NBL Round 28 (Regular Season): Leader Rilski gets another victory

The Regular Season in NBL is slowly approaching the end. But there may be still some important changes in the final standings in the last 3 rounds. Host teams show no mercy winning all games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Leader Rilski delivered the twenty third victory on Wednesday night. This time they beat 5th ranked Botev (15-12) 96-89 in Samokov. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Botev. Rilski made 20-of-22 free shots (90.9 percent) during the game. American guard Jon Davis (189-1996, college: Charlotte) fired 26 points for the winners. The other American import center Mike Edwards (206-1997, college: Georgia) chipped in 19 points and 7 rebounds. point guard Mihail Kalinov (184-2007) produced a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 assists for lost side. Rilski have a solid four-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 23-5 record. Newly promoted Botev keeps the fifth place with 12 games lost. They share the position with Spartak Pleven. Rilski will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Botev will play at home against Minyor 2015 (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game with biggest result difference took place in Pleven. Local Spartak Pleven (15-12) outscored 11th ranked Shumen (3-24) 102-55. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Jalan McCloud (180-1995, college: ETSU, agency: Helping Ballers) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 6 assists. Georgi Tsekov contributed with 19 points for the winners. Slovenian power forward Klemen Vuga (206, college: UAPB) replied with 17 points and 8 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. Spartak Pleven moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Botev. Shumen lost eighth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 24 lost games. Spartak Pleven will play against Akademik (#9) in Plovdiv in the next round. Shumen will play at home against the league's second-placed Balkan and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Another interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Plovdiv: Lokomotiv Pl. (#4) and Akademik P. (#9). Lokomotiv Pl. (16-11) smashed visiting Akademik P. (9-18) by 32 points 91-59. Worth to mention a great performance of Grant Singleton who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 4 assists. Lokomotiv Pl.'s coach Asen Nikolov felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side Jacquez Yow responded with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Newly promoted Lokomotiv Pl. maintains fourth position with 16-11 record. Akademik at the other side keeps the ninth place with 18 games lost. Lokomotiv Pl. will meet Levski (#10) in the next round where they are favorite. Akademik will play against Spartak Pleven and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 28 Minyor 2015 was defeated by Cherno More in Varna 103-89. Beroe beat Levski at home 92-76.
The best stats of 28th round was 15 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists by Daylen Williams of Beroe.



Cherno More - Minyor 2015 103-89

There was no surprise in Varna where 7th ranked Minyor 2015 (13-14) was defeated by third ranked Cherno More (20-8) 103-89 on Friday. Cherno More looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Lamont West (203-2002, college: Missouri St.) who helped to win the game recording 27 points and 5 rebounds and British-Jamaican point guard Jelani Watson-Gayle (184-1998, college: Fresno Pacific, agency: Octagon Europe) who added 14 points, 14 assists and 5 steals during the contest. Five Cherno More players scored in double figures. At the losing side American guard Austin Price (193-1995, college: Lehigh) responded with 31 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and Serbian power forward Lazar Stankovic (204-1999) scored 19 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Cherno More maintains third position with 20-8 record having just three points less than leader Rilski. Minyor 2015 at the other side keeps the seventh place with 14 games lost. Cherno More will meet at home Beroe (#8) in the next round where they are favorite. Minyor 2015 will play against Botev in Vratsa and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Cherno More: W.Lamont 27+5reb+1ast, G.Alonzo 17+10reb+1ast, M.Marin 14+1reb+2ast, W.Jelani 14+4reb+14ast, S.Nikolay 14+4reb+1ast, K.Ivan 9+2reb+4ast
Minyor 2015: A.Price 31+5reb+5ast, S.Lazar 19+5reb+1ast, M.Murphy 17+5reb+1ast, A.Ouandie 7+5reb+4ast, L.Toshkov 7+1reb+5ast, V.Popov 6+5reb+2ast

Rilski - Botev 96-89

Leader Rilski delivered the twenty third victory on Wednesday night. This time they beat 5th ranked Botev (15-12) 96-89 in Samokov. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Botev. Rilski made 20-of-22 free shots (90.9 percent) during the game. American guard Jon Davis (189-1996, college: Charlotte) fired 26 points for the winners. The other American import center Mike Edwards (206-1997, college: Georgia) chipped in 19 points and 7 rebounds. point guard Mihail Kalinov (184-2007) produced a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 assists and international guard Georgi Gerganov (192-2003) added 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for lost side. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Rilski have a solid four-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 23-5 record. Newly promoted Botev keeps the fifth place with 12 games lost. They share the position with Spartak Pleven. Rilski will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Botev will play at home against Minyor 2015 (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Rilski: D.Jon 26+3reb+2ast, E.Mike 19+7reb, A.Alan 13+1reb, A.Yanev 11+5reb+2ast, K.Chavdar 10+1reb+3ast, M.Vasov 7+1ast
Botev: M.Kalinov 22+3reb+10ast, G.Gerganov 16+5reb+5ast, Z.Kristiyan 15+3reb+2ast, M.Stefan 14+4reb+2ast, D.Haughton 13+9reb+4ast, C.Alexander 4+2reb

Spartak Pleven - Shumen 102-55

The game with biggest result difference took place in Pleven. Local Spartak Pleven (15-12) outscored 11th ranked Shumen (3-24) 102-55. Spartak Pleven made 22-of-29 charity shots (75.9 percent) during the game. Spartak Pleven outrebounded Shumen 42-29 including a 33-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Spartak Pleven players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by Shumen's players. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Jalan McCloud (180-1995, college: ETSU, agency: Helping Ballers) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 6 assists. point guard Georgi Tsekov (190-2005) contributed with 19 points for the winners. Four Spartak Pleven players scored in double figures. Slovenian power forward Klemen Vuga (206, college: UAPB) replied with 17 points and 8 rebounds and American-Jamaican guard Will Ellis (188-1999, college: Queens, NY) added 17 points 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. Spartak Pleven moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Botev. Shumen lost eighth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 24 lost games. Spartak Pleven will play against Akademik (#9) in Plovdiv in the next round. Shumen will play at home against the league's second-placed Balkan and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Spartak Pleven: M.Jalan 20+3reb+6ast, T.Georgi 19+4reb+3ast, R.Martin 14+4reb+2ast, S.Kavaughn 10+8reb+5ast, S.Martin 10+4reb, F.John 9+7reb
Shumen: W.Ellis 17+4reb+1ast, V.Klemen 17+8reb, M.Marsh 5+6reb+2ast, K.Lazarov 4+3reb+4ast, V.Stanev 3+1reb, V.Nikola 3+2reb

Lokomotiv Pl. - Akademik P. 91-59

Another interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Plovdiv: Lokomotiv Pl. (#4) and Akademik P. (#9). Lokomotiv Pl. (16-11) smashed visiting Akademik P. (9-18) by 32 points 91-59. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Grant Singleton (183-2000, college: FDU, agency: Octagon Europe) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 4 assists and Canadian forward Khalil Miller (203-1996, agency: Starting 5) who added 10 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks during the contest. Five Lokomotiv Pl. players scored in double figures. Lokomotiv Pl.'s coach Asen Nikolov felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side American forward Jacquez Yow (198-1999, college: Limestone) responded with 18 points and 9 rebounds and Bosnian center Obrad Tomic (208-1993, agency: PEPI SPORT) produced a double-double by scoring 10 points and 14 rebounds. Newly promoted Lokomotiv Pl. maintains fourth position with 16-11 record. Akademik at the other side keeps the ninth place with 18 games lost. Lokomotiv Pl. will meet Levski (#10) in the next round where they are favorite. Akademik will play against Spartak Pleven and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Lokomotiv Pl.: S.Grant 20+3reb+4ast, R.Devearl 19+2reb+4ast, T.Minkov 19+5reb+1ast, M.Krastomir 11+4reb+4ast, M.Khalil 10+13reb+2ast, A.Shaw 6+7reb+1ast
Akademik P.: J.Yow 18+9reb+2ast, V.Bachev 17+2reb+4ast, O.Tomic 10+14reb+1ast, R.Petar 6+4reb+2ast, K.Paisiev 4+6reb+2ast, V.Donzo 2+1reb

Beroe - Levski 92-76

No shocking result in a game in Stara Zagora where eighth ranked Beroe (11-17) defeated 10th ranked Levski (4-23) 92-76 on Friday. Beroe dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Levski's 40. Beroe forced 21 Levski turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Daylen Williams (203-2001, college: UTRGV) who helped to win the game recording 15 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists and the other American import forward Brett Reed (204-1996, college: St.Martin's) who added 16 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side American forward Cadarian Raines (205-1990, college: Virginia Tech, agency: BIG) responded with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) and center Andon Vachev (205-2003, agency: BIG) scored 16 points and 6 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Beroe maintains eighth position with 11-17 record. Loser Levski keeps the tenth place with 23 games lost. Beroe will meet higher ranked Cherno More (#3) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Levski will play against Lokomotiv Pl. (#4) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Beroe: Q.Darius 21+1reb+3ast, R.Brett 16+7reb+3ast, Z.Milen 16+3reb+3ast, W.Daylen 15+6reb+6ast, B.Jalen 7+1reb+2ast, J.Martin 7+3reb+1ast
Levski: C.Raines 16+6reb+5ast, A.Vachev 16+6reb+1ast, A.Aleksandrov 15+4reb, L.Dimitrov 12+3reb+8ast, Z.Georgiev 9+6reb+5ast, M.Boyanov 5+5ast