NBL Round 27 (Regular Season): Balkan defeat Cherno More in the closest game of the week

The teams have now bigger motivation at this stage of Regular Season. Every game can be crucial and decide about teams' position at the end of Regular Season. Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 27 in the NBL took place in Botevgrad. This derby game ended with only one-point defeat on the road of 3rd placed Cherno More (19-8) to second ranked Balkan (21-6) 80-79 in the game for the second place. Balkan made 27-of-34 free shots (79.4 percent) during the game. 29 personal fouls committed by Cherno More helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for American point guard Jamari Blackmon (183-2000, college: ULM) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points. His fellow American import forward Tajh Green (203-1998, college: Benedict) helped adding 16 points and 6 rebounds. The best for the losing side was British-Jamaican point guard Jelani Watson-Gayle (184-1998, college: Fresno Pacific) with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Cherno More's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Balkan maintains second place with 21-6 record behind leader Rilski. Cherno More at the other side keeps the third position with eight games lost. Balkan will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Cherno More will play at home against Minyor 2015 and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Samokov. First ranked host Rilski (22-5) defeated 4th placed Lokomotiv Pl. (15-11) 100-92. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Jon Davis (189-1996, college: Charlotte) who led the winners and scored 21 points and 8 rebounds. Mike Edwards accounted for 23 points and 7 rebounds. Rilski's coach Lubomir Kirov allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Tomislav Minkov (197-2001) came up with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists for Lokomotiv Pl. in the defeat. Rilski have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 22-5 record. Newly promoted Lokomotiv Pl. keeps the fourth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Botev. Rilski will play against Botev (#5) in Vratsa in the next round. 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 Akademik.
Fifth ranked Botev (15-11) beat at home 6th ranked Spartak Pleven (14-12) by 9 points 85-76, which is the biggest margin this round on Saturday night. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Spartak Pleven. The best player for the winners was Georgi Gerganov who scored 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Kavaughn Scott who recorded 20 points and 6 rebounds. Botev have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Lokomotiv Pl. Loser Spartak Pleven keeps the sixth position with 12 games lost. Botev will meet league's leader Rilski in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Spartak Pleven will play against Shumen (#11) and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 27 bottom-ranked Shumen lost to Levski on the opponent's court 74-81. Minyor 2015 managed to outperform Beroe in a home game 87-82.



Botev - Spartak Pleven 85-76

Fifth ranked Botev (15-11) beat at home 6th ranked Spartak Pleven (14-12) by 9 points 85-76, which is the biggest margin this round on Saturday night. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Spartak Pleven. The best player for the winners was international guard Georgi Gerganov (192-2003) who scored 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. American center David Haughton (201-1991, college: Purchase) chipped in a double-double by scoring 14 points and 14 rebounds. Four Botev players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Kavaughn Scott (201-1998, college: Loyola, MD) who recorded 20 points and 6 rebounds and the other American import point guard Jalan McCloud (180-1995, college: ETSU, agency: Helping Ballers) added 9 points and 8 assists respectively. Botev have a solid series of four victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Lokomotiv Pl. Loser Spartak Pleven keeps the sixth position with 12 games lost. Botev will meet league's leader Rilski in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Spartak Pleven will play against Shumen (#11) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Botev: G.Georgi 20+6reb+6ast, A.Courtney 17+7reb+2ast, H.David 14+14reb+1ast, K.Mihail 14+2reb+7ast, S.Mihaylov 9+1reb+3ast, K.Ivo 6+3reb
Spartak Pleven: K.Scott 20+6reb+1ast, P.Ivanov 13, N.Brown 9+6reb, J.McCloud 9+1reb+8ast, J.Florveus 8+4reb, M.Rusev 6+4reb+1ast

Levski - Shumen 81-74

Everything could happen in Sofia at the game between two tied teams. Both tenth ranked Levski and 11th ranked Shumen had identical 3-22 record. This time Levski used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from Shumen 81-74 on Saturday night. Levski made 29-of-37 free shots (78.4 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was American forward Cadarian Raines (205-1990, college: Virginia Tech, agency: BIG) who scored 16 points and 9 rebounds. The former international swingman Zlatin Georgiev (197-1985) chipped in 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line). Levski's coach Konstantin Papazov used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was American swingman Jalen Barr (193, college: Flagler) who recorded 23 points and 7 rebounds and the other American import center Michael Marsh (208-1999, college: OK State) added 13 points and 12 rebounds respectively. Five Levski and four Shumen players scored in double figures. Levski maintains tenth place with 4-22 record. Shumen lost seventh consecutive game. They stay dead last with 23 lost games. Levski will meet higher ranked Beroe (#8) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Shumen will play against Spartak Pleven and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Levski: G.Zlatin 18+6reb+4ast, R.Cadarian 16+9reb+3ast, D.Lachezar 12+3reb+7ast, V.Andon 11+5reb+1ast, K.Momchil 10+2reb+2ast, A.Aleksandar 7+4reb
Shumen: B.Jalen 23+7reb+1ast, W.Ellis 17+3reb+5ast, M.Marsh 13+12reb+3ast, M.Baris 10+2reb, D.Miroslav 7+2reb+1ast, V.Stanev 4+3reb+2ast

Minyor 2015 - Beroe 87-82

The game between closely ranked teams ended with seventh ranked Minyor 2015's (13-13) home victory over 8th ranked Beroe (10-17) 87-82 on Saturday. Minyor 2015 looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was Serbian center Igor Kesar (210-1992) who had a double-double by scoring 23 points and 10 rebounds. Forward Alex Ouandie (197-1996, college: ACU) chipped in 21 points. Five Minyor 2015 players scored in double figures. 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 11 rebounds and the other American import point guard Darius Quisenberry (185-1999, college: Fordham, agency: LHZ Sport Agency) added 23 points respectively. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Minyor 2015 maintains seventh place with 13-13 record. Beroe lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the eighth position with 17 games lost. Minyor 2015 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 Levski (#10) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Minyor 2015: K.Igor 23+10reb+3ast, O.Alex 21+4reb+2ast, T.Jordon 12+2reb+7ast, P.Vasil 10+4reb+6ast, L.Stankovic 10+7reb, P.Austin 7+3reb+2ast
Beroe: D.Quisenberry 23+4reb+3ast, D.Williams 18+11reb+2ast, M.Zahariev 16+6reb+2ast, B.Reed 6+5reb+2ast, M.Jordanov 6+6reb, J.Benjamin 5+1reb+7ast

Rilski - Lokomotiv Pl. 100-92

The game between Top Four teams took place in Samokov. First ranked host Rilski (22-5) defeated 4th placed Lokomotiv Pl. (15-11) 100-92. Rilski players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. It was an exceptional evening for American guard Jon Davis (189-1996, college: Charlotte) who led the winners and scored 21 points and 8 rebounds. His fellow American import center Mike Edwards (206-1997, college: Georgia) accounted for 23 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side. Rilski's coach Lubomir Kirov allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Tomislav Minkov (197-2001) came up with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists and guard Krastomir Mihov (194-2004, agency: BIG) added 22 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!) respectively for Lokomotiv Pl. in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Rilski have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 22-5 record. Newly promoted Lokomotiv Pl. keeps the fourth position with 11 games lost. They share it with Botev. Rilski will play against Botev (#5) in Vratsa in the next round. 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 Akademik.
Top scorers:
Rilski: E.Mike 23+7reb+1ast, D.Jon 21+8reb+3ast, K.Chavdar 18+1reb+2ast, K.Deyan 10+10ast, A.Yanev 6+5reb+1ast, B.Hristo 6+2reb+1ast
Lokomotiv Pl.: I.Kikrilis 23+2reb+1ast, K.Mihov 22+5reb+6ast, S.Anderson 19+4reb+1ast, M.Tomislav 19+11reb+8ast, G.Kenderov 9+3reb+1ast, D.Preslav 0+3reb

Balkan - Cherno More 80-79

The most exciting game of round 27 in the NBL took place in Botevgrad. This derby game ended with only one-point defeat on the road of 3rd placed Cherno More (19-8) to second ranked Balkan (21-6) 80-79 in the game for the second place. Balkan made 27-of-34 free shots (79.4 percent) during the game. 29 personal fouls committed by Cherno More helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for American point guard Jamari Blackmon (183-2000, college: ULM) who led his team to a victory scoring 21 points. His fellow American import forward Tajh Green (203-1998, college: Benedict) helped adding 16 points and 6 rebounds. The best for the losing side was British-Jamaican point guard Jelani Watson-Gayle (184-1998, college: Fresno Pacific) with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists and the former international swingman Nikolay Stoyanov (195-1994) scored 14 points. Five Cherno More players scored in double figures. Cherno More's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Balkan maintains second place with 21-6 record behind leader Rilski. Cherno More at the other side keeps the third position with eight games lost. Balkan will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Cherno More will play at home against Minyor 2015 and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
Balkan: B.Jamari 21+3reb+3ast, G.Tajh 16+6reb, T.Konstantin 11+5reb+3ast, G.Nikolay 8+1reb+1ast, D.Dimitar 7+4reb, R.Demond 6+3reb
Cherno More: J.Watson-Gayle 16+6reb+7ast, N.Stoyanov 14+3reb+1ast, G.Boyanov 12+3reb+2ast, I.Karacic 11+2reb+1ast, L.West 11+7reb, A.Gaffney 10+7reb+1ast