NBL Round 5 (Regular Season): Rilski keep a leadership position

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Rilski as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Rilski smashed bottom-ranked Shumen in Samokov 98-71. Rilski made 23-of-30 free shots (76.7 percent) during the game. Rilski outrebounded Shumen 44-28 including 29 on the defensive glass. orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds. contributed with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winners. Jalen Barr answered with 19 points and 6 rebounds for Shumen. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. As mentioned above they are at the top of the standings, which they share with Cherno More and Balkan. Shumen at the other side still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Levski. Shumen will play next round against Akademik trying to get back on the winning streak. Rilski will try to continue on its current victory against fifth ranked Beroe in Stara Zagora.
Another interesting game for Balkan (4-1) which played in Pernik against 4th placed Minyor 2015 (3-2). Fifth ranked Balkan had an easy win 99-81. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Minyor 2015. It was a key game for the top position in the league. American center Demond Robinson (206-2000, college: KSU) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 15 rebounds for the winners and Iliyan Pishtikov chipped in 26 points and 4 assists (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!). The former international swingman Lachezar Toshkov (187-2002, agency: BIG) responded with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Balkan keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Cherno More and Rilski. Minyor 2015 at the other side dropped to the fifth place with two games lost. They share the position with Beroe. Balkan will play against Levski (#10) in Sofia in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Minyor 2015 will have a break next round.
Akademik's fans can celebrate the first win of their team after four consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Botev (1-3) 78-74 on Saturday. Nikolay Mihaylov nailed a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) for the winning side. Georgi Gerganov came up with 21 points, 5 assists and 4 steals for Botev in the defeat. Akademik (1-4) left bottom position moving up to ninth place. Newly promoted Botev keeps the eighth position with three games lost. Akademik will meet at home bottom-ranked Shumen (#11) in the next round. Botev will play against Lokomotiv Pl. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 5 Cherno More beat Levski on the road 89-76. Spartak Pleven won against Beroe on its own court 87-77.



Levski - Cherno More 76-89

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Cherno More (4-1) beat bottom-ranked Levski (0-4) in Sofia 89-76 on Thursday. Cherno More looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. British-Jamaican point guard Jelani Watson-Gayle (184-1998, college: Fresno Pacific) nailed a double-double by scoring 15 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists for the winning side and American forward Alonzo Gaffney (206-2000, college: Arizona St.) accounted for 20 points. The former international point guard Lachezar Dimitrov (187-1999, agency: BIG) came up with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 12 assists and the former international forward Iliyan Pishtikov (192-2004) added 11 points and 11 rebounds respectively for Levski in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Cherno More keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Balkan and Rilski. Loser Levski still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Shumen. Cherno More will meet at home Spartak Pleven (#4) in the next round. Levski will play against the league's second-placed Balkan (#2) in Botevgrad and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Cherno More: A.Gaffney 20+4reb+1ast, J.Watson-Gayle 15+7reb+11ast, D.Johnson 12+2reb+2ast, N.Stoyanov 11+3reb+1ast, L.West 11+2reb, G.Boyanov 8+7reb+5ast
Levski: L.Dimitrov 21+1reb+12ast, Z.Georgiev 15+2reb+1ast, M.Boyanov 15+2reb+4ast, M.Dimitar 11+11reb+1ast, M.Bochev 6+2reb, A.Aleksandrov 3+5reb+3ast

Akademik P. - Botev 78-74

Akademik's fans can celebrate the first win of their team after four consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Botev (1-3) 78-74 on Saturday. Akademik outrebounded Botev 34-23 including 26 on the defensive glass. Akademik looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The former international Nikolay Mihaylov (204-2000, agency: BIG) nailed a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) for the winning side and American forward Jacquez Yow (198-1999, college: Limestone) accounted for 13 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Akademik P. players scored in double figures. The former international guard Georgi Gerganov (192-2003) came up with 21 points, 5 assists and 4 steals and point guard Mihail Kalinov (184-2007) added 9 points and 8 assists respectively for Botev in the defeat. Akademik (1-4) left bottom position moving up to ninth place. Newly promoted Botev keeps the eighth position with three games lost. Akademik will meet at home bottom-ranked Shumen (#11) in the next round. Botev will play against Lokomotiv Pl. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Akademik P.: N.Mihaylov 20+11reb+3ast, V.Bachev 16+1reb+3ast, J.Yow 13+9reb+4ast, O.Tomic 10+7reb+2ast, R.Laane 8+2reb+5ast, A.Velikov 6+1reb+6ast
Botev: G.Gerganov 21+2reb+5ast, M.Stefan 14+5reb, I.Korestilov 11+5reb+1ast, D.Haughton 9+5reb+1ast, M.Kalinov 9+3reb+8ast, S.Hinkov 7+3reb+1ast

Rilski - Shumen 98-71

The game had a very big importance for second-ranked Rilski as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Rilski smashed bottom-ranked Shumen in Samokov 98-71. Rilski made 23-of-30 free shots (76.7 percent) during the game. Rilski outrebounded Shumen 44-28 including 29 on the defensive glass. orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds. contributed with a double-double by scoring 15 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks for the winners. Five Rilski players scored in double figures. Jalen Barr answered with 19 points and 6 rebounds and Andrija Blatancic added 13 points and 4 assists in the effort for Shumen. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. As mentioned above they are at the top of the standings, which they share with Cherno More and Balkan. Shumen at the other side still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Levski. Shumen will play next round against Akademik trying to get back on the winning streak. Rilski will try to continue on its current victory against fifth ranked Beroe in Stara Zagora.
Top scorers:
Rilski: H.Bachkov 16+5reb+3ast, K.Petrov 16+3reb+2ast, Y.Alexander 16+11reb+3ast, T.Jalen 15+12reb, V.Miroslav 11+1reb+3ast, I.Dimitrov 11+7reb+2ast
Shumen: B.Jalen 19+6reb+1ast, B.Andrija 13+3reb+4ast, M.Baris 11+1reb+4ast, V.Klemen 9+3reb, K.Lazarov 7+2reb+6ast, S.Vladislav 4+1reb

Spartak Pleven - Beroe 87-77

There was a minor upset when 4th placed Beroe (3-2) lost on the road to sixth ranked Spartak Pleven (3-1) 87-77 on Sunday. Guard Martin Rusev (193-2004) nailed 15 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and naturalized Serbian swingman Martin Sotirov (201-1999, agency: 011 Sports) accounted for 10 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Five Spartak Pleven players scored in double figures. American point guard Darius Quisenberry (185-1999, college: Fordham, agency: LHZ Sport Agency) came up with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and Milen Zahariev (191-1992) added 21 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Beroe in the defeat. Beroe's coach Daniel Klechkov rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Spartak Pleven moved-up to fourth place. Loser Beroe dropped to the fifth position with two games lost. They share it with Minyor 2015. Spartak Pleven will meet higher ranked Cherno More (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Beroe will play against the league's leader Rilski and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Spartak Pleven: M.Rusev 15+6reb+3ast, N.Titkov 14+3reb+2ast, J.Lewis 14+2reb+2ast, N.Brown 12+4reb+1ast, K.Scott 12+8reb, M.Sotirov 10+7reb+7ast
Beroe: D.Quisenberry 23+5reb+5ast, M.Zahariev 21+8reb+2ast, D.Parsons 16+7reb+5ast, A.Matushev 5+1reb+1ast, A.Milov 5+2reb, C.Basham 5+8reb+1ast

Minyor 2015 - Balkan 81-99

Another interesting game for Balkan (4-1) which played in Pernik against 4th placed Minyor 2015 (3-2). Fifth ranked Balkan had an easy win 99-81. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Minyor 2015. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Balkan made 23-of-29 charity shots (79.3 percent) during the game. Balkan outrebounded Minyor 2015 41-29 including a 29-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Minyor 2015 was plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. American center Demond Robinson (206-2000, college: KSU) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 15 rebounds for the winners and the former international forward Iliyan Pishtikov (192-2004) chipped in 26 points and 4 assists (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!). Four Balkan players scored in double figures. The former international swingman Lachezar Toshkov (187-2002, agency: BIG) responded with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and forward Alex Ouandie (197-1996, college: ACU) scored 16 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Balkan keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Cherno More and Rilski. Minyor 2015 at the other side dropped to the fifth place with two games lost. They share the position with Beroe. Balkan will play against Levski (#10) in Sofia in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Minyor 2015 will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Balkan: I.Pishtikov 26+4reb+4ast, D.Robinson 20+15reb, J.Blackmon 16+9reb+4ast, J.Pagenkopf 14+5reb+6ast, D.Dimitrov 7+2reb, C.Alexander 6+2reb
Minyor 2015: L.Toshkov 19+5reb+5ast, A.Ouandie 16+3reb+3ast, I.Kesar 14+3reb, S.Lazar 9+9reb, M.Murphy 9+3reb+2ast, K.Paisiev 4+1reb