ABL Round 12 (Regular Season): Sabah lose to Xirdalan

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Top ranked Sabah (10-2) recorded its second loss in Baku on Wednesday night. Hosts were defeated by fifth ranked Xirdalan (7-5) 107-103. It ended at the same time the seven-game winning streak of Sabah. Xirdalan made 24-of-30 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. 25 personal fouls committed by Sabah helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was Australian point guard Jesse Ghee (183-1995, college: Fullerton JC) who scored 32 points, 7 assists and 5 steals. American Jacorie Archie (198-1995, college: GSW) chipped in 31 points and 10 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Kyvon Davenport (203-1997, college: Memphis, agency: BIG) who recorded a double-double by scoring 24 points and 12 rebounds. Xirdalan have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain fifth position with 7-5 record. Defending champion Sabah still keeps top place with two games lost. They share the position with NTD and Xezri.
Bottom-ranked Sheki (0-11) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 72-65 loss to fourth ranked Neftci (7-4) in Sheki. It was a good game for American center Fuquan Niles (211-1995, college: CWU, agency: Interperformances) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 19 rebounds and 7 assists. Zaur Gushanov contributed with 17 points for the winners. American forward Simeus Webster (203-1999, college: York, NE) replied with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds for Sheki. Sheki's coach Alex Owoicho rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Neftci maintains fourth position with 7-4 record. Sheki at the other side still closes the standings with 11 games lost.
The game in Sumqayit supposed to be also quite interesting. Sixth ranked Serhedci (5-7) played at the court of 8th ranked Sumqayit (3-9). Serhedci smashed Sumqayit 91-63 on Friday. Worth to mention a great performance of Leon Gilmore III who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 10 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Serhedci's coach Vladimir Bosnjak felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was Leonard Dixon with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds. Serhedci have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain sixth position with 5-7 record. Sumqayit lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the eighth place with nine games lost. They share the position with Gence.

In the last two games of round 12 Jalilabad was crushed by Xezri in a road game 100-81. Gence was beaten by NTD at home 80-94.



Xezri - Jalilabad 100-81

There was no surprise when 6th ranked Jalilabad (4-8) was crushed on the road by third ranked Xezri (10-2) 100-81 on Wednesday. Xezri looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The game was dominated by American players. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Jordan Perkins (185-1998, college: Longwood) who helped to win the game recording 23 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 6 steals and Jeremy McLaughlin (203-1995, college: Catawba) who added 15 points and 10 rebounds during the contest. Five Xezri players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was forward Jamani Pierce (200-1996, college: ENMU) with 21 points and 5 rebounds and Julian Powell (206-1996, college: Lincoln) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Xezri have a solid three-game winning streak. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with NTD and Sabah. Jalilabad lost third consecutive game. Jalilabad at the other side, also newcomer in the league, dropped to the seventh place with eight games lost.
Top scorers:
Jalilabad: J.Pierce 21+5reb+1ast, R.Johnson 19+5reb+2ast, J.Powell 16+10reb+1ast, L.Gogaladze 8+2reb+3ast, G.Abdulmetin 6+4reb, R.Johnson 6+5reb
Xezri: J.Perkins 23+7reb+9ast, A.Hamzayev 17+8reb+1ast, J.McLaughlin 15+10reb+1ast, A.Platek 14+3reb+3ast, A.McAlpine 12+3reb+4ast, Y.Mohamed 11+1reb

Sabah - Xirdalan 103-107

Top ranked Sabah (10-2) recorded its second loss in Baku on Wednesday night. Hosts were defeated by fifth ranked Xirdalan (7-5) 107-103. It ended at the same time the seven-game winning streak of Sabah. Xirdalan made 24-of-30 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. 25 personal fouls committed by Sabah helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was Australian point guard Jesse Ghee (183-1995, college: Fullerton JC) who scored 32 points, 7 assists and 5 steals. American Jacorie Archie (198-1995, college: GSW) chipped in a double-double by scoring 31 points and 10 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Kyvon Davenport (203-1997, college: Memphis, agency: BIG) who recorded a double-double by scoring 24 points and 12 rebounds and the former international power forward Ender Poladkhanli (198-1998) added 23 points and 11 rebounds respectively. Five Sabah players scored in double figures. Xirdalan have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain fifth position with 7-5 record. Defending champion Sabah still keeps top place with two games lost. They share the position with NTD and Xezri.
Top scorers:
Sabah: K.Davenport 24+12reb+2ast, E.Poladkhanli 23+11reb+2ast, S.Shirzadov 16+4reb+3ast, M.Holton Jr. 14+5reb+5ast, A.Wilson 12+6reb+1ast, D.Cambridge Jr. 7+4reb+6ast
Xirdalan: J.Ghee 32+3reb+7ast, J.Archie 31+10reb+1ast, T.Kirk 21+7reb+1ast, B.Necef 6+6reb+1ast, J.Haslem 6+6reb+2ast, F.Alakbarov 5+3reb+3ast

Sumqayit - Serhedci 63-91

The game in Sumqayit supposed to be also quite interesting. Sixth ranked Serhedci (5-7) played at the court of 8th ranked Sumqayit (3-9). Serhedci smashed Sumqayit 91-63 on Friday. Serhedci made 20-of-24 free shots (83.3 percent) during the game. Serhedci outrebounded Sumqayit 54-31 including a 38-24 advantage in defensive rebounds. Serhedci looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American Leon Gilmore III (201-1995, college: SF Austin, agency: VM Hoops Agency) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 10 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists and Canadian forward Ben Stevens (207-1999, college: Laurier) who added 9 points and 14 rebounds during the contest. Serhedci's coach Vladimir Bosnjak felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was American guard Leonard Dixon (201-1999, college: ECU) with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds and his fellow American import guard Jay Murrell (193-1997, college: KSU) scored 17 points and 6 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Serhedci have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain sixth position with 5-7 record. Sumqayit lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the eighth place with nine games lost. They share the position with Gence.
Top scorers:
Sumqayit: J.Murrell 17+4reb+6ast, L.Dixon 16+10reb+3ast, R.Smith 11+3reb, T.Randall 10+1reb+5ast, J.Andrews 6+1reb, O.Murad 3+1reb+4ast
Serhedci: T.Cracknell 16+5reb, J.Akbarov 14+6reb+1ast, K.Hunter 13+5reb+4ast, L.Gilmore III 10+10reb+4ast, B.Miller 9+4reb+7ast, B.Stevens 9+14reb+1ast

Gence - NTD 80-94

No shocking result in a game in Ganja where third ranked NTD (10-2) defeated 8th ranked Gence (3-9) 94-80 on Saturday. NTD outrebounded Gence 57-36 including a 36-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. NTD looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American power forward Galen Smith (204, college: Mississippi Coll.) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 27 points and 16 rebounds and the other American import point guard Griffin Ramme (190-1989, college: Chapman) who added 18 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was Canadian forward Irshaad Hunte (203-1996, college: TAMUCC) with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 14 rebounds and American forward Jules Moor (201-1999, college: UNT Dallas) scored 17 points and 7 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. NTD keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Sabah and Xezri. Gence lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with nine games lost. They share the position with Sumqayit.
Top scorers:
Gence: J.Moor 17+7reb, Y.Tariel 15+3reb, I.Hunte 15+14reb+1ast, D.Rhodes 13+4reb+5ast, M.Alibay 12+1reb+1ast, T.Horton 4+3ast
NTD: G.Smith 27+16reb+2ast, A.Mammadov 19+12reb+1ast, G.Ramme 18+11reb+9ast, B.Younger 12+6reb+4ast, E.Shirzadov 8+5reb+3ast, D.Westbrook 6+4reb+4ast

Sheki - Neftci 65-72

Bottom-ranked Sheki (0-11) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 72-65 loss to fourth ranked Neftci (7-4) in Sheki. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. It was a good game for American center Fuquan Niles (211-1995, college: CWU, agency: Interperformances) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 19 rebounds and 7 assists. The former international guard Zaur Gushanov (187-1987) contributed with 17 points for the winners. American forward Simeus Webster (203-1999, college: York, NE) replied with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds and Dyron King (, agency: HSEA) added 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Sheki. Sheki's coach Alex Owoicho rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Neftci maintains fourth position with 7-4 record. Sheki at the other side still closes the standings with 11 games lost.
Top scorers:
Sheki: S.Webster 15+13reb, K.Dyron 12+5reb+4ast, O.Abimbola 11+3reb+2ast, A.Huseyin 8+2reb+1ast, D.Paul 8+5reb+4ast, K.Imamverdiyev 6+5reb
Neftci: F.Niles 20+19reb+7ast, Z.Gushanov 17+3reb+1ast, J.Hawthorne 11+4reb+5ast, K.Mammadov 8+6reb+5ast, V.Frolov 7+9reb+4ast, T.Ulas 6+7reb+3ast