Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
An interesting game for Balkan (14-4) which hosted in Botevgrad one of their biggest challengers Cherno More (9-8). Second ranked Balkan managed to get a 4-point victory 77-73. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Cherno More. American center Tyere Marshall (206-1997, college: Rider) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 14 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field). The other American import guard Curtis Jones (191-1997, college: Penn State) contributed with 14 points for the winners. American point guard Michaelyn Scott (182-1993, college: Idaho, agency: BIG) replied with 22 points for Cherno More. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Balkan have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 14-4 record having just two points less than leader Rilski. Cherno More at the other side keeps the third place with eight games lost. They share the position with Spartak Pleven. Balkan will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Cherno More will play at home against Akademik and is hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
NBL top team – Rilski (16-2) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed seventh ranked Minyor 2015 (8-10) in Pernik 104-76. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Minyor 2015. Worth to mention a quality performance of Croatian-Bosnian forward Jure Planinic (206-2000) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 11 points and 11 rebounds and Supreme Hannah who added 14 points and 6 assists during the contest. American guard Tony Burks (188, college: Columbia, MO) responded with 25 points and 7 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Rilski have an impressive five-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 16-2 record. Minyor 2015 at the other side keeps the seventh place with ten games lost. Rilski will play against Levski (#8) in Sofia in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Minyor 2015 will play on the road against Spartak Pleven and hopes to get back on the winning track.
In the last two games of round 20 Akademik beat Beroe on the road 100-94. Levski destroyed Shumen on its own court 98-71.
Balkan – Cherno More 77-73
An interesting game for Balkan (14-4) which hosted in Botevgrad one of their biggest challengers Cherno More (9-8). Second ranked Balkan managed to get a 4-point victory 77-73. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Cherno More. American center Tyere Marshall (206-1997, college: Rider) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 14 rebounds (on 10-of-12 shooting from the field). The other American import guard Curtis Jones (191-1997, college: Penn State) contributed with 14 points for the winners. American point guard Michaelyn Scott (182-1993, college: Idaho, agency: BIG) replied with 22 points and Spanish forward Sean Smith (204-1995, college: St.Cloud St., agency: BIG) added 11 points and 7 rebounds in the effort for Cherno More. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Balkan have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 14-4 record having just two points less than leader Rilski. Cherno More at the other side keeps the third place with eight games lost. They share the position with Spartak Pleven. Balkan will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Cherno More will play at home against Akademik and is hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
Cherno More: M.Scott 22+4reb+3ast, E.Hadjirusev 13+3reb+4ast, T.Chernokozhev 11+5reb+4ast, S.Smith 11+7reb+3ast, N.Stoyanov 8+3reb+1ast, J.Florveus 8+7reb
Balkan: T.Marshall 22+14reb+3ast, C.Jones 14+4reb+3ast, I.Pishtikov 13+2reb+3ast, J.Hamilton 10+3reb+2ast, K.Toshkov 7+7reb+6ast, N.Grozev 6+1reb+1ast
gschID: 1251683
Beroe – Akademik P. 94-100
There was a small surprise when sixth ranked Akademik (9-9) beat one of their biggest challengers Beroe (9-9) in Stara Zagora 100-94. Akademik made 20-of-24 charity shots (83.3 percent) during the game. Akademik outrebounded Beroe 43-32 including 32 on the defensive glass. Akademik players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. Beroe was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Nikolay Titkov (186-1998) who helped to win the game recording 20 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and Nikolay Mihaylov (204-2000, agency: BIG) who added 19 points and 8 rebounds during the contest. American forward Anthony Walker (206-2001, college: Indiana, agency: 6th Man Basketball Agency) responded with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and his fellow American import forward Brett Reed (204-1996, college: St.Martin’s) scored 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Five Akademik and four Beroe players scored in double figures. Beroe’s coach Daniel Klechkov rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Akademik moved-up to fifth place, which they share with defeated Beroe. Beroe lost third consecutive game. Akademik will play against higher ranked Cherno More (#4) in Varna in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Beroe will play at home against Shumen and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Beroe: A.Walker 21+9reb+4ast, K.Mihov 18+1reb, B.Reed 14+6reb+4ast, K.Dye 13+4reb+5ast, V.Petkov 9+4ast, J.Greene 9+1reb+1ast
Akademik P.: N.Titkov 20+7reb+5ast, N.Mihaylov 19+8reb+2ast, O.Tomic 16+4reb+3ast, V.Bachev 14+4reb+4ast, D.Williams 13+12reb+2ast, I.Kikrilis 7+3reb+2ast
gschID: 1251684
Levski – Shumen 98-71
The game between closely ranked teams ended with 9th ranked Shumen‘s (2-16) road loss to eighth ranked Levski (4-14) in Sofia 71-98. Levski outrebounded Shumen 44-30 including a 34-22 advantage in defensive rebounds. Levski players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by Shumen‘s players. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international Borislav Mladenov (202-2000, agency: Interperformances) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 20 points and 12 rebounds and power forward Dimitar Marincheshki (200-1990) who added 15 points and 13 rebounds during the contest. American guard Mike Williams (188-1996, college: Rutgers) responded with 17 points and his fellow American import Rey Idowu (207-1999, college: Tulsa) produced a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 rebounds. Both teams had five players each who 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. Levski maintains eighth position with 4-14 record. Shumen at the other side stay at the bottom place with 16 games lost. Levski will play against league’s leader Rilski in Samokov in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Shumen will play on the road against Beroe (#5) in Stara Zagora and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Shumen: M.Williams 17+4reb+3ast, R.Idowu 12+10reb+1ast, Z.Styles 11+2reb+2ast, B.Zecic 10+1reb+2ast, M.Cholakov 10+5reb+2ast, K.Lazarov 9
Levski: B.Mladenov 20+12reb+3ast, D.Marincheshki 15+13reb+1ast, A.Velikov 12+1reb+3ast, M.Kadiev 12+5reb+6ast, Z.Georgiev 11+3reb+7ast, M.Boyanov 10
gschID: 1251685
Minyor 2015 – Rilski 76-104
NBL top team – Rilski (16-2) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed seventh ranked Minyor 2015 (8-10) in Pernik 104-76. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Minyor 2015. They outrebounded Minyor 2015 44-27 including a 34-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. Rilski players were unselfish on offense dishing 30 assists. Minyor 2015 was plagued by 27 personal fouls down the stretch. Worth to mention a quality performance of Croatian-Bosnian forward Jure Planinic (206-2000) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 11 points and 11 rebounds and American point guard Supreme Hannah (183-1994, college: Daemen) who added 14 points and 6 assists during the contest. Four Rilski players scored in double figures. American guard Tony Burks (188, college: Columbia, MO) responded with 25 points and 7 rebounds and the former international swingman Lachezar Toshkov (187-2002, agency: BIG) scored 12 points and 7 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. Rilski have an impressive five-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 16-2 record. Minyor 2015 at the other side keeps the seventh place with ten games lost. Rilski will play against Levski (#8) in Sofia in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Minyor 2015 will play on the road against Spartak Pleven and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Minyor 2015: T.Burks 25+7reb+3ast, P.Orizu 15+3reb+1ast, L.Toshkov 12+2reb+7ast, C.Schwartz 9+3reb+1ast, N.Ivanov 6, B.Brinyuk 4+5reb+2ast
Rilski: S.Hannah 14+4reb+6ast, A.Arnett 12+2reb+5ast, J.Planinic 11+11reb+3ast, I.Dimitrov 10+1reb+1ast, J.Session 10+7reb+3ast, M.Vasov 10+2reb+1ast
gschID: 1251686
