Super Liga Round 2 (Regular Season): MZT Skopje defeats Kozuv

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

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Kozuv in Gevgelija on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by MZT Skopje 81-73. MZT Skopje made 16-of-21 free shots (76.2 percent) during the game. The former international power forward Andrej Maslinko (208-1997) orchestrated the victory by scoring 19 points and 8 rebounds. Serbian center Dimitrije Nikolic (211-1997) contributed with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Serbian swingman Stefan Simic (198-1996) replied with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists for Kozuv. MZT Skopje's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Skopje TFT.
Very important is a road loss of Pelister against Strumica on Sunday night. Visiting Pelister was defeated by Strumica in Strumica 84-69. American guard Malique Jacobs (190-2000, college: Kent St.) had a double-double by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Dimitar Pandev chipped in 19 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. Center Blagoj Dimitriev (200-2000) responded with 18 points and 9 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Strumica will play against Madzari 2003 in Skopje in the next round where they are favorite. Pelister will play at home against Rabotnicki and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An interesting game for Rabotnicki which hosted in Skopje Tikvesh. Rabotnicki had an easy win 86-70. Robert Rikic notched a double-double by scoring 14 points and 13 rebounds to lead the effort. Rabotnicki's coach Vladimir Mirkovski used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists by Davion Sykes did not help to save the game for Tikvesh. Rabotnicki will meet Pelister in the next round where they are favorite. Tikvesh will play against Kumanovo MK and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 2 winless Sokoli 1933 was beaten by Kumanovo MK on the road 70-59. Bottom-ranked TFT won against Madzari 2003 on its own court 102-98.
The most impressive performance of 2nd round was 23 points and 15 rebounds by Sekou Sylla of TFT.



Kozuv - MZT Skopje 73-81:
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Kozuv in Gevgelija on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by MZT Skopje 81-73. MZT Skopje made 16-of-21 free shots (76.2 percent) during the game. The former international power forward Andrej Maslinko (208-1997) orchestrated the victory by scoring 19 points and 8 rebounds. Serbian center Dimitrije Nikolic (211-1997) contributed with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Serbian swingman Stefan Simic (198-1996) replied with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists and American guard Terry Armstrong (201-2000, college: Arizona) added 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Kozuv. Four Kozuv players scored in double figures. MZT Skopje's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Skopje TFT.
Top scorers:
MZT Skopje: N.Dimitrije 19+6reb+4ast, A.Maslinko 19+8reb+3ast, B.Petar 9+5reb, S.Vojdan 9+4reb+1ast, S.Damjan 7+3reb, T.Tadija 6+5reb+6ast
Kozuv: T.Armstrong 17+8reb+4ast, N.Burris 16+4reb+4ast, D.Krstevski 15+6reb+1ast, S.Simic 14+12reb+7ast, K.Jordan 9+3reb, S.Mihail 2

Kumanovo MK - Sokoli 1933 70-59:
Kumanovo MK used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from Stip 70-59 on Saturday night. Kumanovo MK looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Sokoli 1933's players. The former international swingman Adem Mekic (197-1995, agency: 011 Sports) notched 15 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists to lead the effort and ex-international forward Stojan Gjuroski (203-1991, college: La Tech, agency: BIG) supported him with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Even 21 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists by American point guard Cam Hamilton (180-1999, college: Valdosta St.) did not help to save the game for Sokoli 1933. American-South Sudanese forward Jay Pal (206-2000, college: SDSU) added 13 points and 6 rebounds for the guests. Kumanovo MK will meet Tikvesh in the next round. Sokoli 1933 will play against Kozuv and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Kumanovo MK: G.Stojan 16+8reb+1ast, M.Adem 15+5reb+9ast, S.Andreja 13+3reb+2ast, K.Bojan 8+7reb+4ast, G.Cameron 7+2reb+1ast, S.Boban 6+1reb+6ast
Sokoli 1933: C.Hamilton 21+9reb+5ast, J.Pal 13+6reb+2ast, A.Jovan 11+5reb+2ast, A.Kostoski 5+1ast, V.Djordjevic 5+6reb+1ast, S.Aleksandar 4+1reb

Rabotnicki - Tikvesh 86-70:
An interesting game for Rabotnicki which hosted in Skopje Tikvesh. Rabotnicki had an easy win 86-70. Rabotnicki made 17-of-21 free shots (81.0 percent) during the game. Bosnian-Croatian center Robert Rikic (219-1990, agency: AltusBasket) notched a double-double by scoring 14 points and 13 rebounds to lead the effort and ex-international Viktor Efremovski (194-1998) supported him with 21 points. Four Rabotnicki players scored in double figures. Rabotnicki's coach Vladimir Mirkovski used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists by American guard Davion Sykes (198-2003, college: SIU) did not help to save the game for Tikvesh. His fellow American import swingman Tederick Wolfe (196-1997, college: Wayland Baptist, agency: Dominion Sports Group) added 20 points (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) for the guests. Rabotnicki will meet Pelister in the next round where they are favorite. Tikvesh will play against Kumanovo MK and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Rabotnicki: E.Viktor 21+3reb+2ast, R.Robert 14+13reb, G.Darrin 12+2reb+11ast, R.Damjan 10+3reb+1ast, R.Fatjon 9+7reb+2ast, J.Ellingsworth 6+2reb+1ast
Tikvesh: T.Wolfe 20+3reb+2ast, D.Sykes 18+7reb+4ast, J.Smith 11+5reb+6ast, Z.Todor 8+5reb+2ast, D.Bruton 4+1reb+1ast, M.Ilija 4+3reb

Strumica - Pelister 84-69:
Very important is a road loss of Pelister against Strumica on Sunday night. Visiting Pelister was defeated by Strumica in Strumica 84-69. American guard Malique Jacobs (190-2000, college: Kent St.) had a double-double by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and ex-international forward Dimitar Pandev (208-1997, college: IUPUI) chipped in 19 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. Center Blagoj Dimitriev (200-2000) responded with 18 points and 9 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) and American point guard CJ Wilson (180-1994, college: Young Harris) scored 10 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Strumica will play against Madzari 2003 in Skopje in the next round where they are favorite. Pelister will play at home against Rabotnicki and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Strumica: C.Crawford 21+3reb+3ast, J.Malique 21+10reb+4ast, P.Dimitar 19+7reb+3ast, S.Metin 8+8reb+1ast, H.Marland 6+6reb, P.Kocev 6+1reb+1ast
Pelister: B.Dimitriev 18+9reb, L.Savikjevikj 11+2reb+3ast, C.Wilson 10+8reb+6ast, R.Wheeler 9+3reb, K.Kjirilovski 8+3reb+1ast, A.Range 8+6reb+2ast

TFT - Madzari 2003 102-98:
There was an upset when Madzari 2003 lost to TFT in Skopje 98-102 on Thursday. TFT dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Madzari 2003's 34. Guinean-American forward Sekou Sylla (195-2000, college: Towson) notched a double-double by scoring 23 points and 15 rebounds (was perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line) to lead the effort and American forward Nakavieon White (201-2002, college: Georgia South) supported him with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. TFT's coach Boro Smilkovski allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. Even a double-double of 31 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists by American forward Collin Parker (203-2003, college: Austin Peay) did not help to save the game for Madzari 2003. His fellow American import guard Cameron Jones (198-1999, college: McNeese St.) added 22 points and 5 rebounds for the guests. Five TFT and four Madzari 2003 players scored in double figures. TFT's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Skopje to the arena MZT Skopje.
Top scorers:
TFT: C.Gjorgji 24+2reb+1ast, S.Sekou 23+15reb+1ast, L.Alain 16+3reb+3ast, W.Nakavieon 11+10reb+10ast, S.Nikolov 10+4reb+2ast, S.Toma 6+1reb+1ast
Madzari 2003: C.Parker 31+12reb+4ast, C.Jones 22+5reb+3ast, J.Jackson 19+4reb+5ast, M.Sergej 10+4ast, I.Volkanovski 8+4reb, M.Milovanovikj 8+4reb