Superleague Round 13 (Regular Season): VSA lose to RASHI

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The biggest surprise took place in Tbilisi where host RASHI (3-9) beat league's leader VSA (8-4) 86-72 on Saturday evening. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of VSA. It was a very close game until the last quarter, when RASHI's pressure prevailed and they won that period 22-15 extending their advantage to 14 points. RASHI looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when RASHI made 7 blocks. South Sudanese-Australian center Deng Gak (208-1998, college: Miami, FL) fired a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. American center Andre Weir (206-2001, college: KSU) chipped in 18 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocks. Forward Anzori Nadiradze (202-2001) produced 18 points and 8 rebounds for lost side. RASHI maintains tenth place with 3-9 record. VSA at the other side dropped to the second position with four games lost. They share it with Kutaisi and Margveti. They were replaced at the leadership position by TSU. VSA will play next round against Delta trying to make it back to the top of the standings. RASHI will try to continue on its current victory against second ranked Margveti. It will be extra interesting game as Margveti is their local rival from Tbilisi.
Important game to mention about took place in Gori. Third ranked Margveti (8-4) saved a 3-point derby victory on the road edging 7th ranked Iverioni (6-6) 89-86 on Saturday evening. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Jalen Hill (198-1999, college: UNLV) who helped to win the game recording 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Sandro Sanadze contributed with 15 points for the winners. American guard Andrew Lewis (190-1998, college: Antelope Valley) answered with 27 points for Iverioni. Margveti moved-up to second place, which they share with Kutaisi and VSA. Iverioni lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth position with six games lost. They share it with Orbi and Kavkasia. Margveti's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Tbilisi RASHI.
Bottom-ranked Delta managed to get the second consecutive victory on Sunday night. This time they edged sixth-ranked Kavkasia in Gurjaani 73-71. And what about a second win in a row after ...ten consecutive losses. Jaeden King stepped up and scored 30 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Delta's coach Bojan Salatic used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. At the losing side Donnie Tillman responded with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 14 rebounds. Delta maintains eleventh place with 2-10 record. Loser Kavkasia keeps the sixth position with six games lost. They share it with Orbi and Iverioni. Delta will meet higher ranked VSA (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Kavkasia will play against Batumi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 13 Orbi was defeated by TSU in Tbilisi 106-102. Kutaisi beat Rustavi at home 84-81.
The best stats of 13th round was 23 points and 14 rebounds by Marqus Gilson of Kutaisi.



RASHI - VSA 86-72

The biggest surprise took place in Tbilisi where host RASHI (3-9) beat league's leader VSA (8-4) 86-72 on Saturday evening. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of VSA. It was a very close game until the last quarter, when RASHI's pressure prevailed and they won that period 22-15 extending their advantage to 14 points. RASHI looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when RASHI made 7 blocks. South Sudanese-Australian center Deng Gak (208-1998, college: Miami, FL) fired a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. American center Andre Weir (206-2001, college: KSU) chipped in a double-double by scoring 18 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocks. Four RASHI players scored in double figures. Forward Anzori Nadiradze (202-2001) produced 18 points and 8 rebounds and American point guard Demaree King (183-1999, college: Jax State) added 17 points and 6 assists respectively for lost side. RASHI maintains tenth place with 3-9 record. VSA at the other side dropped to the second position with four games lost. They share it with Kutaisi and Margveti. They were replaced at the leadership position by TSU. VSA will play next round against Delta trying to make it back to the top of the standings. RASHI will try to continue on its current victory against second ranked Margveti. It will be extra interesting game as Margveti is their local rival from Tbilisi.
Top scorers:
RASHI: L.Zaqradze 23+3reb+3ast, G.Deng 19+12reb+2ast, W.Andre 18+11reb+3ast, S.Ninua 13+3reb+4ast, T.Trey 7+2reb, M.Evan 3+6reb
VSA: N.Anzori 18+8reb+1ast, D.King 17+2reb+6ast, G.Levan 11+1reb, A.Holt 9+8reb, T.Jackson 6+5reb, T.Harcum 5+1reb+3ast

TSU - Orbi 106-102

There was no surprise in Tbilisi where 8th ranked Orbi (6-6) was defeated by first ranked TSU (9-3) 106-102 on Saturday. However just four-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. The hosts trailed by 3 points after three quarters before their 23-20 charge, which allowed them to win the game. The former international forward Aleksandre Phevadze (207-1998) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!), 13 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and American swingman Courvoisier McCauley (196-1998, college: Indiana St.) chipped in 23 points and 11 rebounds. At the losing side American point guard Mark Freeman (180-1999, college: JMU) responded with 33 points (!!!) and 6 assists and the other American import guard Larry Austin Jr (188-1996, college: CMU) scored 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Four TSU and five Orbi players scored in double figures. TSU maintains first place with 9-3 record. Loser Orbi dropped to the sixth position with six games lost. They share it with Kavkasia and Iverioni. TSU will meet Rustavi (#9) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Orbi will play against Iverioni and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
TSU: P.Aleksandre 35+13reb+6ast, H.Quentin 23+1reb+4ast, M.Courvoisier 23+11reb+1ast, B.Mikhail 10+4reb+3ast, M.Drumwright 7+3ast, B.Beka 5+7reb+2ast
Orbi: M.Freeman 33+3reb+6ast, L.Austin Jr. 20+8reb+4ast, B.Jr Jimmy 16+11reb+1ast, L.Ilia 15+2reb, L.Beqa 11+3ast, T.Nikoloz 5+4reb+2ast

Iverioni - Margveti 86-89

Important game to mention about took place in Gori. Third ranked Margveti (8-4) saved a 3-point derby victory on the road edging 7th ranked Iverioni (6-6) 89-86 on Saturday evening. Iverioni was ahead by 1 point at the halftime before a 42-38 second half run of Margveti. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. Iverioni was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. Worth to mention a great performance of American forward Jalen Hill (198-1999, college: UNLV) who helped to win the game recording 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. International guard Sandro Sanadze (190-1995) contributed with 15 points for the winners. American guard Andrew Lewis (190-1998, college: Antelope Valley) answered with 27 points and the other American import point guard Brandon Miller (178-1998, college: Miles, agency: BIG) added 17 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists in the effort for Iverioni. Four Iverioni players scored in double figures. Margveti moved-up to second place, which they share with Kutaisi and VSA. Iverioni lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth position with six games lost. They share it with Orbi and Kavkasia. Margveti's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Tbilisi RASHI.
Top scorers:
Margveti: H.Jalen 20+6reb+4ast, D.DJ 15+4reb+1ast, S.Sanadze 15+3reb+2ast, L.Kotliarevski 9+3reb, J.Christian 8+3reb+7ast, D.Banks 8+3reb+4ast
Iverioni: A.Lewis 27+4reb+3ast, B.Miller 17+8reb+8ast, T.Vladimer 11+3reb+1ast, S.Gognadze 10+7reb+2ast, S.Lobjanidze 10+1reb+2ast, W.Jesiah 4+8reb+4ast

Delta - Kavkasia 73-71

Bottom-ranked Delta managed to get the second consecutive victory on Sunday night. This time they edged sixth-ranked Kavkasia in Gurjaani 73-71. And what about a second win in a row after ...ten consecutive losses. The hosts trailed by 2 points after three quarters before their 19-15 charge, which allowed them to win the game. American swingman Jaeden King (198-2001, college: St.Xavier) stepped up and scored 30 points and 8 rebounds for the winners and his fellow American import forward ShaMarkus Kennedy (203-1998, college: McNeese St.) chipped in 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks. Delta's coach Bojan Salatic used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. At the losing side American forward Donnie Tillman (201-1999, college: NM State) responded with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 14 rebounds and international point guard Luka Maziashvili (187-2000, college: UMass Lowell) scored 14 points and 4 assists. Four Kavkasia players scored in double figures. Delta maintains eleventh place with 2-10 record. Loser Kavkasia keeps the sixth position with six games lost. They share it with Orbi and Iverioni. Delta will meet higher ranked VSA (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Kavkasia will play against Batumi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Delta: K.Jaeden 30+8reb+2ast, K.Sha'Markus 12+7reb+1ast, B.Chris 11+4reb+3ast, O.Buliava 9+5reb+5ast, R.Revaz 7+3reb+2ast, R.Stephon 2+3reb+1ast
Kavkasia: L.Maziashvili 14+3reb+4ast, D.Tillman 14+14reb+2ast, G.Nikoloz 13+3reb+2ast, H.Justin 11+2reb+5ast, X.Bell 7+5reb+2ast, M.Ivane 7+6reb+1ast

Kutaisi - Rustavi 84-81

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Kutaisi (8-4) edged at home 9th ranked Rustavi (3-8) 84-81 on Monday. However just three-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. The hosts trailed by 9 points after first quarter, but they rallied back and won the game by 3 points. Kutaisi looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The game was dominated by American players. Power forward Marqus Gilson (201-1999, college: CWU) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field) for the winners and point guard Detrek Browning (185-1995, college: FMU) chipped in 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. At the losing side guard Montez Mathis (193-1999, college: St.John's) responded with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists and guard Elijah Buchanan (196-1999, college: NJIT) produced a double-double by scoring 10 points and 13 rebounds. Four Kutaisi and five Rustavi players scored in double figures. Defending champion moved-up to second place, which they share with Margveti and VSA. Rustavi lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the ninth position with eight games lost. Kutaisi will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Rustavi will play against the league's leader TSU (#1) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Kutaisi: G.Marqus 23+14reb+2ast, B.Detrek 23+6reb+5ast, B.Tyree 14+2reb+4ast, S.Giorgi 13+4reb+4ast, J.Kakhaber 7+3reb+4ast, O.Javion 4+1reb
Rustavi: M.Mathis 19+5reb+7ast, G.Vakhtang 17+1reb+1ast, W.Isiani 14+4reb+1ast, C.Slater 13+1reb+4ast, B.Elijah 10+13reb+3ast, K.Ezeague 8+7reb+1ast