Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

Luka Bulashvili

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Round 16 most important game was a victory of Rustavi over their close opponent Kavkasia 97-72 on Wednesday night. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Kavkasia. It was a key game for the second position in the league. The game was mostly controlled by Rustavi. Kavkasia managed to win third quarter 24-13. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Rustavi dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Kavkasia’s 38. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international point guard Luka Bulashvili (192-1998) who helped to win the game recording 28 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. American guard Tray Croft (185-1997, college: UW-Parkside, agency: Project B Sports) contributed with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists for the winners. The former international power forward Ilia Londaridze (205-1989) replied with 20 points and 7 rebounds for Kavkasia. Rustavi (11-4) have an impressive seven-game winning streak. They maintain second position having just one point less than leader Olimpi. Newly promoted Kavkasia dropped to the third place with five games lost. Rustavi are looking forward to face Cactus (#4) in Tbilisi in the next round. Kavkasia will have a break next round.
Another interesting game was a derby match between two teams from Tbilisi: Olimpi (#1) and TSU (#5). Olimpi (11-3) won against visiting TSU (8-8) 89-84. American players dominated the game. Worth to mention a great performance of point guard Dru Kuxhausen (183-1998, college: N.Colorado) who helped to win the game recording 28 points and 7 rebounds and Linton Acliese III who added 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. At the losing side guard Djimon Henson (193-1998, college: Morehead St.) responded with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Olimpi have an impressive five-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 11-3 record. TSU lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth place with eight games lost. They share the position with Delta. Olimpi’s supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Tbilisi to the arena Vera.
Worth to mention about the upset in a game between Cactus (9-7) and Titebi (5-10), which took place in Tbilisi. Higher ranked Cactus lost at home to ninth ranked Titebi 76-93 on Wednesday. The winners were led by Sandro Sanadze who scored that evening 27 points and 4 assists (made all of his eight free throws). Titebi’s coach Besik Lezhava used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 25 points and 5 assists by Ryan Allen did not help to save the game for Cactus. Titebi maintains ninth position with 5-10 record, which they share with Mega. Cactus lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the fourth place with seven games lost. Titebi will meet at home higher ranked Delta (#7) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Cactus will play against the league’s second-placed Rustavi having rather not much hope for a victory.

In the last two games of round 16 Mega was beaten by Delta on the road 85-68. Kutaisi won against Vera on its own court 100-86.

Delta – Mega 85-68

No shocking result in a game when seventh ranked Delta (8-8) beat 9th ranked Mega (5-10) in Gurjaani 85-68 on Wednesday. The game was mostly controlled by Delta. Mega managed to win second period 17-12. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The winners were led by American Derick Newton (198-1995, college: Stetson) who scored that evening 23 points and 7 rebounds and the other American import guard Avi Toomer (190-1997, college: Bucknell) supported him with 10 points and 9 assists. Toomer is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Even 16 points by American point guard Ronnie Rousseau III (175-1995, college: Antelope Valley) did not help to save the game for Mega. Swingman Otari Buliava (198-1994) added 9 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Delta have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to sixth place, which they share with TSU. Mega at the other side keeps the ninth position with ten games lost. They share it with Titebi. Delta will meet Titebi (#9) in the next round. Mega will play against Kutaisi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Delta: D.Newton 23+7reb+3ast, I.Sulkhanishvili 16+2reb+2ast, G.Baqradze 10+8reb+1ast, A.Toomer 10+4reb+9ast, R.Lynch 9+4reb, O.Pkhakadze 9+6reb+5ast
Mega: R.Rousseau III 16+3reb+3ast, M.Gilson 15+4reb+2ast, T.Howard Jr. 11+2reb+1ast, N.Chechelashvili 11+4reb+2ast, O.Buliava 9+8reb+4ast, Z.Walton 3+9reb+1ast

gschID: 1057824

Cactus – Titebi 76-93

Worth to mention about the upset in a game between Cactus (9-7) and Titebi (5-10), which took place in Tbilisi. Higher ranked Cactus lost at home to ninth ranked Titebi 76-93 on Wednesday. The game without a history. Titebi led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They made 19-of-24 free shots (79.2 percent) during the game. Titebi forced 24 Cactus turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The winners were led by the former international guard Sandro Sanadze (190-1995) who scored that evening 27 points and 4 assists (made all of his eight free throws) and American guard Kendrick Thompson (193-1986, college: Northeastern St.) supported him with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Four Titebi players scored in double figures. Titebi’s coach Besik Lezhava used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 25 points and 5 assists by American guard Ryan Allen (188-1998, college: Delaware) did not help to save the game for Cactus. His fellow American import power forward Jason Copman (198-1998, college: Dominican, NY) added 12 points and 18 rebounds for lost side. Titebi maintains ninth position with 5-10 record, which they share with Mega. Cactus lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the fourth place with seven games lost. Titebi will meet at home higher ranked Delta (#7) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Cactus will play against the league’s second-placed Rustavi having rather not much hope for a victory.
Top scorers:
Titebi: S.Sanadze 27+4reb+4ast, K.Thompson 22+5reb+7ast, D.Bell 13+5reb+2ast, G.Gogua 11+4reb, B.Dawson 8+1reb+4ast, U.Michael 7+2reb+4ast
Cactus: R.Allen 25+3reb+5ast, V.Gaprindashvili 14+8reb+3ast, J.Copman 12+18reb+2ast, R.Chachanidze 9, M.Bokolishvili 8+2reb+6ast, N.Sergi 5+4reb+2ast

gschID: 1057825

Kavkasia – Rustavi 72-97

gschID: 1057826

Olimpi – TSU 89-84

Another interesting game was a derby match between two teams from Tbilisi: Olimpi (#1) and TSU (#5). Olimpi (11-3) won against visiting TSU (8-8) 89-84. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But TSU won third quarter 32-27. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. The game was decided in the last minutes when Olimpi won last quarter 22-18. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists. American players dominated the game. Worth to mention a great performance of point guard Dru Kuxhausen (183-1998, college: N.Colorado) who helped to win the game recording 28 points and 7 rebounds and forward Linton Acliese III (201-1998, college: EWU) who added 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. At the losing side guard Djimon Henson (193-1998, college: Morehead St.) responded with 22 points and 9 rebounds and point guard Malcolm Drumwright (188-1995, college: JSU) scored 16 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Olimpi have an impressive five-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 11-3 record. TSU lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth place with eight games lost. They share the position with Delta. Olimpi’s supporters look forward to another derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Tbilisi to the arena Vera.
Top scorers:
Olimpi: D.Kuxhausen 28+7reb+2ast, A.McAlpine 16+4reb+1ast, L.Acliese III 14+7reb+4ast, L.Kalatozishvili 11+6reb+2ast, L.Luka 9+6reb+4ast, V.Tavakarashvili 6+1reb
TSU: D.Henson 22+9reb+2ast, M.Berishvili 19+4reb+3ast, M.Drumwright 16+6reb+7ast, N.Gogodze 12+1ast, B.Bekauri 9+10reb+4ast, G.Tsintsadze 3+3reb+3ast

gschID: 1057827

Kutaisi – Vera 100-86

Rather expected game when 11th ranked Vera (2-13) lost on the road to eighth ranked Kutaisi (6-8) 100-86 on Thursday. The game was mostly controlled by Kutaisi. Vera managed to win second period 31-26. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They made 22-of-29 free shots (75.9 percent) during the game. Kutaisi looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. The winners were led by the former international swingman Kakhaber Jintcharadze (196-1993, agency: BIG) who scored that evening 21 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists and the former international point guard Luka Maziashvili (187-2000, college: UMass Lowell) supported him with 19 points and 8 assists (made all of his seven free throws). Maziashvili is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Five Kutaisi players scored in double figures. Even a double-double of 33 points (!!!) and 13 rebounds (on 13-of-15 shooting from the field) by American center Derrick Nix (203-1990, college: Michigan St., agency: Interperformances) did not help to save the game for Vera. The former international guard Luka Zakradze (193-1996) added 23 points and 7 assists for lost side. Defending champion maintains eighth position with 6-8 record. Vera lost eighth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 13 games lost. Kutaisi will meet Mega (#10) in the next round. Vera’s supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Tbilisi Olimpi.
Top scorers:
Kutaisi: K.Jintcharadze 21+8reb+5ast, L.Maziashvili 19+2reb+8ast, J.Ray 17+6reb+3ast, A.Coleman 15+8reb, C.Ware 13+7reb+3ast, B.Baqar 9+3reb
Vera: D.Nix 33+13reb+3ast, L.Zakradze 23+2reb+7ast, K.Rice 21+7reb+1ast, G.Vakhania 9+1reb+6ast, K.Saba 0, G.Vakhtang 0+2ast