Belgium – Top Division I Round 9: Leader Oxaco gets another victory

Nick Celis Leader Oxaco delivered the eighth win on Saturday night. This time they crushed 12th ranked RPC Anderlecht (2-6) 82-54. They outrebounded RPC Anderlecht 43-22 including a 17-2 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was swingman Nick Celis (196-88) who scored 20 points and 9 rebounds. point guard Christopher Pegg (183-82) chipped in 12 points and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was center Simon Chapelle (197-96) who recorded 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. Oxaco maintains first place with 8-1 record, which they share with Gembo BBC and Waregem. Newly promoted RPC Anderlecht dropped to the eleventh position with six games lost. They share it with Gistel Oostende. Oxaco is looking forward to face Soba (#5) in Antwerpen in the next round. RPC Anderlecht will play on the road against Royal Brussels (#6) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that this time they can win. Important game to mention about took place in Ieper. Seventh ranked Ieper (4-5) saved a 1-point victory at home edging 14th ranked Ninane (1-8) 68-67 on Saturday evening. Host team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. It was a good game for swingman Robin Mestdagh (195-88, college: E.Kentucky) who saved his team from a defeat with 20 points. Malick Fall contributed with 11 points and 12 rebounds for the winners. The former international power forward Francois Lhoest (196-85) answered with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 11 rebounds for Ninane. Ieper maintains seventh place with 4-5 record. Ninane lost eighth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with eight games lost. Ieper will play against league’s second-placed Gembo BBC in Borgerhout in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Ninane will play at home against Gistel Oostende (#11) to get more than just one victory in their record. Eleventh-ranked Gistel Oostende (2-6) made lots of trouble for third ranked Waregem (8-1) on Sunday. Waregem managed to secure only two-point victory 73-71. However their fans expected much easier game. Brecht Guillemyn stepped up and scored 16 points for the winners. The best for the losing side was Abel Baptista with 19 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Waregem have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Gembo BBC and Oxaco. Gistel Oostende at the other side keeps the eleventh place with six games lost. They share the position with RPC Anderlecht. Waregem will meet at home Gent Hawks (#4) in the next round. Gistel Oostende will play against Ninane (#14) and hope to secure a win. The game with biggest result difference took place in Antwerpen. Local Soba (6-3) outscored 10th ranked Giants B (2-5) 95-56. Mitchel Gorremans nailed a double-double by scoring 28 points and 11 rebounds for the winning side. Giants B’s coach Thomas Crab gave up on the game allowing to play twelve players seeing no chance for a win. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Soba. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Gent Hawks. Giants B at the other side keeps the tenth position with five games lost. Soba’s next round opponent will be league’s leader Oxaco in Boechout and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Giants B will play at home against Ekeren (#13) and hope to win that game. Other games of round 9 were very predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are: Royal Brussels was crushed by Gembo BBC in Borgerhout 89-62. Gent Hawks smashed Houthalen at home 100-78. Melsele won against Ekeren on the opponent’s court 92-83. Soba – Giants B 95-56The game with biggest result difference took place in Antwerpen. Local Soba (6-3) outscored 10th ranked Giants B (2-5) 95-56. Soba made 23-of-28 charity shots (82.1 percent) during the game. Soba outrebounded Giants B 44-17 including a 29-10 advantage in defensive rebounds. 27 personal fouls committed by Giants B helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Swingman Mitchel Gorremans (191-85) nailed a double-double by scoring 28 points and 11 rebounds for the winning side and swingman Jonathan Balanga (191-94) accounted for 16 points and 8 rebounds. Four Soba players scored in double figures. Point guard Marius Mwendanga (179-98) came up with 12 points and 5 assists and swingman Lander Kuijt (195-98) added 10 points respectively for Giants B in the defeat. Giants B’s coach Thomas Crab gave up on the game allowing to play twelve players seeing no chance for a win. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Soba. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Gent Hawks. Giants B at the other side keeps the tenth position with five games lost. Soba’s next round opponent will be league’s leader Oxaco in Boechout and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Giants B will play at home against Ekeren (#13) and hope to win that game. Top scorers:Giants B: …

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