SBL Round 25 (Regular Season): Union is upset by Massagno

There will be only one (last) round of the Regular Season in SBL. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between third ranked Union (13-10) and sixth ranked Massagno (8-15) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Union was defeated by Massagno in Massagno 99-87. They made 20-of-20 free shots (100 percent !!!) during the game. American swingman EJ Farmer (196-2003, college: YSU) fired 38 points (!!!) (made all of his seven free throws) for the winners. His fellow American import guard Cam Hayes (190-2002, college: ECU) chipped in 22 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Massagno's coach Alain Attallah used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American point guard Justin Hill (180-2001, college: Wichita St.) produced 30 points and 6 assists for lost side. Massagno maintains sixth place with 8-15 record. Union at the other side keeps the third position with ten games lost. They share it with Starwings. Massagno are looking forward to face Lugano (#8) at home in the next round. Union will play against the league's leader Fribourg (#1) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Fribourg. First ranked Fribourg faced their biggest opponent Geneve. Host Fribourg (22-1) smashed guests from Geneve (19-5) 88-69. Worth to mention a great performance of American-Nigerian forward Mezie Offurum (203-2000, college: JMU) who helped to win the game recording 26 points and 6 rebounds. Jonathan Kazadi contributed with 11 points and 8 assists for the winners. Fribourg's coach Thibaut Petit allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. International Noe Anabir (203-1995, college: YSU) answered with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds for Geneve. Fribourg have an impressive series of twelve victories in a row. They maintain first place with 22-1 record. Defending champion Geneve keeps the second position with five games lost. Fribourg will play against Union (#4) in Neuchatel in the next round. Geneve will have a break next round.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Geneve. Second ranked Geneve faced 3rd placed Starwings. Host Geneve (19-5) defeated guests from Basel (13-10) 95-87. Boris Mbala stepped up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. At the losing side Mason Walters responded with 23 points and 8 rebounds. Starwings' coach Pascal Donati rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Defending champion maintains second place with 19-5 record having just two points less than leader Fribourg. Loser Starwings keep the third position with ten games lost. They share it with Union. Geneve will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Starwings will play against Nyon and hope to secure a win.

Other games of round 25 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Nyon crushed Pully in a road game 83-64. Starwings beat Lugano at home 98-80. Massagno was destroyed by Pully on the opponent's court 102-77.



Fribourg - Geneve 88-69

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Fribourg. First ranked Fribourg faced their biggest opponent Geneve. Host Fribourg (22-1) smashed guests from Geneve (19-5) 88-69. Fribourg players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. They brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. Worth to mention a great performance of American-Nigerian forward Mezie Offurum (203-2000, college: JMU) who helped to win the game recording 26 points and 6 rebounds. The former international point guard Jonathan Kazadi (195-1991) contributed with 11 points and 8 assists for the winners. Fribourg's coach Thibaut Petit allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. International Noe Anabir (203-1995, college: YSU) answered with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds and American swingman Isaiah Williams (201-1992, college: Iona) added 12 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists in the effort for Geneve. Four Geneve players scored in double figures. Fribourg have an impressive series of twelve victories in a row. They maintain first place with 22-1 record. Defending champion Geneve keeps the second position with five games lost. Fribourg will play against Union (#4) in Neuchatel in the next round. Geneve will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Fribourg: O.Mezie 26+6reb+2ast, C.Bryan 14+3reb+1ast, K.Jonathan 11+4reb+8ast, W.Jonathan 8+6reb+1ast, B.Antonio 7+3reb, A.Leyrolles 6+3reb+3ast
Geneve: J.Gilbreath 16+3reb+3ast, N.Anabir 16+10reb+1ast, J.James 13+7reb+1ast, I.Williams 12+9reb+4ast, O.Ali 5+3reb, J.Abraham 3+3reb

Pully - Nyon 64-83

There was a minor upset in Lausanne where 5th ranked Pully (12-11) was crushed by seventh ranked Nyon (7-16) 83-64 on Sunday. Nyon dominated down low during the game scoring 66 of its points in the paint compared to Pully's 30. Nyon looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The former international Killian Martin (204-1998) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 29 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and guard Malyk Rebetez (190-2002, college: Augustana) chipped in 15 points and 9 assists. Five Nyon players scored in double figures. At the losing side American center Payton Sparks (208-2002, college: Ball St.) responded with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds and guard Leandro Gysel (187-2005) scored 17 points and 8 assists. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. The victory was the third consecutive win for Nyon. They maintain seventh place with 7-16 record. Pully lost their fourth game in a row. They keep the fifth position with 11 games lost. Nyon will meet at home higher ranked Starwings (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Pully will play against Monthey-Chablais and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Nyon: M.Killian 29+10reb+6ast, M.Rebetez 15+2reb+9ast, C.Karl 13+8reb+1ast, E.Rebetez 12+5reb+3ast, O.Emeka 10+8reb+3ast, N.Stoppiello 2+1reb
Pully: P.Sparks 20+10reb, G.Leandro 17+2reb+8ast, R.Liam 9+4reb, J.Price-Townsend 8+1reb+1ast, K.Milton 5+10reb+4ast, P.Leo 3+1reb

Massagno - Union NE 99-87

The game between third ranked Union (13-10) and sixth ranked Massagno (8-15) was the most important one in the last round on Saturday night. Union was defeated by Massagno in Massagno 99-87. They made 20-of-20 free shots (100 percent !!!) during the game. American swingman EJ Farmer (196-2003, college: YSU) fired 38 points (!!!) (made all of his seven free throws) for the winners. His fellow American import guard Cam Hayes (190-2002, college: ECU) chipped in 22 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Massagno's coach Alain Attallah used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American point guard Justin Hill (180-2001, college: Wichita St.) produced 30 points and 6 assists and swingman Brendan Favre (196-1999, college: DePaul) added 10 points and 9 rebounds respectively for lost side. Four Massagno and five Union players scored in double figures. Massagno maintains sixth place with 8-15 record. Union at the other side keeps the third position with ten games lost. They share it with Starwings. Massagno are looking forward to face Lugano (#8) at home in the next round. Union will play against the league's leader Fribourg (#1) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Massagno: F.EJ 38+4reb+1ast, H.Cam 22+5reb+8ast, M.Marko 16+5reb+3ast, M.Dusan 14+6reb+1ast, W.Roosevelt 7+4reb, E.Karabasic 2+3reb+1ast
Union NE: J.Hill 30+4reb+6ast, S.Joao Caputo 13+5reb+1ast, K.Martina 10+4reb+1ast, B.Favre 10+9reb+1ast, L.Meut Izan 10+6reb+1ast, K.Lukas 8+3reb+3ast

Starwings - Lugano 98-80

No shocking result in a game in Basel where third ranked Starwings (13-10) defeated 8th ranked Lugano (5-18) 98-80 on Sunday. Starwings outrebounded Lugano 54-27 including a 21-8 advantage in offensive rebounds. Starwings looked well-organized offensively handing out 33 assists. American power forward Mason Walters (206-2001, college: Wyoming, agency: One Motive Sports) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 26 points and 14 rebounds for the winners and his fellow American import forward Jaylen McManus (201-1997, college: Charleston) chipped in 23 points. Four Starwings players scored in double figures. At the losing side Oliver Sassella (195-2006) responded with 22 points and swingman Andre Donnelly (198-2005) scored 21 points. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Starwings maintains third place with 13-10 record having nine points less than leader Fribourg, which they share with Union. Loser Lugano keeps the eighth position with 18 games lost. They share it with Monthey-Chablais. Starwings will meet Nyon (#7) on the road in the next round. Lugano will play against Massagno and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Starwings: W.Mason 26+14reb+3ast, M.Jaylen 23+3reb+2ast, D.Roman 14+5reb+5ast, M.Yura 10+14reb+1ast, G.Kibrom 8+8reb+7ast, W.Zaid 7+4reb+9ast
Lugano: S.Oliver 22+4reb+2ast, D.Andre 21+2reb+1ast, B.Andrea 12+2reb+8ast, B.Michele 8+5reb+2ast, M.Matthias 6+1reb+1ast, B.Andrea 3+3reb+1ast

Pully - Massagno 102-77

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 6th ranked Massagno's (8-15) road loss to fifth ranked Pully (12-11) 77-102 on Wednesday. Pully made 17-of-21 free shots (81.0 percent) during the game. They also forced 21 Massagno turnovers and outrebounded them 39-28 including 16 on the offensive glass. Pully looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American guard Kylen Milton (193-2001, college: Murray St.) stepped up and scored 33 points (!!!), 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 7 steals for the winners and guard Leandro Gysel (187-2005) chipped in 18 points, 8 assists and 5 steals. At the losing side American center Roosevelt Wheeler (211-2003, college: ETSU) responded with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds and the other American import swingman EJ Farmer (196-2003, college: YSU) scored 20 points. Four Massagno players scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Pully maintains fifth place with 12-11 record. Loser Massagno keeps the sixth position with 15 games lost. Pully will meet bottom-ranked Monthey-Chablais (#9) on the road in the next round. Massagno will play against Lugano and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Pully: M.Kylen 33+7reb+5ast, P.Jackson 18+8reb+1ast, L.Gysel 18+3reb+8ast, S.Payton 9+11reb+4ast, L.Pariat 8+1reb+3ast, H.Sean 6+1reb
Massagno: E.Farmer 20+4reb, R.Wheeler 16+11reb+2ast, D.Mladjan 15+2reb, C.Hayes 11+2reb+1ast, M.Axel 4+1ast, C.Dylan 4+1ast

Geneve - Starwings 95-87

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Geneve. Second ranked Geneve faced 3rd placed Starwings. Host Geneve (19-5) defeated guests from Basel (13-10) 95-87. Geneve made 24-of-27 free shots (88.9 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 Starwings turnovers. The former international guard Boris Mbala (190-1996) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and American center Juwann James (198-1987, college: JMU) chipped in 25 points (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field). At the losing side American power forward Mason Walters (206-2001, college: Wyoming, agency: One Motive Sports) responded with 23 points and 8 rebounds and guard Zaid Weibel (190-2001, college: Fort Scott CC) scored 22 points. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Starwings' coach Pascal Donati rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Defending champion maintains second place with 19-5 record having just two points less than leader Fribourg. Loser Starwings keep the third position with ten games lost. They share it with Union. Geneve will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Starwings will play against Nyon and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Geneve: J.Juwann 25+2reb+1ast, G.Ja'Qualyn 19+5reb+2ast, W.Isaiah 18+2reb+5ast, M.Boris 16+10reb+3ast, M.Chabouh 4+1reb+1ast, A.Omar 4+1reb+1ast
Starwings: M.Walters 23+8reb+1ast, Z.Weibel 22+1reb+3ast, J.McManus 16+1reb, R.Diego 12+4reb+7ast, Y.Melikyan 8+5reb+1ast, F.Dennis 6+1reb+1ast