Superleague Round 2 (Regular Season): Batumi defeats Akhaltsikhe

There were only 2 rounds played so far and it's still very beginning of the Regular Season in Superleague. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Akhaltsikhe at the home court on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Batumi 75-70. The guests trailed by 3 points at the halftime before their 37-29 charge in the second half, which allowed them to win the game. Batumi outrebounded Akhaltsikhe 45-33 including 35 on the defensive glass. International point guard Giorgi Ochkhikidze (190-2004) orchestrated the victory by scoring 21 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. American guard Larry Howell (198, college: Fayetteville St.) contributed with 18 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Batumi's coach Anatoli Berishvili used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. The former international power forward Beka Bekauri (209-1991, agency: BIG) replied with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 11 rebounds for Akhaltsikhe. Batumi will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Akhaltsikhe will play on the road against Kavkasia in Tbilisi and is hoping to prove to their fans that the loss was just an accident.
Another exciting game for TSU which played in Tbilisi against Margveti. TSU won 86-79. Forward Amirani Aroshidze (201-2006) scored 20 points to lead the charge for the winners and Andrew O'Brien chipped in 10 points and 12 rebounds during the contest. American guard Justin Webster (190-2000, college: UNLV) responded with 27 points and 7 rebounds. TSU's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Tbilisi Black Fortress.
Telavi forced the game against Rustavi into an overtime, but lost by three points 94-97 on Friday night. Alvin Miles notched 27 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists to lead the effort. Rustavi's coach Levan Tsekvava allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Even 37 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 6 assists by Greg Milton III did not help to save the game for Telavi. Rustavi will meet Tkibuli Orbi on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Telavi will play against Margveti and hope to win that game.

In the last two games of round 2 Kutaisi lost to Kavkasia on the road 65-97. Black Fortress lost to Iverioni on its own court 70-75.



Kavkasia - Kutaisi 97-65:
No shocking result in a game when Kavkasia crushed Kutaisi in Tbilisi 97-65 on Friday. The hosts were tied at the half but managed to speed up in last two quarters eventually winning the game. Kavkasia shot 29 for 41 from the free-throw line, while Kutaisi only scored ten points from the stripe. They outrebounded Kutaisi 47-28 including a 38-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. Kavkasia looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Kavkasia made 7 blocks. American guard Tommie Lewis (188-2001, college: ETAMU, agency: 6th Man Basketball Agency) notched a double-double by scoring 17 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the effort and international point guard Luka Maziashvili (187-2000, college: UMass Lowell) supported him with 16 points and 4 assists. Maziashvili is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Kavkasia players scored in double figures. Even 13 points and 6 assists by guard Dachi Qavtaradze (191-2001) did not help to save the game for Kutaisi. ex-international power forward Willy Isiani (203-1997, college: Detroit, agency: Interperformances) added 7 points and 10 rebounds for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Kavkasia will meet at home Akhaltsikhe in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Kutaisi will play against Iverioni in Gori and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kutaisi: Q.Dachi 13+2reb+6ast, L.Alavidze 11+1reb+3ast, M.Frazier 10+5reb+1ast, G.Levan 8+3reb+1ast, W.Isiani 7+10reb+1ast, D.Temo 6
Kavkasia: L.Tommie 17+11reb+5ast, M.Luka 16+3reb+4ast, F.Justin 15+2reb+4ast, S.Sanadze 11+2ast, W.Shamar 10+6reb+1ast, A.Dvalishvili 8+6reb+3ast

Rustavi - Telavi 97-94 OT:
Telavi forced the game against Rustavi into an overtime, but lost by three points 94-97 on Friday night. The hosts trailed by 3 points after first quarter, but they rallied back to get the 7-point lead at the halftime then Telavi managed to tie the game at the end of regular time. However that was Rustavi who were better in overtime eventually winning that period 9-6. They shot the lights out from three sinking 15 long-distance shots on high 51.7 percentage. Rustavi looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American guard Alvin Miles (180, college: Miles) notched 27 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists to lead the effort and the other American import swingman Jaeden King (198-2001, college: St.Xavier) supported him with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Rustavi's coach Levan Tsekvava allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Even 37 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 6 assists by American guard Greg Milton III (190-2000, college: CSUSM) did not help to save the game for Telavi. Center Levan Pirtskheliani (205-2003) added 10 points and 18 rebounds for the guests. Four Telavi players scored in double figures. Rustavi will meet Tkibuli Orbi on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Telavi will play against Margveti and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Telavi: G.Milton III 37+5reb+6ast, K.Vander Jagt 13+5reb+1ast, K.Giorgi 12+3reb+6ast, P.Levan 10+18reb+3ast, D.Nikoloz 9+4reb+2ast, T.Davit 6+4reb+1ast
Rustavi: M.Alvin 27+5reb+8ast, K.Jaeden 18+9reb+1ast, N.Gafrindashvili 11+5reb+2ast, M.Chochua 11, K.Sha'Markus 8+12reb+1ast, I.Megeneishvili 7+5reb

Akhaltsikhe - Batumi 70-75:
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Akhaltsikhe at the home court on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Batumi 75-70. The guests trailed by 3 points at the halftime before their 37-29 charge in the second half, which allowed them to win the game. Batumi outrebounded Akhaltsikhe 45-33 including 35 on the defensive glass. International point guard Giorgi Ochkhikidze (190-2004) orchestrated the victory by scoring 21 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. American guard Larry Howell (198, college: Fayetteville St.) contributed with 18 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Batumi's coach Anatoli Berishvili used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. The former international power forward Beka Bekauri (209-1991, agency: BIG) replied with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 11 rebounds and American guard Jamir Harris (188-1998, college: Seton Hall) added 16 points in the effort for Akhaltsikhe. Batumi will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Akhaltsikhe will play on the road against Kavkasia in Tbilisi and is hoping to prove to their fans that the loss was just an accident.
Top scorers:
Akhaltsikhe: J.Harris 16+2reb+3ast, B.Bekauri 14+11reb+2ast, S.Lobjanidze 11+1reb+3ast, C.McCauley 9+4reb+1ast, M.Lasha 7+2reb, R.Chincharauli 6+8reb+1ast
Batumi: O.Giorgi 21+6reb+6ast, L.Howell 18+8reb, L.Babilodze 11+4reb, W.Mouganda 9+2reb, V.Tsuleiskiri 4+1reb, S.Saladze 4+2reb+1ast

Black Fortress - Iverioni 70-75:
But Black Fortress were not able to use a home court advantage and lost to the opponent from Gori 75-70 on Saturday night. The guests trailed by 1 point after first quarter, but they rallied back to get the 8-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 75-70. American guard Micah Clark (201-2004, college: PVAMU) notched 18 points and 6 rebounds to lead the effort and the other American import center Mezziah Oakman (213, college: CS Monterey) supported him with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Five Iverioni players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds by Luka Kalatozishvili (198-1999) did not help to save the game for Black Fortress. Canadian guard Dondre Reddick (190-2000) added 16 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists for the hosts. Black Fortress' coach Dejan Prokic rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Iverioni will meet at home Kutaisi in the next round where they are favorite. Black Fortress' supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Tbilisi to the arena TSU.
Top scorers:
Black Fortress: K.Luka 18+14reb+1ast, D.Reddick 16+12reb+5ast, D.Howard 12+7reb+1ast, L.Gogaladze 6+5reb+4ast, M.Filip 5+2reb, G.Vakhtang 4+1ast
Iverioni: M.Clark 18+6reb+1ast, V.Tavakarashvili 12+3reb+2ast, M.Ugrekhelidze 12+3reb+2ast, M.Christian 10+5reb+8ast, O.Mezziah 10+12reb+1ast, K.Ian 7+2reb

Margveti - TSU 79-86:
Another exciting game for TSU which played in Tbilisi against Margveti. TSU won 86-79. Margveti was ahead by 5 points after three quarters before a 25-13 charge of TSU, which allowed them to win the game. They also forced 23 Margveti turnovers. Strangely Margveti outrebounded TSU 39-27 including 27 on the defensive glass. Forward Amirani Aroshidze (201-2006) scored 20 points to lead the charge for the winners and American swingman Andrew O'Brien (201-2001, college: Southwestern, KS) chipped in 10 points and 12 rebounds during the contest. Five TSU players scored in double figures. American guard Justin Webster (190-2000, college: UNLV) responded with 27 points and 7 rebounds and his fellow American import point guard Jasir Tremble (178, college: FSC) scored 29 points. TSU's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Tbilisi Black Fortress.
Top scorers:
Margveti: J.Tremble 29+3ast, J.Webster 27+7reb+1ast, T.Sylla 11+7reb, E.Tengo 5+4reb+1ast, G.Bukia 3+7reb, T.Luka 2+4reb+3ast
TSU: A.Amirani 20+3reb+2ast, H.Dallas 14+5reb+1ast, S.Raheim 13+8ast, N.Chechelashvili 13+3reb+2ast, I.Londaridze 13+2reb+4ast, O.Andrew 10+12reb+3ast