Superleague Round 4 (Regular Season): Kavkasia hands first defeat to Batumi

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Batumi (2-1) at the home court on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Kavkasia (4-0) 80-71. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Batumi. Batumi was trailing by 10 points at halftime but managed to get 3-point lead after three quarters before a 19-7 charge of Kavkasia, which allowed them to win the game. They dominated on the defensive end, holding Batumi to just 7 points in fourth quarter. American guard Justin Forrest (188-1999, college: App State) fired 16 points, 5 assists and 4 steals for the winners. International center Giorgi Turdziladze (208-1997) chipped in 14 points and 7 rebounds. Kavkasia's coach Beka Tsivtsivadze used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. International point guard Giorgi Ochkhikidze (190-2004) produced 30 points and 5 assists for lost side. Kavkasia have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 4-0 record. Defending champion Batumi keeps the third place with one game lost. They share the position with Rustavi and Tkibuli Orbi. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Very important is a road loss of second ranked TSU (3-1) against tenth ranked Kutaisi (1-3) on Sunday night. Visiting TSU was defeated by Kutaisi in Kutaisi 98-81. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of TSU. Worth to mention a great performance of forward Anzori Nadiradze (202-2001, agency: Dagger Basket) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 19 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. Willy Isiani contributed with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. American swingman Andrew OBrien (201-2001, college: Southwestern, KS) replied with a triple-double by scoring 20 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for TSU. Kutaisi left bottom position moving up to ninth place, which they share with Margveti. TSU at the other side keeps the second position with one game lost. Kutaisi will play against higher ranked Telavi (#7) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. TSU will play against Akhaltsikhe (#8) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Akhaltsikhe can celebrate their first win this season after two consecutive losses. The victory is especially important as they defeated much higher ranked Iverioni (2-2) 78-74 on Friday. The game was dominated by American players. Worth to mention a great performance of Jamir Harris who helped to win the game recording 19 points. At the losing side Christian Moore responded with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Akhaltsikhe (1-2) left bottom position moving up to eighth place. Loser Iverioni dropped to the sixth position with two games lost. They share it with Telavi. Akhaltsikhe will meet league's second-placed TSU in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Iverioni will have a break next round.

In the last two games of round 4 Telavi defeated Black Fortress in a road game 88-79. Margveti was beaten by Tkibuli Orbi at home 75-78.



Akhaltsikhe - Iverioni 78-74:
Akhaltsikhe can celebrate their first win this season after two consecutive losses. The victory is especially important as they defeated much higher ranked Iverioni (2-2) 78-74 on Friday. The hosts trailed by 4 points after first quarter, but they rallied back to get the 2-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 78-74. The game was dominated by American players. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Jamir Harris (188-1998, college: Seton Hall) who helped to win the game recording 19 points and swingman Courvoisier McCauley (196-1998, college: Indiana St.) who added 17 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side point guard Christian Moore (181-2003, college: UAFS) responded with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and guard Micah Clark (201-2004, college: PVAMU) scored 24 points and 5 rebounds. Akhaltsikhe (1-2) left bottom position moving up to eighth place. Loser Iverioni dropped to the sixth position with two games lost. They share it with Telavi. Akhaltsikhe will meet league's second-placed TSU in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Iverioni will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Iverioni: C.Micah 24+5reb+1ast, C.Moore 22+7reb+4ast, I.Krishnan 8+1ast, U.Michael 8+8reb+4ast, M.Oakman 5+5reb+1ast, K.Luka 4+6reb+3ast
Akhaltsikhe: H.Jamir 19+4reb+2ast, M.Courvoisier 17+5reb, L.Saba 12+4reb+2ast, L.Mikeladze 9+4reb, Z.Luka 8+3reb+6ast, C.Roman 6+9reb

Batumi - Kavkasia 71-80:
The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Batumi (2-1) at the home court on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by Kavkasia (4-0) 80-71. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Batumi. Batumi was trailing by 10 points at halftime but managed to get 3-point lead after three quarters before a 19-7 charge of Kavkasia, which allowed them to win the game. They dominated on the defensive end, holding Batumi to just 7 points in fourth quarter. American guard Justin Forrest (188-1999, college: App State) fired 16 points, 5 assists and 4 steals for the winners. International center Giorgi Turdziladze (208-1997) chipped in 14 points and 7 rebounds. Five Kavkasia players scored in double figures. Kavkasia's coach Beka Tsivtsivadze used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. International point guard Giorgi Ochkhikidze (190-2004) produced 30 points and 5 assists and American guard Larry Howell (198, college: Fayetteville St.) added 16 points and 6 rebounds respectively for lost side. Kavkasia have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 4-0 record. Defending champion Batumi keeps the third place with one game lost. They share the position with Rustavi and Tkibuli Orbi. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Batumi: G.Ochkhikidze 30+2reb+5ast, H.Larry 16+6reb+2ast, C.Basham 11+11reb+1ast, V.Zephir 7+5reb, D.Lomidze 3+3reb+3ast, S.Saba 2+1reb
Kavkasia: F.Justin 16+2reb+5ast, T.Giorgi 14+7reb+2ast, A.Dvalishvili 13+6reb+2ast, S.Sanadze 11+2reb+3ast, L.Tommie 11+6reb+3ast, M.Luka 6+1ast

Black Fortress - Telavi 79-88:
There was a minor upset in Tbilisi where their close opponent Black Fortress (0-4) were defeated by ninth ranked Telavi (2-2) 88-79 on Saturday. The guests took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But Black Fortress won third quarter 22-17. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Worth to mention a great performance of American Troy Simons (191-1996, college: Kent St.) who helped to win the game recording 24 points, 6 assists and 4 steals and the other American import guard Greg Milton III (190-2000, college: CSUSM) who added 11 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists during the contest. Five Telavi players scored in double figures. Telavi's coach George Kazanjian allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. At the losing side Luka Kalatozishvili (198-1999) responded with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 16 rebounds and Canadian guard Dondre Reddick (190-2000) produced a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds. Telavi moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Iverioni. Loser Black Fortress still closes the standings with four games lost. Telavi will meet at home Kutaisi (#9) in the next round. Black Fortress will play against Tkibuli Orbi and hope to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Black Fortress: K.Luka 21+16reb+1ast, D.Reddick 18+10reb+3ast, S.Ninua 13+2reb+6ast, D.Spencer 9+5reb, V.Kadaria 7+1ast, R.Giorgi 6+5reb+1ast
Telavi: S.Troy 24+4reb+6ast, V.Gachechiladze 13+4reb, C.Myles 12+6reb+2ast, M.Greg 11+9reb+8ast, N.Darbaidze 10+3reb+1ast, V.Kyler 8+2reb

Margveti - Tkibuli Orbi 75-78:
No shocking result in a game in Tbilisi where sixth ranked Tkibuli Orbi (2-1) edged 9th ranked Margveti (1-3) 78-75 on Sunday. The guests took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But Margveti won fourth quarter 26-22. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Kevon West (188, college: Bowie St.) who helped to win the game recording 20 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals and forward Beqa Lomashvili (195-1999) who added 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. At the losing side American point guard Jasir Tremble (178, college: FSC) responded with 16 points and 6 assists and Guinean center Thierno Sylla (211-2003, college: Memphis) scored 13 points and 9 rebounds. Four Margveti players scored in double figures. Margveti's coach Irakli Dzidziguri tried various players' combinations and tested in total twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Tkibuli Orbi moved-up to third place, which they share with Rustavi and Batumi. Margveti lost third consecutive game. They keep the ninth position with three games lost. They share it with Kutaisi. Tkibuli Orbi will meet at home bottom-ranked Black Fortress (#11) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Margveti will play against Rustavi and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Margveti: J.Tremble 16+1reb+6ast, J.Webster 13+6reb+1ast, K.Jintcharadze 13+4reb+4ast, T.Sylla 13+9reb, N.Jaiani 9+4reb+1ast, E.Tengo 5
Tkibuli Orbi: B.Lomashvili 24+5reb+4ast, W.Kevon 20+6reb+7ast, H.Vetter 12+2reb, J.Bell 9+10reb+1ast, L.Kharabadze 6+4reb, N.Totladze 4+4reb+1ast

Kutaisi - TSU 98-81:
Very important is a road loss of second ranked TSU (3-1) against tenth ranked Kutaisi (1-3) on Sunday night. Visiting TSU was defeated by Kutaisi in Kutaisi 98-81. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of TSU. TSU was ahead by 1 point at the halftime before a 55-37 second half run of Kutaisi. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. TSU was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. Worth to mention a great performance of forward Anzori Nadiradze (202-2001, agency: Dagger Basket) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 19 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. ex-international power forward Willy Isiani (203-1997, college: Detroit, agency: Interperformances) contributed with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. American swingman Andrew OBrien (201-2001, college: Southwestern, KS) replied with a triple-double by scoring 20 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists and ex-international power forward Ilia Londaridze (205-1989) added 12 points and 6 rebounds in the effort for TSU. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Kutaisi left bottom position moving up to ninth place, which they share with Margveti. TSU at the other side keeps the second position with one game lost. Kutaisi will play against higher ranked Telavi (#7) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. TSU will play against Akhaltsikhe (#8) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
TSU: A.O'Brien 20+15reb+10ast, L.Luka 14+1reb+3ast, L.Ilia 12+6reb+3ast, A.Aroshidze 11+7reb, R.Sullivan 10+3reb+3ast, D.Howell 6+2reb+1ast
Kutaisi: N.Anzori 19+10reb+4ast, B.Berekashvili 16+3reb+3ast, A.Patterson 16+4reb+2ast, F.Michael 15+4reb, I.Willy 14+8reb+6ast, A.Luka 10+4reb+3ast