NBL Round 15 (Regular Season): #1 Balkan is defeated by Rilski

Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Balkan (12-2) in Samokov on Monday night. Visitors were edged by second ranked Rilski (11-3) 81-79. It ended at the same time the ten-game winning streak of Balkan. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Rilski made 22-of-25 free shots (88.0 percent) during the game. 24 personal fouls committed by Balkan helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for American point guard Kamau Stokes (183-1995, college: Kansas St.) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists (went 10 for 10 at the free throw line !!!). The former international point guard Deyan Karamfilov (180-1994, agency: BIG) helped adding 13 points (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). The best for the losing side was American point guard Jack Pagenkopf (191-1997, college: Utah Tech) with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Defending champion maintains second place with 11-3 record behind leader Balkan. Balkan at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. Rilski are looking forward to face Beroe (#8) in Stara Zagora in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Balkan will play on the road against Levski (#10) in Sofia and is hoping to win this game.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Cherno More (10-4) against ninth ranked Akademik (4-10) on Saturday night. Visiting Cherno More was edged by Akademik in a tough game in Plovdiv 94-95. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Cherno More. It was an exceptional evening for the former international Vasil Bachev (195-1992, college: Cuesta JC) who led the winners and scored 28 points and 4 assists. Nikolay Mihaylov accounted for 18 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. American forward Lamont West (203-2002, college: Missouri St.) came up with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for Cherno More in the defeat. Akademik maintains ninth place with 4-10 record. Cherno More at the other side keeps the third position with four games lost. Akademik will play against higher ranked Botev (#7) in Vratsa in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Cherno More will play on the road against Spartak Pleven (#5) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in Pleven was also quite interesting. 5th ranked Minyor 2015 (7-7) played at the court of sixth ranked Spartak Pleven (7-6). Spartak Pleven managed to secure a 4-point victory 92-88 on Sunday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Minyor 2015. The best player for the winners was Kavaughn Scott who scored 23 points and 8 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Igor Kesar who recorded 19 points and 8 rebounds. Minyor 2015's coach tried various players' combinations and tested in total twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Spartak Pleven moved-up to fifth place. Loser Minyor 2015 dropped to the sixth position with seven games lost. Spartak Pleven will meet at home higher ranked Cherno More (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Minyor 2015 will play against the league's leader Balkan in Botevgrad and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 15 bottom-ranked Shumen lost to Botev on the opponent's court 64-72. Lokomotiv Pl. outscored Beroe in a home game 117-88.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 14 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks by Khalil Miller of Lokomotiv Pl..



Spartak Pleven - Minyor 2015 92-88

The game in Pleven was also quite interesting. 5th ranked Minyor 2015 (7-7) played at the court of sixth ranked Spartak Pleven (7-6). Spartak Pleven managed to secure a 4-point victory 92-88 on Sunday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Minyor 2015. Spartak Pleven dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Minyor 2015's 30. They outrebounded Minyor 2015 46-33 including 33 on the defensive glass. The best player for the winners was American forward Kavaughn Scott (201-1998, college: Loyola, MD) who scored 23 points and 8 rebounds. Naturalized Serbian swingman Martin Sotirov (201-1999, agency: 011 Sports) chipped in 9 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Serbian center Igor Kesar (210-1992) who recorded 19 points and 8 rebounds and American point guard Jordon Talley (185-1995, college: UNCW, agency: BIG) added 17 points and 9 assists respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Minyor 2015's coach tried various players' combinations and tested in total twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Spartak Pleven moved-up to fifth place. Loser Minyor 2015 dropped to the sixth position with seven games lost. Spartak Pleven will meet at home higher ranked Cherno More (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Minyor 2015 will play against the league's leader Balkan in Botevgrad and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Spartak Pleven: S.Kavaughn 23+8reb+2ast, R.Martin 12+3reb+5ast, M.Jalan 12+2ast, B.Noel 11+7reb+1ast, T.Nikolay 10+5reb+1ast, S.Martin 9+11reb+4ast
Minyor 2015: I.Kesar 19+8reb, J.Talley 17+9ast, S.Lazar 13+7reb, L.Toshkov 11+5reb+6ast, F.Bakic 8+1reb+1ast, M.Murphy 8+7reb

Akademik P. - Cherno More 95-94

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Cherno More (10-4) against ninth ranked Akademik (4-10) on Saturday night. Visiting Cherno More was edged by Akademik in a tough game in Plovdiv 94-95. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Cherno More. Akademik players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. It was an exceptional evening for the former international Vasil Bachev (195-1992, college: Cuesta JC) who led the winners and scored 28 points and 4 assists. The former international Nikolay Mihaylov (204-2000, agency: BIG) accounted for 18 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side. American forward Lamont West (203-2002, college: Missouri St.) came up with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and international forward Georgi Boyanov (200-1993, college: USA) added 19 points respectively for Cherno More in the defeat. Five Akademik and four Cherno More players scored in double figures. Akademik maintains ninth place with 4-10 record. Cherno More at the other side keeps the third position with four games lost. Akademik will play against higher ranked Botev (#7) in Vratsa in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Cherno More will play on the road against Spartak Pleven (#5) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Akademik P.: B.Vasil 28+4reb+4ast, Y.Jacquez 20+5reb+4ast, M.Nikolay 18+8reb+6ast, H.Jack 15+1reb+2ast, T.Obrad 12+7reb+1ast, V.Asen 2+2reb+7ast
Cherno More: L.West 24+9reb+4ast, G.Boyanov 19+4reb+2ast, T.Chernokozhev 13+3reb, J.Watson-Gayle 12+3reb+7ast, V.Petkov 8+2ast, M.Marinov 6+2reb

Botev - Shumen 72-64

Rather expected game in Vratsa where 11th ranked Shumen (1-12) was defeated by eighth ranked Botev (6-7) 72-64 on Saturday. Botev forced 19 Shumen turnovers. The best player for the winners was Stanislav Hinkov (194-2006) who scored 24 points and 7 rebounds. The former international guard Georgi Gerganov (192-2003) chipped in 15 points and 9 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American-Jamaican guard Will Ellis (188-1999, college: Queens, NY) who recorded 18 points and American center Michael Marsh (208-1999, college: OK State) added 12 points and 9 rebounds respectively. Four Shumen players scored in double figures. Botev moved-up to seventh place. Loser Shumen stay at the bottom position with 12 games lost. Botev will meet at home Akademik (#9) in the next round. Shumen will play against the league's second-placed Rilski where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Botev: H.Stanislav 24+7reb+1ast, G.Georgi 15+9reb+3ast, K.Ivo 12+2reb+2ast, K.Mihail 8+3reb+8ast, H.David 8+13reb+1ast, D.Yanislav 5+2reb
Shumen: W.Ellis 18+4reb+2ast, B.Jalen 14+7reb, K.Lazarov 13+2reb+2ast, M.Marsh 12+9reb+1ast, A.Blatancic 7+6reb+2ast, V.Nikola 0

Rilski - Balkan 81-79

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Balkan (12-2) in Samokov on Monday night. Visitors were edged by second ranked Rilski (11-3) 81-79. It ended at the same time the ten-game winning streak of Balkan. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Rilski made 22-of-25 free shots (88.0 percent) during the game. 24 personal fouls committed by Balkan helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for American point guard Kamau Stokes (183-1995, college: Kansas St.) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists (went 10 for 10 at the free throw line !!!). The former international point guard Deyan Karamfilov (180-1994, agency: BIG) helped adding 13 points (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). Stokes is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Rilski players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was American point guard Jack Pagenkopf (191-1997, college: Utah Tech) with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists and the other American import center Demond Robinson (206-2000, college: KSU) produced a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Defending champion maintains second place with 11-3 record behind leader Balkan. Balkan at the other side still keeps top position with two games lost. Rilski are looking forward to face Beroe (#8) in Stara Zagora in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Balkan will play on the road against Levski (#10) in Sofia and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Rilski: S.Kamau 21+6reb+8ast, K.Deyan 13+3ast, M.Vasov 12+1reb, A.Alan 10+3reb+2ast, B.Hristo 6+3reb+1ast, E.Mike 6+3reb
Balkan: D.Robinson 15+10reb+1ast, J.Pagenkopf 14+10reb+7ast, J.Blackmon 14+1reb+1ast, N.Grozev 8, I.Pishtikov 6+1reb+1ast, C.Alexander 6+2reb

Lokomotiv Pl. - Beroe 117-88

Rather predictable result in Plovdiv where fourth ranked Lokomotiv Pl. (9-5) smashed 7th ranked Beroe (6-8) 117-88 on Sunday. Lokomotiv Pl. made 21-of-24 free shots (87.5 percent) during the game. Lokomotiv Pl. outrebounded Beroe 47-34 including a 36-24 advantage in defensive rebounds. Lokomotiv Pl. looked well-organized offensively handing out 31 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Lokomotiv Pl. made 7 blocks. The best player for the winners was American point guard Grant Singleton (183-2000, college: FDU, agency: Octagon Europe) who scored 26 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Canadian forward Khalil Miller (203-1996, agency: Starting 5) chipped in a double-double by scoring 14 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Daylen Williams (203-2001, college: UTRGV) who recorded a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds and the other American import forward Brett Reed (204-1996, college: St.Martin's) added 13 points and 10 rebounds respectively. Both teams had five players each who 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. Newly promoted Lokomotiv Pl. maintains fourth place with 9-5 record. Loser Beroe dropped to the eighth position with eight games lost. Lokomotiv Pl.'s supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Plovdiv .
Top scorers:
Lokomotiv Pl.: S.Grant 26+5reb+5ast, A.Shaw 17+7reb+1ast, R.Devearl 15+3reb+14ast, M.Khalil 14+17reb+4ast, K.Georgi 14+4reb+2ast, M.Krastomir 13+5reb+2ast
Beroe: D.Williams 18+10reb+2ast, A.Matushev 16+2reb, M.Zahariev 13+3reb+4ast, B.Reed 13+10reb+2ast, J.Benjamin 11+2reb+4ast, A.Milov 8+2reb+1ast