NBL Round 4 (Regular Season): Septemvri 97 beats Lokomotiv in a derby game

Here is the last round review presented by LBM Management.

The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Sofia: Septemvri 97 (#4) and Lokomotiv (#6). Septemvri 97 (2-2) smashed visiting Lokomotiv (0-3) by 34 points 79-45. Septemvri 97 forced 25 Lokomotiv turnovers. Swingman Mariya Delcheva (175-2000) fired 17 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals for the winners. ex-international forward Daniela Dermendzhieva (179-1989) chipped in 14 points and 6 rebounds. Forward Vanessa Kokalova (177-2007) produced 14 points and 9 rebounds for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Newly promoted Septemvri 97 maintains fourth position with 2-2 record. Lokomotiv at the other side, also newcomer in the league, still closes the standings with three games lost. They share the position with Champion 2006. Septemvri 97 are looking forward to face league's leader Montana on the road in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Lokomotiv's supporters also look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Sofia Champion 2006.
An exciting game was played in Sofia. Third ranked Rilski Sportist faced 4th ranked Slavia. Guests from Samokov (3-1) defeated host Slavia (1-2) 83-65. Worth to mention a great performance of Cameroonian forward Marie Kenembeni (190-2004, college: Nicholls) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 13 points and 16 rebounds. Denitsa Manolova contributed with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. American guard Danyel Middleton (178, college: UIC, agency: Olsta) replied with 29 points and 7 rebounds for Slavia. Slavia's coach Tanya Gateva rotated twelve players seeing no chance for a win. Rilski Sportist have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Beroe. Newly promoted Slavia dropped to the fifth position with two games lost. Rilski Sportist will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Slavia will play on the road against the league's second-placed Beroe (#2) in Stara Zagora to get more than just one victory in their record.
Bottom-ranked Champion 2006 (0-3) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 71-45 loss to second ranked Beroe (3-1) in Sofia on Saturday evening. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. Worth to mention a great performance of Kaia Harrison who helped to win the game recording 17 points and 5 rebounds. At the losing side Fatme Kichukova responded with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Beroe maintains second position with 3-1 record having just one point less than leader Montana, which they share with Rilski Sportist. Newly promoted Champion 2006 still closes the standings with three games lost. They share the position with Lokomotiv. Beroe will meet at home Slavia (#5) in the next round. Champion 2006's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Sofia to the arena Lokomotiv.

The Round Review is presented by LBM Management. A full-service agency focused on Women's basketball sphere and working worldwide. A global and ethical quality service.

Champion 2006 - Beroe 45-71:
Bottom-ranked Champion 2006 (0-3) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 71-45 loss to second ranked Beroe (3-1) in Sofia on Saturday evening. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. Beroe dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Champion 2006's 20. Beroe forced 30 Champion 2006 turnovers. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Kaia Harrison (172-2001, college: Wake Forest, agency: Crossover Management) who helped to win the game recording 17 points and 5 rebounds and the other American import center Brittany Autry (185-1998, college: Belm.Abbey) who added 11 points and 8 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side Fatme Kichukova (172-2009) responded with 17 points and 5 rebounds and guard Elena Georgieva (170-2007) scored 7 points and 11 rebounds. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Beroe maintains second position with 3-1 record having just one point less than leader Montana, which they share with Rilski Sportist. Newly promoted Champion 2006 still closes the standings with three games lost. They share the position with Lokomotiv. Beroe will meet at home Slavia (#5) in the next round. Champion 2006's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Sofia to the arena Lokomotiv.
Top scorers:
Champion 2006: F.Kichukova 17+5reb, S.Ivanina 9+7reb+2ast, G.Elena 7+11reb+3ast, D.Monika 5+1reb+1ast, A.Elena 3+1reb+1ast, M.Inna 2+2reb+1ast
Beroe: H.Kaia 17+5reb+2ast, A.Brittany 11+8reb, D.Teodora 11+2reb+1ast, O.Jannon 9+4reb+1ast, P.Aleksandra 8+4reb+1ast, G.Violeta 7+10reb+1ast

Septemvri 97 - Lokomotiv 79-45:
The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Sofia: Septemvri 97 (#4) and Lokomotiv (#6). Septemvri 97 (2-2) smashed visiting Lokomotiv (0-3) by 34 points 79-45. Septemvri 97 forced 25 Lokomotiv turnovers. Swingman Mariya Delcheva (175-2000) fired 17 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals for the winners. ex-international forward Daniela Dermendzhieva (179-1989) chipped in 14 points and 6 rebounds. Four Septemvri 97 players scored in double figures. Forward Vanessa Kokalova (177-2007) produced 14 points and 9 rebounds and Aleksa Petrova (-2009) added 10 points respectively for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Newly promoted Septemvri 97 maintains fourth position with 2-2 record. Lokomotiv at the other side, also newcomer in the league, still closes the standings with three games lost. They share the position with Champion 2006. Septemvri 97 are looking forward to face league's leader Montana on the road in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Lokomotiv's supporters also look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Sofia Champion 2006.
Top scorers:
Lokomotiv: K.Vanessa 14+9reb, A.Petrova 10+4reb, I.Margarita 7+6reb, P.Eleonora 4+3reb+4ast, V.Zelkova 4+6reb+2ast, K.Koeva 3+7reb
Septemvri 97: M.Delcheva 17+5reb+7ast, D.Daniela 14+6reb+3ast, D.Teneva 12+2reb, A.Yordanova 12+4reb+3ast, B.Nikol 5+7reb+1ast, D.Natali 5

Slavia - Rilski Sportist 65-83:
An exciting game was played in Sofia. Third ranked Rilski Sportist faced 4th ranked Slavia. Guests from Samokov (3-1) defeated host Slavia (1-2) 83-65. Rilski Sportist made 28-of-35 charity shots (80.0 percent) during the game, while Slavia only scored nine points from the stripe. They outrebounded Slavia 47-36 including a 18-6 advantage in offensive rebounds. Rilski Sportist players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. Slavia was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. Worth to mention a great performance of Cameroonian forward Marie Kenembeni (190-2004, college: Nicholls) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 13 points and 16 rebounds. International guard Denitsa Manolova (181-2006) contributed with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. Five Rilski Sportist players scored in double figures. American guard Danyel Middleton (178, college: UIC, agency: Olsta) replied with 29 points and 7 rebounds and guard Darina Kocheva (178-2001) added 11 points and 9 rebounds in the effort for Slavia. Slavia's coach Tanya Gateva rotated twelve players seeing no chance for a win. Rilski Sportist have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Beroe. Newly promoted Slavia dropped to the fifth position with two games lost. Rilski Sportist will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Slavia will play on the road against the league's second-placed Beroe (#2) in Stara Zagora to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
Slavia: D.Middleton 29+7reb+2ast, K.Darina 11+9reb+2ast, S.Lidiya 9+5reb+4ast, S.Nikoleta 6+4reb, V.Vanina 5+2reb+5ast, D.Elena 3+2reb
Rilski Sportist: D.Manolova 18+5reb+5ast, B.Ivana 15+6reb+7ast, K.Marie 13+16reb+2ast, G.Nikolova 13+9reb+4ast, T.Yanina 12+4reb+4ast, R.Ilieva 7+3reb+3ast