Round 9 (Regular Season): Gulbene defeat Panevezio

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Lithuanian Panevezio (4-1) in Panevezys on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by second ranked Latvian Gulbene (9-1) 68-56. The game was mostly controlled by Gulbene. Panevezio managed to win third quarter 22-17. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. It was a good game for guard Ralfs Aleksandrovs (180) who led his team to a victory with 30 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Matiss Lacis (-2008) contributed with 19 points for the winners. Gabrielius Anskinas answered with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for Panevezio. Gulbene have an impressive series of eight victories in a row. They maintain second place with 9-1 record having seven points less than leader Tartu U., which they share with Plunges. Panevezio at the other side dropped to the twenty sixth position with one game lost.
Important game to mention about took place in Tallinn. Sixth ranked Estonian TalTech (3-12) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 5th ranked Finnish Honka (4-6) 49-47 on Saturday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Honka. Carl Karber stepped up and scored 12 points and 9 rebounds for the winners and Mattias Dorbek chipped in 9 points and 8 rebounds. TalTech's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. The best for the losing side was Willem Ojala with 15 points and 4 steals. Despite that victory TalTech went down to seventeenth position due to points difference. Honka at the other side dropped to the sixth place with six games lost.
One of the most interesting games of round 9 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. First ranked Viimsi outleveled visiting Saku KK (7-3) 76-56. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Saku KK. Kenneth Moldre nailed 21 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side. Viimsi's coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Robin Indres came up with 18 points and 9 rebounds for Saku KK in the defeat. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for Viimsi. Despite that victory Viimsi went down to eighth position due to points difference. Loser Saku KK keeps the fifth place with three games lost. They share the position with Rakvere.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 9: Ezerzeme was smashed by Mazeikiai on the road 75-56. Rakvere won against Cesis on its own court 71-64. Winless LePy was outscored by Tartu U. in a road game 76-27. NSK rolled over BTB Tbilisi at home 63-39.
The most impressive performance of 9th round was 18 points and 17 rebounds by Nikoloz Megrelishvili of BTB Tbilisi.



Viimsi - Saku KK 76-56

One of the most interesting games of round 9 was a derby match between two teams from Estonia. First ranked Viimsi outleveled visiting Saku KK (7-3) 76-56. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Saku KK. The game without a history. Viimsi led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They also forced 19 Saku KK turnovers. Kenneth Moldre (-2008) nailed 21 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side and Hendrik Voiter accounted for 15 points. Viimsi's coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Robin Indres came up with 18 points and 9 rebounds and Martin Kotkas added 9 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Saku KK in the defeat. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for Viimsi. Despite that victory Viimsi went down to eighth position due to points difference. Loser Saku KK keeps the fifth place with three games lost. They share the position with Rakvere.
Top scorers:
Viimsi: M.Kenneth 21+7reb+1ast, V.Hendrik 15+3reb+1ast, N.Karl 9+4reb, L.Fred 9+1reb, K.Christian 8+3reb+2ast, B.Robin 5+1ast
Saku KK: I.Robin 18+9reb, M.Mathias 10+1reb+2ast, K.Martin 9+7reb, E.Joosep 7+4reb+3ast, U.Daniel 6+4reb+1ast, K.Arthur 2+3reb+1ast

Mazeikiai - Ezerzeme 75-56

The game between closely ranked teams ended with third ranked Lithuanian Mazeikiai's (10-5) home victory over 4th placed Latvian Ezerzeme (5-5) 75-56 on Saturday. The game without a history. Mazeikiai led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Ezerzeme's 38. Mazeikiai looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Arijus Busma (-2008) nailed 25 points and 7 rebounds (on 12-of-15 shooting from the field) for the winning side and Justas Marimas accounted for 11 points. Erlends Nukss came up with 7 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists and Lauris Filatovs added 20 points respectively for Ezerzeme in the defeat. Mazeikiai keeps a position of league leader, which they share with Tartu U. Loser Ezerzeme keeps the fourth place with five games lost. They share the position with Malbas.
Top scorers:
Mazeikiai: B.Arijus 25+7reb+3ast, M.Justas 11+3reb+3ast, V.Matas 11+1reb+2ast, J.Gvidas 8+3reb+4ast, A.Titas 8+5reb+3ast, T.Domantas 6+4reb+2ast
Ezerzeme: F.Lauris 20+2reb+1ast, R.Martins 14+2reb+3ast, G.Rendels 11+6reb+3ast, N.Erlends 7+14reb+5ast, K.Artis 2+1reb, S.Filips 2+2reb+7ast

Panevezio - Gulbene 56-68

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Lithuanian Panevezio (4-1) in Panevezys on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by second ranked Latvian Gulbene (9-1) 68-56. The game was mostly controlled by Gulbene. Panevezio managed to win third quarter 22-17. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. It was a good game for guard Ralfs Aleksandrovs (180) who led his team to a victory with 30 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Matiss Lacis (-2008) contributed with 19 points for the winners. Gabrielius Anskinas answered with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and Jonas Trivokas added 16 points and 7 rebounds in the effort for Panevezio. Gulbene have an impressive series of eight victories in a row. They maintain second place with 9-1 record having seven points less than leader Tartu U., which they share with Plunges. Panevezio at the other side dropped to the twenty sixth position with one game lost.
Top scorers:
Gulbene: A.Ralfs 30+6reb+6ast, L.Matiss 19+4reb+2ast, V.Rets 8+10reb, V.Niklavs 6+8reb+2ast, A.Markuss 3+4reb, P.Raitis 2+2reb
Panevezio: A.Gabrielius 17+9reb+4ast, T.Jonas 16+7reb+3ast, R.Ignas 13+1reb+1ast, L.Tadas 6+5reb+2ast, S.Vykintas 4+3reb+1ast, R.Augustas 0

TalTech - Honka 49-47

Important game to mention about took place in Tallinn. Sixth ranked Estonian TalTech (3-12) saved a 2-point victory at home edging 5th ranked Finnish Honka (4-6) 49-47 on Saturday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Honka. The hosts were already 13 points ahead at halftime and as many as 18 after three quarters before a 21-5 last quarter charge of Honka cut the lead to 49-47 at the end of the game. They outrebounded Honka 30-19 including 21 on the defensive glass. Carl Karber stepped up and scored 12 points and 9 rebounds for the winners and Mattias Dorbek chipped in 9 points and 8 rebounds. TalTech's coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. The best for the losing side was Willem Ojala with 15 points and 4 steals and point guard Samuel Isotalo (183-2008) scored 15 points. Despite that victory TalTech went down to seventeenth position due to points difference. Honka at the other side dropped to the sixth place with six games lost.
Top scorers:
TalTech: K.Carl 12+9reb+1ast, D.Mattias 9+8reb, S.Siim 8+1reb+3ast, V.Kenneth 8+4reb+3ast, L.Ruuben 6+1reb+1ast, T.Karl 3+2ast
Honka: I.Samuel 15+2ast, O.Willem 15+3reb+3ast, H.Nooa 13+2reb+1ast, L.Aatos 2+5reb+3ast, N.Elias 2+5reb+3ast, T.Valtteri 0+3reb+1ast

Rakvere - Cesis 71-64

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when Latvian Cesis (1-4) lost on the road to first ranked Estonian Rakvere (7-3) 71-64 on Saturday. Cesis were tied after three quarters but could not keep up in the last quarter eventually losing the game. They outrebounded Cesis 57-33 including a 29-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Gregor Lepp nailed a double-double by scoring 27 points and 14 rebounds for the winning side and Mathias Uukivi accounted for 16 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Rakvere's coach used an eleven-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. Luiss Bulmeisters came up with 32 points and Ervins Mihailovs added 16 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for Cesis in the defeat. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Rakvere. Despite that victory Rakvere went down to fifth position due to points difference, which they share with Saku KK. Loser Cesis dropped to the twentieth place with four games lost. They share the position with Basketbola klase.
Top scorers:
Rakvere: L.Gregor 27+14reb+1ast, U.Mathias 16+11reb+4ast, B.Reno 11+10reb+3ast, V.Kert 9+9reb, K.Lukas 4+1reb, L.Aron 2+3reb+1ast
Cesis: B.Luiss 32+2reb+1ast, M.Ervins 16+12reb+5ast, A.Artis 6+9reb+4ast, B.Ricards 6+5reb+1ast, E.Rudis 4, A.Frederiks 0+4reb

Tartu U. - LePy 76-27

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams when first ranked Estonian Tartu U. (10-5) rolled over at home bottom-ranked Finnish LePy (0-5) 76-27 on Saturday. The game without a history. Tartu U. led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They dominated on the defensive end, holding LePy to just 4 points in third quarter and to 13 points in first half. Tartu U. held LePy to an opponent 18.5 percent shooting from the field compared to 42.9 percent accuracy of the winners. Tartu U. forced 28 LePy turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 6 passes made by LePy's players. Mauro Veermae nailed a double-double by scoring 21 points and 10 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winning side and Martin Vels accounted for 17 points. Chidube Nwaukwa came up with 15 points and 9 rebounds and Noel Grondahl added 4 points and 5 rebounds respectively for LePy in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Tartu U. maintains first place with 10-5 record, which they share with Mazeikiai. Loser LePy still closes the standings with five games lost. They share the position with Sigulda and BTB Tbilisi.
Top scorers:
Tartu U.: V.Mauro 21+10reb+2ast, V.Martin 17+2reb+3ast, B.Gregory 10+9reb, A.Martin 8+4reb+1ast, K.Daniel 8+7reb+7ast, K.Patrick 4+3reb+5ast
LePy: N.Chidube 15+9reb, G.Noel 4+5reb+1ast, H.Oskar 3+1reb, H.Otso 3+3reb, M.Miska 2+4reb+1ast, L.Julius 0+1reb

NSK - BTB Tbilisi 63-39

There was an upset when bottom-ranked Georgian BTB Tbilisi (0-5) was outscored by sixth ranked Estonian NSK (8-7) in Tartu 63-39 on Saturday. The hosts trailed by 1 point after first quarter, but they stormed back to get the 6-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 63-39. NSK dominated on the defensive end, holding BTB Tbilisi to just 4 points in third quarter. They also forced 21 BTB Tbilisi turnovers and outrebounded them 51-34 including a 23-12 advantage in offensive rebounds. Jarek Pilt (-2007) nailed 17 points and 8 rebounds for the winning side and Romet Voore (-2008) accounted for 5 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Nikoloz Megrelishvili came up with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 17 rebounds and Davit Dzidziguri added 11 points and 6 assists respectively for BTB Tbilisi in the defeat. BTB Tbilisi's coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. The victory was the third consecutive win for NSK. Despite that victory NSK went down to twelfth position due to points difference. Loser BTB Tbilisi still closes the standings with five games lost. They share the position with Sigulda and LePy.
Top scorers:
NSK: P.Jarek 17+8reb+3ast, K.Robert 16+2reb+2ast, A.Taavi 9+9reb+1ast, A.Aleksander 7+3reb+1ast, V.Romet 5+10reb+10ast, R.Tormi 4+11reb
BTB Tbilisi: M.Nikoloz 18+17reb+1ast, D.Davit 11+3reb+6ast, G.Ioane 6+7reb+1ast, K.Giorgi 3+2reb, G.Beka 1, D.Andria 0+1reb