Prva Liga Round 13 (Regular Season): MZT Skopje beat Feniks 2010 in a derby game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Skopje: MZT Skopje (#1) and Feniks 2010 (#7). Feniks 2010 was defeated at home 73-85 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Feniks 2010. MZT Skopje made 16-of-19 free shots (84.2 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The game was dominated by American players. Forward Juan Davis (203-1996, college: Troy) fired a double-double by scoring 13 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Guard Mack Smith-McEwen (191-1998, college: W.Michigan) chipped in 20 points and 4 assists. Guard Dhashon Dyson (185-2001, college: BCU) produced 18 points for lost side. Undefeated MZT Skopje (13-0) have an impressive series of thirteen victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with a perfect record of 13 victories in a row. Feniks 2010 at the other side keeps the seventh position with eight games lost. They share it with Rabotnicki and Tikvesh. MZT Skopje's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Skopje Angeli.
Another exciting game was again a derby between two teams from Skopje: TFT (#2) and Rabotnicki (#8). Despite it looked like an easy game for TFT, those rules do not exist in derby games. It's more the case of honor for local supporters and such games have that special and unique approach you cannot find in other games. Host Rabotnicki challenged much higher ranked TFT giving them a very tough game, but finally losing it by four points 88-84. Worth to mention a great performance of American-Syrian guard Stanley Davis Jr (196-1998, college: Morgan St.) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 5 assists. Raymond Somerville contributed with 13 points and 9 rebounds (perfect from the field making all six shots) for the winners. Bosnian-Croatian center Robert Rikic (219-1990, agency: AltusBasket) answered with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists for Rabotnicki. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for TFT. They maintain second place with 12-1 record behind leader MZT Skopje. Rabotnicki lost their fourth game in a row. They dropped to the seventh position with eight games lost. They share it with Feniks 2010 and Tikvesh. TFT's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Skopje Cair 2030.
Bottom-ranked Angeli (0-13) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 94-65 loss to eleventh ranked Gostivar (3-10) in Gostivar on Friday evening. Leonid Todorovski stepped up with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 11 rebounds (on 10-of-11 shooting from the field) for the winners. At the losing side Rubin Stefanov responded with 17 points and 5 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Gostivar maintains eleventh place with 3-10 record. Angeli lost their thirteenth game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings with 13 games lost. Gostivar will meet at home higher ranked Kozuv (#6) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Angeli's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Skopje to the arena MZT Skopje.

Other games of round 13 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Pelister defeated Cair 2030 in Bitola 107-99. Madzari beat Kumanovo MK at home 94-78. Tikvesh won against Kozuv on the opponent's court 79-78.



Cair 2030 - Pelister 99-107

There was no surprise in Skopje where 9th ranked Cair 2030 (4-8) was defeated by third ranked Pelister (9-4) 107-99 on Saturday. Pelister looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The former international point guard Boban Stajic (185-1993) stepped up and scored 25 points and 9 assists (made all of his seven free throws) for the winners and Serbian forward Nikola Malesevic (202-1989, college: URI) chipped in 22 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. At the losing side American forward Jalin Billingsley (203-2002, college: EMU, agency: Elevate Sports Alliance) responded with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 12 rebounds and guard Meti Taci (194-2003) produced a triple-double by scoring 11 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Pelister maintains third place with 9-4 record having four points less than leader MZT Skopje. Loser Cair 2030 dropped to the tenth position with eight games lost. Pelister will meet Madzari (#5) in the next round. Cair 2030's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Skopje to the arena TFT.
Top scorers:
Cair 2030: J.Billingsley 29+12reb+1ast, K.Sturdivant 19+3reb+6ast, A.Chatman 14+4reb, I.Taulant 12+3reb+1ast, T.Meti 11+11reb+12ast, R.Fatjon 9+2reb+1ast
Pelister: S.Boban 25+2reb+9ast, M.Nikola 22+6reb+7ast, B.Kevin 17+5reb+2ast, S.Luka 11+2reb, M.Andrej 11+3reb+1ast, W.Langston 10+13reb+1ast

Feniks 2010 - MZT Skopje 73-85

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Skopje: MZT Skopje (#1) and Feniks 2010 (#7). Feniks 2010 was defeated at home 73-85 and even the advantage of their own court did not help. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Feniks 2010. MZT Skopje made 16-of-19 free shots (84.2 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. The game was dominated by American players. Forward Juan Davis (203-1996, college: Troy) fired a double-double by scoring 13 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Guard Mack Smith-McEwen (191-1998, college: W.Michigan) chipped in 20 points and 4 assists. Guard Dhashon Dyson (185-2001, college: BCU) produced 18 points and forward Bismark Nsiah (203-2002, college: FDU, agency: Olsta) added 11 points and 9 rebounds respectively for lost side. Four MZT Skopje and five Feniks 2010 players scored in double figures. MZT Skopje (13-0) have an impressive series of thirteen victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with a perfect record of 13 victories in a row. Feniks 2010 at the other side keeps the seventh position with eight games lost. They share it with Rabotnicki and Tikvesh. MZT Skopje's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Skopje Angeli.
Top scorers:
Feniks 2010: D.Dyson 18+3reb+2ast, L.Rahama 15+3reb+2ast, E.Matthews 13+3reb+1ast, B.Nsiah 11+9reb+2ast, V.Zlatevski 10+2ast, M.Naumovski 4+2reb+4ast
MZT Skopje: S.Mack 20+2reb+4ast, T.Dusan 16+8reb+2ast, M.Petkov 14+1reb+5ast, D.Juan 13+11reb+3ast, S.Vojdan 6+1reb+4ast, S.Damjan 6+3reb+2ast

Gostivar - Angeli 94-65

Bottom-ranked Angeli (0-13) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 94-65 loss to eleventh ranked Gostivar (3-10) in Gostivar on Friday evening. They dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Angeli's 36. They outrebounded Angeli 49-23 including a 34-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Gostivar looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Angeli's players. Naturalized Bulgarian center Leonid Todorovski (207-1998, agency: Bell Basketball) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 11 rebounds (on 10-of-11 shooting from the field) for the winners and swingman Renato Dimitrievski (196-1991) chipped in 16 points and 8 rebounds. Four Gostivar players scored in double figures. At the losing side the former international swingman Rubin Stefanov (191-2005, agency: Interperformances) responded with 17 points and 5 assists and point guard Andrej Nastovski (191-2000, agency: BIG) scored 14 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Gostivar maintains eleventh place with 3-10 record. Angeli lost their thirteenth game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings with 13 games lost. Gostivar will meet at home higher ranked Kozuv (#6) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Angeli'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:
Angeli: R.Stefanov 17+2reb+5ast, A.Nastovski 14+2reb+2ast, V.Bojan 9+2reb, H.Cucovic 8+5reb+1ast, L.Dino 7+4reb+1ast, R.Deng 4+2reb+1ast
Gostivar: T.Leonid 22+11reb+1ast, R.Dimitrievski 16+8reb+3ast, K.Kenan 14+6reb+2ast, M.Pecanoski 12+1reb+1ast, D.Leonard 11+5reb+4ast, C.Jovan 7+3reb+4ast

Madzari - Kumanovo MK 94-78

There was a small surprise when sixth ranked Madzari (7-6) defeated at home 4th placed Kumanovo MK (7-5) 94-78 on Sunday. Madzari forced 19 Kumanovo MK turnovers. American guard Javon Greene (193-1999, college: S.Florida) stepped up and scored 23 points and 8 assists for the winners and his fellow American import guard Terry Armstrong (201-2000, college: Arizona, agency: 6th Man Basketball Agency) chipped in 27 points and 4 assists. At the losing side Serbian center Uros Lukovic (213-1989) responded with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 19 rebounds (on 11-of-12 shooting from the field) and Serbian guard Andreja Stevanovic (195-1995) scored 18 points. Madzari moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Kozuv. Loser Kumanovo MK keeps the fourth position with five games lost. Madzari will meet at home higher ranked Pelister (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Kumanovo MK will play against Feniks 2010 in Skopje and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Kumanovo MK: U.Lukovic 25+19reb+3ast, A.Stevanovic 18+1reb+3ast, A.Radukic 10+4reb+1ast, S.Filip 9, S.Gjuroski 7+4reb+2ast, B.Husein 6+2reb+2ast
Madzari: A.Terry 27+4reb+4ast, G.Javon 23+4reb+8ast, H.Amar 14+7reb+1ast, L.Tommie 9+5reb+3ast, D.Ivica 9+2reb, D.Oliver 6+2reb

Kozuv - Tikvesh 78-79

There was an upset in Gevgelija where higher ranked Kozuv (7-6) was edged by tenth ranked Tikvesh (5-8) 79-78 on Saturday. Tikvesh dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Kozuv's 32. The game was also dominated by American players. Forward DeSean Parsons (201-1995, college: Portland St.) stepped up and scored 23 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and point guard Javaunte Hawkins (180-2000, college: FIU) chipped in 14 points and 7 assists. At the losing side power forward DeVaughn Washington (203-1989, college: Ohio) responded with 23 points and 9 rebounds and Rodney Purvis (193-1994, college: UConn, agency: JCK Sports Group) scored 14 points and 5 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Tikvesh moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Rabotnicki and Feniks 2010. Loser Kozuv keeps the fifth position with six games lost. They share it with Madzari. Tikvesh will meet at home Rabotnicki (#8) in the next round. Kozuv will play against Gostivar and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Kozuv: D.Washington 23+9reb+3ast, R.Purvis 14+3reb+5ast, D.Nicholas 11+2reb+3ast, N.Bojchev 10+3reb, M.White 8+2reb+2ast, T.Simic 7+11reb+1ast
Tikvesh: P.De'Sean 23+6reb+1ast, M.Quinton 14+6reb+3ast, H.Javaunte 14+2reb+7ast, B.Petar 11+10reb+1ast, S.Gligorijevic 6+4reb, T.Henrie 5+2reb+1ast

Rabotnicki - TFT 84-88

Another exciting game was again a derby between two teams from Skopje: TFT (#2) and Rabotnicki (#8). Despite it looked like an easy game for TFT, those rules do not exist in derby games. It's more the case of honor for local supporters and such games have that special and unique approach you cannot find in other games. Host Rabotnicki challenged much higher ranked TFT giving them a very tough game, but finally losing it by four points 88-84. Worth to mention a great performance of American-Syrian guard Stanley Davis Jr (196-1998, college: Morgan St.) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 5 assists. American power forward Raymond Somerville (211-2000, college: Delaware St.) contributed with 13 points and 9 rebounds (perfect from the field making all six shots) for the winners. Bosnian-Croatian center Robert Rikic (219-1990, agency: AltusBasket) answered with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists and the former international Viktor Efremovski (194-1998, agency: PEPI SPORT) added 24 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Rabotnicki. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for TFT. They maintain second place with 12-1 record behind leader MZT Skopje. Rabotnicki lost their fourth game in a row. They dropped to the seventh position with eight games lost. They share it with Feniks 2010 and Tikvesh. TFT's supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Skopje Cair 2030.
Top scorers:
Rabotnicki: R.Rikic 24+15reb+5ast, V.Efremovski 24+8reb+4ast, D.Robev 18+5reb+11ast, N.Filip 10+1reb+5ast, B.Stojanovski 5+2reb, L.Petrovski 3+4reb+2ast
TFT: T.Viktor 20+1reb+1ast, D.Stanley 20+4reb+5ast, S.Raymond 13+9reb+2ast, Z.Georgi 11+1reb+1ast, I.Dimitar 8+2reb, D.Govens 7+6reb+4ast