Round 5 of Regular Season

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most shocking disappointment of round 5 in the West Asia Super League was a home defeat of second-ranked Qatari Al Rayyan (1-2) to third ranked Bahrain Al-Muharraq (2-1) 79-65 in the game for the second place. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Al-Muharraq dominated down low during the game scoring 46 of its points in the paint compared to Al Rayyan's 26. American guard Ra'shad James (185-1990, college: Iona) stepped up and scored 20 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and his fellow American import Austin Daye (209-1988, college: Gonzaga, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in 13 points and 8 rebounds. Al-Muharraq's coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American guard Nick Griffin (188-1995, college: St.Peter's) responded with 27 points and 8 rebounds. Al-Muharraq moved-up to second place, which they share with Sagesse. Defending Qatari champion Al Rayyan dropped to the third position with two games lost. They share it with Al Ittihad. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Very significant was Lebanese Sagesse's (#2) 81-72 road victory against 3rd placed Syrian Al Ittihad. American guard Pierre Jackson (180-1991, college: Baylor, agency: Slash Sports) nailed 24 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and Radhouane Slimane accounted for 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Sagesse's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American point guard Ken Brown (180-1989, college: Philander Smith) came up with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists for Al Ittihad in the defeat. Sagesse maintains second place with 2-1 record behind leader Al-Manama, which they share with Al-Muharraq. Al Ittihad at the other side keeps the third position with two games lost. They share it with Al Rayyan. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Jeddah. 4th placed Saudi Arabian host Al Ahli (0-3) lost to leader Kuwaiti Kuwait (3-0) 110-92. The best player for the winners was Mohammad Hasan who scored 36 points (!!!), 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Devin Ebanks produced a double-double by scoring 28 points and 10 rebounds for the hosts. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Kuwait have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending Kuwaiti champion maintains first place with 3-0 record, which they share with Gorgan. Defending Saudi Arabian champion Al Ahli still closes the standings with three games lost. They share the position with Al Naft. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

In the last game of round 5 winless Al Naft lost to undefeated Gorgan on the opponent's court 59-100.

Group Gulf

Al Ahli - Kuwait 92-110

The game between Top Four teams took place in Jeddah. 4th placed Saudi Arabian host Al Ahli (0-3) lost to leader Kuwaiti Kuwait (3-0) 110-92. Kuwait outrebounded Al Ahli 40-28 including 27 on the defensive glass. Kuwait looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. The best player for the winners was center Mohammad Hasan (194-2000) who scored 36 points (!!!), 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Haitian center Cady Lalanne (208-1992, college: UMass) chipped in a double-double by scoring 16 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. American forward Devin Ebanks (206-1989, college: WVU) produced a double-double by scoring 28 points and 10 rebounds and the other American import forward Deandre Liggins (198-1988, college: Kentucky) added 30 points and 6 assists respectively for the hosts. Five Kuwait and four Al Ahli players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Kuwait have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending Kuwaiti champion maintains first place with 3-0 record, which they share with Gorgan. Defending Saudi Arabian champion Al Ahli still closes the standings with three games lost. They share the position with Al Naft. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Kuwait: M.Hasan 36+6reb+5ast, H.Hasan 18+6reb+4ast, C.Lalanne 16+11reb+5ast, T.Carr 15+6reb+10ast, J.Omran 14+10reb, A.Turki 6+3ast
Al Ahli: D.Liggins 30+3reb+6ast, D.Ebanks 28+10reb+3ast, M.Almuwallad 16+7reb+7ast, A.Shubayli 10+6reb+7ast, N.Althalabi 5+1reb, H.Binmohammed 2

Al Rayyan - Al-Muharraq 65-79

The most shocking disappointment of round 5 in the West Asia Super League was a home defeat of second-ranked Qatari Al Rayyan (1-2) to third ranked Bahrain Al-Muharraq (2-1) 79-65 in the game for the second place. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Al-Muharraq dominated down low during the game scoring 46 of its points in the paint compared to Al Rayyan's 26. American guard Ra'shad James (185-1990, college: Iona) stepped up and scored 20 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and his fellow American import Austin Daye (209-1988, college: Gonzaga, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in 13 points and 8 rebounds. Four Al-Muharraq players scored in double figures. Al-Muharraq's coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American guard Nick Griffin (188-1995, college: St.Peter's) responded with 27 points and 8 rebounds and Senegalese power forward Mouhammad Faye (207-1985, college: SMU) produced a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds. Al-Muharraq moved-up to second place, which they share with Sagesse. Defending Qatari champion Al Rayyan dropped to the third position with two games lost. They share it with Al Ittihad. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Al-Muharraq: R.James 20+7reb+1ast, T.Wilkerson 19+2reb, A.Daye 13+8reb+1ast, B.Malabes 11+5reb+4ast, M.Nasser 6+3reb, H.Ali 6+3reb+2ast
Al Rayyan: N.Griffin 27+8reb+2ast, M.Faye 15+10reb, M.Salem 10+4reb+4ast, M.Abdulla 6+4reb+4ast, M.Haracic 4+7reb+1ast, M.Al-Abdulrahman 3+1reb

Group West Asia

Gorgan - Al Naft 100-59

Rather expected game when 4th placed Iraqi Al Naft (0-3) was crushed on the road by leader Iranian Gorgan (3-0) 100-59 on Wednesday. Gorgan looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Al Naft's players. The best player for the winners was Lebanese-American forward Norvel Pelle (208-1993, college: Iona, agency: BIG) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points and 13 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Guard Navid Rezaeifar (185-1996) chipped in 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Gorgan players scored in double figures. Gorgan's coach felt very confident that he used entire bench and allowed the starting five to get some rest. American guard Shane Gibson (188-1990, college: Sacred Heart) produced 27 points and 5 rebounds and the other American import forward Antwaine Wiggins (203-1988, college: Charleston) added 10 points and 5 rebounds respectively for the guests. Gorgan have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending Iranian champion maintains first place with 3-0 record, which they share with Kuwait. Defending Iraqi champion Al Naft still closes the standings with three games lost. They share the position with Al Ahli. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Gorgan: N.Rezaeifar 18+5reb+4ast, N.Pelle 16+13reb, W.Cherry 12+3reb+5ast, V.Sina 12+1reb, A.Gholizadeh 11+1reb+3ast, M.Sheikhi 8+2reb+3ast
Al Naft: S.Gibson 27+5reb+3ast, A.Wiggins 10+5reb+2ast, N.Mohammed 8+7reb, A.Al-Draisawi 6+6reb+3ast, H.Aldiwani 4+5reb, A.Hameed 4+8reb+1ast

Al Ittihad - Sagesse 72-81

Very significant was Lebanese Sagesse's (#2) 81-72 road victory against 3rd placed Syrian Al Ittihad. American guard Pierre Jackson (180-1991, college: Baylor, agency: Slash Sports) nailed 24 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and Tunisian forward Radhouane Slimane (204-1980) accounted for 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Five Sagesse players scored in double figures. Sagesse's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American point guard Ken Brown (180-1989, college: Philander Smith) came up with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists and German-Syrian power forward Mohamad Atli (203-1995) added 20 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Al Ittihad in the defeat. Sagesse maintains second place with 2-1 record behind leader Al-Manama, which they share with Al-Muharraq. Al Ittihad at the other side keeps the third position with two games lost. They share it with Al Rayyan. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Sagesse: P.Jackson 24+6reb+3ast, K.Ezzeddine 13+5reb+2ast, R.Slimane 11+7reb+6ast, A.Ibrahim 11+5reb+2ast, B.Harfouch 10+4reb, M.Khoueiry 8+3reb+3ast
Al Ittihad: A.Mohamad 20+6reb+2ast, K.Brown 16+5reb+9ast, J.Saddir 10+9reb+1ast, A.Bakar 8+4reb+1ast, M.Milosevic 6+6reb, A.Michelsson 5+1reb