SLB Round 26 (Regular Season): Manchester edges Newcastle E. by three points

The Regular Season in ABA is slowly approaching the end. But there may be still some important changes in the final standings in the last 4 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Eighth-ranked Newcastle Eagles (12-17) made lots of trouble for second ranked Manchester (17-12) on Friday. The visitors from Manchester managed to secure only three-point victory 98-95. However their fans expected much easier game. Manchester made 24-of-29 free shots (82.8 percent) during the game. 25 personal fouls committed by Newcastle E. helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was American point guard PJay Smith (183, college: Furman) who scored 21 points. The other American import guard Max Jones (193-2002, college: Kansas St.) chipped in 21 points. Manchester's coach Matthew Otten used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Ray-Sean Taylor (185, college: SIUE) produced 19 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists for the hosts. Manchester maintains second position with 17-12 record having just 46 point less than leader London L., which they share with Cheshire P. Newcastle E. at the other side keeps the eighth place with 17 games lost. Manchester is looking forward to face Bristol Flyers (#5) at home in the next round. Newcastle E. will play against Surrey in Guildford and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Leader Lions delivered the twenty fourth victory. This time they beat 6th ranked Flyers (13-16) 83-76 in Bristol. The former international guard Tarik Phillip (191-1993, college: WVU) orchestrated the victory by scoring 23 points and 8 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Chaundee Brown Jr contributed with 13 points for the winners. American guard Cameron Holden (196-2000, college: Towson) replied with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals for Bristol Flyers. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Lions (24-5) have an impressive nine-game winning streak. London maintains first position. Bristol Flyers lost sixth consecutive game. They dropped to the fifth place with 16 games lost. They share the position with Surrey. London will play against Sheffield (#4) at home in the next round. Bristol Flyers will play against Manchester and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in Leicester was also quite interesting. Fifth ranked Scorchers (13-16) played at the court of 8th ranked Leicester Riders (12-15). Scorchers defeated Leicester Riders 103-90 on Friday. The game was dominated by American players. Ronald Polite scored 24 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the charge for the winners. Kedrian Johnson responded with 23 points and 5 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Surrey maintains fifth position with 13-16 record, which they share with Bristol Flyers. Defending champion Leicester R. dropped to the seventh place with 15 games lost. Surrey will meet at home Newcastle E. (#8) in the next round. Leicester R. will play against Caledonia in Glasgow and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 26 Caledonia was crushed by Sheffield in a road game 113-75.



Leicester R. - Surrey 90-103

The game in Leicester was also quite interesting. Fifth ranked Scorchers (13-16) played at the court of 8th ranked Leicester Riders (12-15). Scorchers defeated Leicester Riders 103-90 on Friday. Surrey made 18-of-20 free shots (90.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The game was dominated by American players. Guard Ronald Polite (188-2002, college: UNCG) scored 24 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the charge for the winners and forward Isiah Small (202-1998, college: Texas St.) chipped in 22 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. Four Scorchers players scored in double figures. Kedrian Johnson (190-1999, college: WVU) responded with 23 points and 5 assists and guard Travis Evee (185, college: Rice) scored 16 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Surrey maintains fifth position with 13-16 record, which they share with Bristol Flyers. Defending champion Leicester R. dropped to the seventh place with 15 games lost. Surrey will meet at home Newcastle E. (#8) in the next round. Leicester R. will play against Caledonia in Glasgow and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Surrey: L.Kino 25+1reb+1ast, P.Ronald 24+5reb+7ast, S.Isiah 22+7reb+1ast, G.Michael 12+13reb+1ast, E.RJ 4+3reb+1ast, L.Andrew 4+1reb+4ast
Leicester R.: K.Johnson 23+3reb+5ast, F.Boardman-Raffett 17+6reb+1ast, T.Evee 16+5reb+5ast, A.Menzies 9+6reb, X.Bledson 9+3reb+4ast, M.Joiner 6+2reb+1ast

Newcastle E. - Manchester 95-98

Eighth-ranked Newcastle Eagles (12-17) made lots of trouble for second ranked Manchester (17-12) on Friday. The visitors from Manchester managed to secure only three-point victory 98-95. However their fans expected much easier game. Manchester made 24-of-29 free shots (82.8 percent) during the game. 25 personal fouls committed by Newcastle E. helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was American point guard PJay Smith (183, college: Furman) who scored 21 points. The other American import guard Max Jones (193-2002, college: Kansas St.) chipped in 21 points. Manchester's coach Matthew Otten used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American guard Ray-Sean Taylor (185, college: SIUE) produced 19 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists and American-Nigerian forward Gus Okafor (201-1999, college: Wichita St.) added 17 points respectively for the hosts. Four Manchester and five Newcastle E. players scored in double figures. Manchester maintains second position with 17-12 record having just 46 point less than leader London L., which they share with Cheshire P. Newcastle E. at the other side keeps the eighth place with 17 games lost. Manchester is looking forward to face Bristol Flyers (#5) at home in the next round. Newcastle E. will play against Surrey in Guildford and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Manchester: P.Smith 21+4reb+3ast, J.Max 21+3reb+2ast, D.Mitchell 17+8reb+1ast, J.Jordan 12+1reb+9ast, A.Tim 7+2reb, O.Gabe 6+7reb+4ast
Newcastle E.: R.Taylor 19+6reb+8ast, G.Okafor 17+4reb+1ast, C.Long 14+1reb+1ast, T.Burden 11+3reb+3ast, M.Clarke 11+4reb+4ast, M.Jack 9+4reb

Sheffield S. - Caledonia G. 113-75

There was no surprise in Sheffield where 9th ranked Gladiators (6-23) were crushed by fourth ranked Sharks (15-13) 113-75 on Friday. Sheffield made 20-of-21 free shots (95.2 percent) during the game, while Caledonia only scored three points from the stripe. Sheffield looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. American point guard Prentiss Nixon (183-1997, college: Iowa St., agency: GSE Worldwide) scored 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and the former international center Fahro Alihodzic (208-1989, college: UAB) chipped in 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. Five Sharks players scored in double figures. American guard Ethan Wright (190-2000, college: Colorado) responded with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 11 rebounds and his fellow American import guard Dwaine Jones Jr. (196-2001, college: Charleston, agency: Helping Ballers) scored 16 points and 6 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. Sharks have a solid three-game winning streak. Sheffield maintains fourth position with 15-13 record. Caledonia lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the ninth place with 23 games lost. Sheffield will meet league's leader London on the road in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Caledonia will play against Leicester R. (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Sheffield S.: N.Prentiss 20+6reb+6ast, W.Dirk 17+4reb+3ast, F.Alihodzic 16+7reb+4ast, C.Rodney 16+4reb+4ast, R.Jordan 12+1ast, K.Nick 11+6reb+4ast
Caledonia G.: D.Jones Jr. 16+4reb+6ast, E.Wright 14+11reb+3ast, M.Ragsdale 12+1reb+1ast, J.Speelman 9+4reb, R.Holland 8+3reb+3ast, L.Bryan 4+3reb+2ast

Bristol Flyers - London L. 76-83

Leader Lions delivered the twenty fourth victory. This time they beat 6th ranked Flyers (13-16) 83-76 in Bristol. It was a great shooting night for London especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 58.8 percentage. The former international guard Tarik Phillip (191-1993, college: WVU) orchestrated the victory by scoring 23 points and 8 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). American guard Chaundee Brown Jr (195-1998, college: Michigan) contributed with 13 points for the winners. Four Lions players scored in double figures. American guard Cameron Holden (196-2000, college: Towson) replied with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals and his fellow American import swingman Will Yoakum (196-1998, college: Nova SE) added 15 points (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) in the effort for Bristol Flyers. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Lions (24-5) have an impressive nine-game winning streak. London maintains first position. Bristol Flyers lost sixth consecutive game. They dropped to the fifth place with 16 games lost. They share the position with Surrey. London will play against Sheffield (#4) at home in the next round. Bristol Flyers will play against Manchester and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
London L.: P.Tarik 23+8reb+3ast, B.Chaundee 13+3reb+2ast, W.Deane 11+1reb+1ast, R.Shavar 11+1reb+2ast, S.Joel 9+7reb+1ast, M.Kameron 7+2reb+1ast
Bristol Flyers: C.Holden 18+6reb+4ast, W.Yoakum 15+2reb+2ast, E.Walshe 10+1reb+2ast, D.Brodie 7+4reb+1ast, Z.Anderson 7+3ast, M.Delpeche 6+3reb+1ast