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Warriors: J.Smith 36+5reb+3ast, T.Saechua 9+5ast, T.Laotrakoon 4+1reb+3ast, D.Dentmond 4+9reb, T.Phomin 3+1reb+4ast, A.Faerut 2+1reb+1ast
Air Force: D.Vaughn 40+24reb+2ast, P.Thuphairo 18+10reb, C.Prathoomma 14+2reb+2ast, W.Iadprab 9+2reb+1ast, S.Aiadsan 7+5reb, P.Jaruwattanapanich 7+1reb+7ast