NBL Round 31 (Regular Season): Leader Rilski gets another victory

The Regular Season in NBL just ended. The round 31 was rather boring as all games ended with very predictable results. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Leader Rilski delivered the twenty fifth win on Saturday night. This time they crushed 6th ranked Spartak Pleven (16-14) 109-88 in Samokov. Rilski made 19-of-22 free shots (86.4 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 18 long-distance shots on high 60.0 percentage. Rilski looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. 24 personal fouls committed by Spartak Pleven helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American guard Alan Arnett (196-1994, college: GSW, agency: BIG) fired 19 points and 5 assists (made all of his seven free throws) for the winners. International forward Hristo Bachkov (200-2004, agency: BIG) chipped in 8 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. The former international Pavlin Ivanov (196-1993, agency: 011 Sports) produced 20 points and 6 assists for lost side. Spartak Pleven's coach Todor Todorov gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Rilski (25-5) have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place. Spartak Pleven at the other side dropped to the fifth position with 14 games lost. They share it with Botev.
Important game to mention about took place in Plovdiv. Tenth ranked Levski (5-25) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 9th ranked Akademik (9-21) 88-87 on Saturday evening. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Cadarian Raines (205-1990, college: Virginia Tech, agency: BIG) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds. Stoyan Kaynarov contributed with 16 points for the winners. Levski's coach Konstantin Papazov allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. American forward Jacquez Yow (198-1999, college: Limestone) answered with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for Akademik. Levski maintains tenth place with 5-25 record. Akademik lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the ninth position with 21 games lost.

Other games of round 31 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Cherno More defeated Shumen in Varna 104-87. Balkan beat Botev at home 93-86. Minyor 2015 lost to Lokomotiv Pl. on the opponent's court 94-109.



Akademik P. - Levski 87-88

Important game to mention about took place in Plovdiv. Tenth ranked Levski (5-25) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 9th ranked Akademik (9-21) 88-87 on Saturday evening. Levski players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Cadarian Raines (205-1990, college: Virginia Tech, agency: BIG) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds. Stoyan Kaynarov (190-2001) contributed with 16 points for the winners. Four Levski players scored in double figures. Levski's coach Konstantin Papazov allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. American forward Jacquez Yow (198-1999, college: Limestone) answered with a double-double by scoring 28 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists and Bosnian center Obrad Tomic (208-1993, agency: PEPI SPORT) added 10 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists in the effort for Akademik. Levski maintains tenth place with 5-25 record. Akademik lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the ninth position with 21 games lost.
Top scorers:
Levski: R.Cadarian 20+10reb+1ast, S.Kaynarov 16+3reb, D.Lachezar 10+2reb+6ast, A.Aleksandar 10+6reb+1ast, B.Mario 9+1reb+1ast, K.Momchil 9+2reb+8ast
Akademik P.: J.Yow 28+10reb+4ast, V.Bachev 19+1ast, O.Tomic 10+14reb+5ast, K.Ivan 9+3reb, D.Sharp 9+4reb+8ast, A.Velikov 5+4reb+2ast

Shumen - Cherno More 87-104

There was no surprise when 11th ranked Shumen (3-27) was defeated at home by third ranked Cherno More (22-8) 104-87. It was a very good performance for international forward Georgi Boyanov (200-1993, college: USA) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds. American Darrell Davis (196-1996, college: Dayton, agency: Slash Sports) contributed with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Cherno More's coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American center Michael Marsh (208-1999, college: OK State) answered with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 17 rebounds and guard Kostadin Lazarov (193-2000, agency: BIG) added 18 points in the effort for Shumen. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. The victory was the third consecutive win for Cherno More. They maintain third place with 22-8 record having just three points less than leader Rilski. Shumen lost their eleventh game in a row. They stay dead last with 27 lost games.
Top scorers:
Cherno More: W.Jelani 17+4reb+1ast, D.Darrell 16+5reb+4ast, B.Georgi 16+10reb, P.Ventsislav 15+1reb+8ast, G.Alonzo 14+3reb+1ast, S.Nikolay 12+2reb
Shumen: K.Lazarov 18+4reb+3ast, M.Baris 16+1reb, M.Marsh 15+17reb+2ast, W.Ellis 12+3reb+7ast, J.Barr 10+8reb+6ast, S.Andrey 9

Balkan - Botev 93-86

No shocking result in a game in Botevgrad where second ranked Balkan (24-6) defeated 5th ranked Botev (16-14) 93-86. Balkan made 17-of-22 charity shots (77.3 percent) during the game. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 27 assists. It was a very good performance for American forward Tajh Green (203-1998, college: Benedict) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 11 points and 12 rebounds. International Dimitar Dimitrov (203-1993, agency: 011 Sports) contributed with 14 points and 6 assists for the winners. point guard Mihail Kalinov (184-2007) answered with 26 points and 6 assists and international guard Georgi Gerganov (192-2003) added 14 points, 6 assists and 4 steals in the effort for Botev. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for Balkan. They maintain second place with 24-6 record behind leader Rilski. Newly promoted Botev keeps the fifth position with 14 games lost. They share it with Spartak Pleven.
Top scorers:
Balkan: S.Aleks 21+1reb+1ast, B.Jamari 16+4ast, D.Dimitar 14+4reb+6ast, G.Tajh 11+12reb+1ast, T.Konstantin 9+4reb+4ast, G.Nikolay 9+5reb
Botev: M.Kalinov 26+4reb+6ast, S.Mihaylov 16+3reb+2ast, G.Gerganov 14+3reb+6ast, D.Haughton 11+10reb+1ast, I.Korestilov 8+2reb+2ast, C.Alexander 7+2reb

Lokomotiv Pl. - Minyor 2015 109-94

Rather expected game in Plovdiv where 7th ranked Minyor 2015 (15-15) was defeated by fourth ranked Lokomotiv Pl. (19-11) 109-94. Lokomotiv Pl. outrebounded Minyor 2015 38-27 including 28 on the defensive glass. Lokomotiv Pl. players were unselfish on offense dishing 29 assists. It was a very good performance for American point guard Grant Singleton (183-2000, college: FDU, agency: Octagon Europe) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 assists. Canadian forward Khalil Miller (203-1996, agency: Starting 5) contributed with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Lokomotiv Pl.'s coach Asen Nikolov used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Serbian center Igor Kesar (210-1992) answered with a double-double by scoring 27 points and 10 rebounds and the former international swingman Lachezar Toshkov (187-2002, agency: BIG) added 14 points and 8 assists in the effort for Minyor 2015. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Lokomotiv Pl.. Newly promoted Lokomotiv Pl. maintains fourth place with 19-11 record. Minyor 2015 at the other side keeps the seventh position with 15 games lost.
Top scorers:
Lokomotiv Pl.: M.Khalil 20+11reb, R.Devearl 16+2reb+10ast, S.Grant 16+4reb+12ast, T.Minkov 16+3reb+2ast, A.Shaw 16+10reb+1ast, M.Krastomir 14+2reb+3ast
Minyor 2015: I.Kesar 27+10reb, L.Toshkov 14+4reb+8ast, A.Ouandie 13+2reb+1ast, V.Popov 13+2reb+3ast, J.Talley 12+3reb+7ast, S.Lazar 8+3reb

Rilski - Spartak Pleven 109-88

Leader Rilski delivered the twenty fifth win on Saturday night. This time they crushed 6th ranked Spartak Pleven (16-14) 109-88 in Samokov. Rilski made 19-of-22 free shots (86.4 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 18 long-distance shots on high 60.0 percentage. Rilski looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. 24 personal fouls committed by Spartak Pleven helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American guard Alan Arnett (196-1994, college: GSW, agency: BIG) fired 19 points and 5 assists (made all of his seven free throws) for the winners. International forward Hristo Bachkov (200-2004, agency: BIG) chipped in 8 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. The former international Pavlin Ivanov (196-1993, agency: 011 Sports) produced 20 points and 6 assists and naturalized Serbian swingman Martin Sotirov (201-1999, agency: 011 Sports) added 15 points and 6 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Spartak Pleven's coach Todor Todorov gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Rilski (25-5) have an impressive series of six victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place. Spartak Pleven at the other side dropped to the fifth position with 14 games lost. They share it with Botev.
Top scorers:
Rilski: A.Alan 19+4reb+5ast, K.Chavdar 18+1reb+1ast, M.Vasov 17+1reb, K.Deyan 15+2reb+3ast, E.Mike 10+7reb, A.Yanev 9+4reb+3ast
Spartak Pleven: P.Ivanov 20+2reb+6ast, N.Brown 18+4reb+1ast, M.Sotirov 15+6reb+3ast, J.McCloud 14+3reb+6ast, M.Rusev 9+4reb+1ast, K.Scott 4+1reb