ABL Round 3 (Regular Season): Gence loses to Nakhchivan

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The biggest surprise of round 3 in ABL took place in where host Nakhchivan (2-0) edged Gence (1-1) 72-70 on Sunday evening. The best player for the winners was American guard Dasean Stevens (190, college: CSUDH) who scored 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Lithuanian forward Oleg Kojenets (213-2003, college: Stony Brook) chipped in 8 points and 11 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Latavious Mitchell (203-2002, college: FMU) who recorded a double-double by scoring 11 points and 11 rebounds. Gence's coach Martin Knezevic rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help.
Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Baku: Sabah (#3) and NTD (#7). Sabah (2-0) crushed visiting NTD (0-3) by 25 points 100-75. The game was dominated by American players. It was a good game for guard Michael Ertel II (187-1999, college: UAB) who led his team to a victory with 21 points and 8 assists. Gerry Blakes contributed with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Power forward JQuan Ewing (206-2002, college: St.Peter's) answered with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 14 rebounds for NTD. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games.

In the last game of round 3 Sumqayit lost to undefeated Neftci in Baku 69-86.



Sabah - NTD 100-75:
Another exciting game was a derby match between two teams from Baku: Sabah (#3) and NTD (#7). Sabah (2-0) crushed visiting NTD (0-3) by 25 points 100-75. Sabah players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. They brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. The game was dominated by American players. It was a good game for guard Michael Ertel II (187-1999, college: UAB) who led his team to a victory with 21 points and 8 assists. Gerry Blakes (193-1993, college: Arizona St., agency: BIG) contributed with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Power forward JQuan Ewing (206-2002, college: St.Peter's) answered with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 14 rebounds and guard Cobie Montgomery (193-2001, college: Southern Miss, agency: BIG) added 20 points in the effort for NTD. Five Sabah and four NTD 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.
Top scorers:
Sabah: E.Michael 21+1reb+8ast, B.Gerry 15+7reb+6ast, S.Mindaugas 14+4reb+1ast, M.Charles 14+2reb+3ast, B.Quincy 12+4reb+3ast, A.Ifeanyichukwu 9+8reb
NTD: C.Montgomery 20+3reb+1ast, H.Mahammad 16+2reb+4ast, J.Ewing 14+14reb, M.Mirzayev 10+1reb+1ast, S.Galen 8+9reb+2ast, H.Maqsud 4+1reb+6ast

Nakhchivan - Gence 72-70:
The biggest surprise of round 3 in ABL took place in where host Nakhchivan (2-0) edged Gence (1-1) 72-70 on Sunday evening. The best player for the winners was American guard Dasean Stevens (190, college: CSUDH) who scored 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Lithuanian forward Oleg Kojenets (213-2003, college: Stony Brook) chipped in 8 points and 11 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Latavious Mitchell (203-2002, college: FMU) who recorded a double-double by scoring 11 points and 11 rebounds and the other American import Montavious Murphy (205-2001, college: SF Austin, agency: Olsta) added 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists respectively. Four Nakhchivan and five Gence players scored in double figures. Gence's coach Martin Knezevic rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help.
Top scorers:
Nakhchivan: S.Dasean 17+7reb+4ast, M.Babayev 12+3reb, K.Christian 11+4reb, H.Jeremy 10+4reb+2ast, O.Kojenets 8+11reb+2ast, B.Jamaal 7+2reb+5ast
Gence: B.Camara 15+7reb+1ast, M.Murphy 13+6reb+4ast, K.Magee 11+1reb+2ast, L.Mitchell 11+11reb+2ast, J.Garrett 10+3reb+8ast, X.Rhodes 7+2reb+1ast

Neftci - Sumqayit 86-69:
There was no surprise in Baku where Sumqayit (1-2) was defeated by Neftci (2-0) 86-69. Neftci outrebounded Sumqayit 46-31 including 33 on the defensive glass. Neftci players were unselfish on offense dishing 29 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by Sumqayit's players. It was a good game for American forward Zach Hicks (203-2003, college: Penn State, agency: Octagon Europe) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Serbian Aleksa Stepanovic (206-1998, agency: 011 Sports) contributed with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Four Neftci players scored in double figures. American forward Malek Green (201-1999, college: YSU) answered with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds and the other American import guard Teyvion Kirk (193-1999, college: UIC) added 17 points in the effort for Sumqayit.
Top scorers:
Neftci: S.Aleksa 21+11reb+3ast, H.Zach 19+14reb+4ast, U.Turgut 15+2reb+2ast, S.Milic 12+9reb+9ast, A.Jabrayil 8+1reb+1ast, P.Shakael 6+8reb+8ast
Sumqayit: M.Green 18+12reb+2ast, T.Kirk 17+4reb+1ast, J.Watson 16+2reb+2ast, J.Archie 8+4reb+2ast, A.Holt 4+4reb, J.Ogundele 3+1reb