Recap of Round 1 of Semi-Finals

Group Gulf

Kuwait - Kazma 101-87

Kuwait made 20-of-23 charity shots (87.0 percent) during the game. Haitian center Cady Lalanne (208-1992, college: UMass) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 27 points and 11 rebounds (made all of his eight free throws) for the winners and point guard Hamad Hasan (191-1997) chipped in 22 points and 6 rebounds. At the losing side American swingman Travis Leslie (193-1990, college: Georgia) responded with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals and point guard Ahmad Albaloushi (182-1990) scored 15 points and 9 assists. Five Kuwait and four Kazma players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games.
Top scorers:
Kuwait: C.Lalanne 27+11reb+2ast, H.Hasan 22+6reb+2ast, T.Carr 18+3reb+5ast, M.Georges-Hunt 15+3reb+7ast, A.Turki 11+2reb+1ast, M.Adnan 4+4reb
Kazma: T.Leslie 31+8reb+6ast, A.Albaloushi 15+3reb+9ast, C.Chapman 14+10reb+3ast, A.Abdulaziz 12+1reb+1ast, Y.Borhamah 9+5reb+4ast, N.Williams 3+2reb

Al-Manama - Al-Muharraq 86-78

Al-Manama looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. American players dominated the game. Swingman SirDominic Pointer (198-1992, college: St.John's) nailed a double-double by scoring 20 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists and 5 blocks for the winning side and forward Travin Thibodeaux (203-1996, college: New Orleans) accounted for 16 points and 7 rebounds. Four Al-Manama players scored in double figures. Ricky Ledo (201-1992, college: Providence, agency: Slash Sports) came up with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists and forward Tyler Wilkerson (203-1988, college: Marshall) added 24 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Al-Muharraq in the defeat.
Top scorers:
Al-Manama: A.Haji 21+1reb+2ast, S.Pointer 20+14reb+8ast, T.Thibodeaux 16+7reb+2ast, D.Ebanks 11+8reb+1ast, R.Ali 7+4reb+7ast, M.Hamoda 5+2reb+1ast
Al-Muharraq: T.Wilkerson 24+5reb+2ast, R.Ledo 18+12reb+5ast, B.Malabes 11+1reb+6ast, S.Ali 8+6reb+1ast, H.Ali 6+2reb, M.Nasser 5+7reb+2ast

Group West Asia

Al Riyadi - Sagesse 95-92

Al Riyadi looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by Sagesse's players. Worth to mention a great performance of Bosnian center Elmedin Kikanovic (211-1988) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 24 points and 13 rebounds. Guard Karim Zeinoun (188-1999) contributed with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. American point guard Jonathan Gibson (188-1987, college: NM State) answered with 27 points and swingman Ahmad Ibrahim (198-1992, college: Rice) added 19 points and 10 rebounds in the effort for Sagesse. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Sagesse's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help.
Top scorers:
Al Riyadi: E.Kikanovic 24+13reb+1ast, K.Zeinoun 18+6reb+5ast, A.Saoud 14+4reb+6ast, W.Arakji 14+6reb+6ast, M.Harris 10+1reb+2ast, H.Gyokchyan 9+3reb+6ast
Sagesse: J.Gibson 27+4reb+3ast, A.Ibrahim 19+10reb+1ast, C.Early 16+5reb+3ast, A.Deng 16+6reb+1ast, M.Khoueiry 5+3reb+2ast, O.Jamaleddine 4+1reb

Gorgan - Al Shurtah 102-64

Gorgan dominated down low during the game scoring 58 of its points in the paint compared to Al Shurtah's 38. They outrebounded Al Shurtah 43-31 including 29 on the defensive glass. Gorgan looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American point guard Will Cherry (185-1991, college: Montana) nailed 30 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and point guard Sina Vahedi (185-2001) accounted for 17 points and 5 assists. Gorgan's coach felt very confident that he used 11 players and allowed the starting five to rest. American guard Unique McLean (188-1997, college: SFC, agency: Blacktop Management) came up with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import forward Delwan Graham (200-1988, college: Jacksonville, agency: BIG) added 9 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Al Shurtah in the defeat.
Top scorers:
Gorgan: W.Cherry 30+6reb+2ast, V.Sina 17+2reb+5ast, M.Sheikhi 14+1ast, N.Rezaeifar 11+1reb+1ast, Y.Mohammad 8+7reb+1ast, S.Monji 6+9reb+1ast
Al Shurtah: U.McLean 24+6reb+4ast, T.Smith 10+1reb+1ast, M.Al-Khafaji 10+5reb, D.Graham 9+9reb+1ast, H.Talib 6+4reb+2ast, A.Ismael 3+6reb+7ast