Korisliiga Round 9 (Second Stage): #1 Vilpas are defeated by KTP-Basket

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of top-ranked Vilpas (21-10) in Kotka on Friday night. Visitors were defeated by third ranked KTP-Basket (19-12) 83-77. American guard Jayden Taylor (193-2003, college: NC State) stepped up and scored 13 points and 8 rebounds for the winners and forward Jesper Granlund (196-2000, college: Longwood) chipped in 18 points. The best for the losing side was international guard Samu Adler (198-2007) with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Vilpas' coach Jussi Savolainen rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. KTP-Basket have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain third place with 19-12 record having just two points less than leader Pyrinto, which they share with Honka. Vilpas at the other side still keeps top position with ten games lost. KTP-Basket is looking forward to face Korihait (#5) in Uusikaupunki in the next round. Vilpas will play at home against Seagulls (#6) and is hoping to win this game.
Bottom-ranked Kobrat managed to get a sixth victory, breaking the series of three consecutive losses. This time they edged ninth-ranked Lahti in Lapua 101-100. Serbian guard Simeon Stefanovic (191-2006) nailed 25 points and 6 assists for the winning side and Tamenang Choh accounted for 17 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks. American guard Sebastian Thomas (185, college: URI) came up with 21 points and 8 assists for Lahti in the defeat. Lahti's coach Kristian Palotie tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Kobrat maintains twelfth place with 6-25 record. Lahti lost their third game in a row. Newly promoted team keeps the ninth position with 18 games lost. They share it with Bisons. Kobrat will play against higher ranked Kouvot (#11) in Kouvola in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Lahti will play at home against Bisons and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in Helsinki was also quite interesting. Second ranked Karhubasket (20-11) played at the court of 6th ranked Seagulls (14-17). Karhubasket did not have too big problems and got a relatively easy victory 97-80 on Friday. The best player for the winners was Eemi Luukkonen who had a double-double by scoring 14 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Christian Keeling who recorded 28 points and 6 rebounds. Karhubasket maintains second place with 20-11 record behind leader Pyrinto. Seagulls lost their third game in a row. Defending champion keeps the sixth position with 17 games lost. Karhubasket will meet at home Honka (#4) in the next round. Seagulls will play against the league's leader Vilpas in Salo and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 9: Kouvot won against Pyrinto on the opponent's court 93-78. Honka managed to outperform Korihait in a home game 105-87. Kataja managed to beat Bisons on the road 92-89.



Seagulls - Karhubasket 80-97

The game in Helsinki was also quite interesting. Second ranked Karhubasket (20-11) played at the court of 6th ranked Seagulls (14-17). Karhubasket did not have too big problems and got a relatively easy victory 97-80 on Friday. Karhubasket outrebounded Seagulls 40-23 including a 17-6 advantage in offensive rebounds. Karhubasket looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by Seagulls' players. The best player for the winners was Eemi Luukkonen (203-2002) who had a double-double by scoring 14 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Forward Antti Ahonen (201-2001) chipped in 22 points. At the other side the best for losing team was American guard Christian Keeling (191-1998, college: UNC) who recorded 28 points and 6 rebounds and the other American import point guard Kahron Ross (180-1995, college: Lehigh, agency: One Motive Sports) added 14 points respectively. Five Karhubasket and four Seagulls players scored in double figures. Karhubasket maintains second place with 20-11 record behind leader Pyrinto. Seagulls lost their third game in a row. Defending champion keeps the sixth position with 17 games lost. Karhubasket will meet at home Honka (#4) in the next round. Seagulls will play against the league's leader Vilpas in Salo and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Seagulls: C.Keeling 28+6reb, K.Ross 14+2reb+3ast, T.Niemi 12+1reb+3ast, P.Michael 11+3reb+1ast, O.Heinonen 8+2reb, K.Jonas 3+1reb+1ast
Karhubasket: A.Antti 22+4reb, B.Ty 19+1reb+3ast, L.Eemi 14+11reb+5ast, O.Kanden 12+6reb+3ast, J.Salmi 10+6reb+7ast, K.Koivunen 8+4reb+2ast

KTP-Basket - Vilpas 83-77

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of top-ranked Vilpas (21-10) in Kotka on Friday night. Visitors were defeated by third ranked KTP-Basket (19-12) 83-77. American guard Jayden Taylor (193-2003, college: NC State) stepped up and scored 13 points and 8 rebounds for the winners and forward Jesper Granlund (196-2000, college: Longwood) chipped in 18 points. The best for the losing side was international guard Samu Adler (198-2007) with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and guard Teemu Suokas (188-2001, college: Ball St.) scored 11 points and 7 assists. Five KTP-Basket and four Vilpas players scored in double figures. Vilpas' coach Jussi Savolainen rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. KTP-Basket have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain third place with 19-12 record having just two points less than leader Pyrinto, which they share with Honka. Vilpas at the other side still keeps top position with ten games lost. KTP-Basket is looking forward to face Korihait (#5) in Uusikaupunki in the next round. Vilpas will play at home against Seagulls (#6) and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Vilpas: S.Adler 21+6reb+4ast, Z.Onyema 13+5reb, A.Almonor 11+4reb, S.Teemu 11+4reb+7ast, L.Vaara 7+7reb+1ast, I.Eero 6+2reb+2ast
KTP-Basket: G.Jesper 18+2reb+1ast, S.Koen 14+3reb+2ast, T.Jayden 13+8reb+3ast, R.Tucker 12+4reb+3ast, R.Remu 10+8reb+2ast, P.Hannes 8+3reb

Pyrinto - Kouvot 78-93

There was an upset in Tampere where higher ranked Pyrinto (16-15) was defeated by eleventh ranked Kouvot (11-20) 93-78 on Saturday. Kouvot made 20-of-25 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was American guard Brandon Stroud (198-2002, college: S.Florida) who had a double-double by scoring 18 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists. His fellow American import guard Wesley Cardet Jr (198, college: Providence) chipped in 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field). Stroud is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Five Kouvot players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international Topias Palmi (196-1994, agency: Blacktop Management) who recorded 26 points and 7 rebounds and American guard Jared Billups (193-2003, college: GMU) added 15 points and 9 rebounds respectively. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Kouvot maintains eleventh place with 11-20 record. Loser Pyrinto keeps the seventh position with 15 games lost. They share it with Kataja. Kouvot will meet at home bottom-ranked Kobrat (#12) in the next round. Pyrinto will play against Kataja (#8) in Joensuu and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Pyrinto: T.Palmi 26+7reb, J.Billups 15+9reb+3ast, L.Riku 13+4reb+5ast, M.Kalle 7+1reb+1ast, W.Kion 6+1reb+1ast, H.Joona 5+2reb+5ast
Kouvot: K.Aarni 19+6reb+1ast, S.Brandon 18+12reb+8ast, C.Wesley 15+7reb+6ast, T.Kristeri 12+3reb, T.Puittinen 10+3reb+2ast, R.Tobias 9+2reb+2ast

Honka - Korihait 105-87

Everything could happen in Espoo at the game between two tied teams. Both fifth ranked Honka and 4th placed Korihait had identical 18-12 record. This time Honka used a home court advantage and defeated the opponent from Uusikaupunki 105-87 on Saturday night. Honka forced 20 Korihait turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. Americans were the main players on the court. The best player for the winners was guard AJ Ferguson (201-2003, college: Murray St.) who scored 23 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). Forward Isaiah Kelly (201-2000, college: Yale) chipped in 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Five Honka players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was forward Frank Champion (201-2002, college: Chattanooga) who recorded 29 points and 7 rebounds and swingman Jalen Jackson (198-1994, college: UALR, agency: Diamond Sports) added 11 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists respectively. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Honka (19-12) moved-up to third place, which they share with KTP-Basket. Loser Korihait dropped to the fifth position with 13 games lost. Honka will meet league's second-placed Karhubasket in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Korihait will play against KTP-Basket and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Korihait: F.Champion 29+7reb+3ast, V.Tahvanainen 19+2reb+3ast, J.Jackson 11+7reb+8ast, M.Aalto 8+3reb+1ast, B.Goracke 8+3reb+1ast, J.Harris 4+3reb+1ast
Honka: F.AJ 23+6reb+6ast, K.Isaiah 22+7reb+4ast, R.Korhonen 17+3ast, D.Taye 11+5reb+8ast, A.Peltoniemi 10+3reb+1ast, E.Uotila 8+3reb

Bisons - Kataja 89-92

Not a big story in a game in Loimaa where 10th ranked Bisons (13-18) was edged by eighth ranked Kataja (16-15) 92-89 on Saturday. The best player for the winners was international Henri Kantonen (198-1997, agency: Blacktop Management) who had a double-double by scoring 19 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists. American forward Jermaine Marshall (198-2000, college: Samford) chipped in 24 points and 6 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was American center Dean Keeler (211-2001, college: UC Irvine, agency: One Motive Sports) who recorded a double-double by scoring 24 points and 13 rebounds and the other American import point guard Jalin Anderson (190-2002, college: UIW, agency: MSG) added 19 points and 4 assists respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Kataja used an opportunity after Pyrinto lost their game and moved up joining them at the top position. Loser Bisons dropped to the ninth place with 18 games lost. They share the position with Lahti. Kataja will meet at home Pyrinto (#7) in the next round. Bisons will play against Lahti and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Bisons: D.Keeler 24+13reb+2ast, R.Hall III 22+3reb+1ast, J.Anderson 19+4reb+4ast, T.Kokko 19+4reb+2ast, V.Heinonen 3+3reb, M.Onni 2+2reb
Kataja: M.Jermaine 24+6reb, K.Henri 19+7reb+11ast, H.Rahlir 15+3reb+1ast, T.Thomas 13+2reb, K.Jared 8+5reb+5ast, K.Antti 8+2ast

Kobrat - Lahti 101-100

Bottom-ranked Kobrat managed to get a sixth victory, breaking the series of three consecutive losses. This time they edged ninth-ranked Lahti in Lapua 101-100. Kobrat shot 60.6 percent from the field. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. Kobrat brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. Serbian guard Simeon Stefanovic (191-2006) nailed 25 points and 6 assists for the winning side and American-Cameroonian forward Tamenang Choh (196-1998, college: Brown, agency: Helping Ballers) accounted for 17 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks. American guard Sebastian Thomas (185, college: URI) came up with 21 points and 8 assists and guard Topias Kuukkanen (187-1992) added 14 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for Lahti in the defeat. Four Kobrat and five Lahti players scored in double figures. Lahti's coach Kristian Palotie tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Kobrat maintains twelfth place with 6-25 record. Lahti lost their third game in a row. Newly promoted team keeps the ninth position with 18 games lost. They share it with Bisons. Kobrat will play against higher ranked Kouvot (#11) in Kouvola in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Lahti will play at home against Bisons and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Lahti: S.Thomas 21+2reb+8ast, M.Brooks 15+6reb+3ast, K.Topias 14+10reb+5ast, V.Nyman 13+5reb+3ast, L.Kilpinen 12+1ast, J.James 12+3reb+3ast
Kobrat: S.Stefanovic 25+1reb+6ast, P.Bobby 19+6reb+2ast, C.Tamenang 17+10reb+4ast, J.Lehtoranta 15+5reb+3ast, J.Turja 7+4reb+2ast, N.Antto 6+5reb+7ast