Bulgaria – NBL Round 7: Balkan edges Yambol by three points

MihailoSekulovic Host teams show no mercy winning all games. The most exciting game of round 7 in the NBL took place in Botevgrad. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of 4th placed Yambol (3-3) to sixth ranked Balkan (3-3) 90-87 in the game for the fifth place. Balkan made 22-of-25 free shots (88.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists comparing to just 13 passes made by Yambol’s players. Montenegrin center Mihailo Sekulovic (206-91) fired 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists (made all of his seven free throws) for the winners. Montenegrin guard Amin Hott (192-92) chipped in 12 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals. Balkan’s coach Nebojsa Vidic used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. The former international center Nikolay Varbanov (209-85, agency: Interperformances) produced a double-double by scoring 21 points and 13 rebounds for lost side. Balkan have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with defeated Yambol. Balkan is looking forward to face Spartak Pleven (#7) on the road in the next round. Yambol will play against Cherno More and is hoping to win this game. An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Sofia. First ranked Lukoil Acad. faced their biggest opponent Beroe. Host Lukoil Acad. (6-1) defeated guests from Stara Zagora (4-2) 82-72. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Beroe. Worth to mention a great performance of Ukrainian power forward Maxym Korniyenko (205-87, agency: BeoBasket) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 20 points, 16 rebounds and 4 assists. Danny Gibson contributed with 21 points and 6 assists for the winners. Lukoil Acad.’s coach Toni Dechev allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American guard Shane Gibson (188-90, college: Sacred Heart) answered with 17 points and 8 rebounds for Beroe. Defending champion maintains first place with 6-1 record. Beroe at the other side keeps the second position with two games lost. They share it with Akademik PL and Rilski. Lukoil Acad. will play against Rilski (#4) in Samokov in the next round. Beroe will play at home against Academik Plovdiv and it may be a tough game between close rivals. Cherno More can celebrate finally their first win this season after five consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Levski (1-6) 100-78 on Saturday. It was a great evening for Stanislav Tsonkov who led his team to a victory scoring 24 points (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). At the losing side Pavel Ivanov responded with 32 points and 5 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. Cherno More (1-5) left bottom position moving up to eighth place. It was Levski’s fifth loss in a row. They dropped to the bottom position with six games lost. Cherno More will meet higher ranked Yambol (#6) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Levski will have a break next round. The game with biggest result difference took place in Plovdiv. Local Academik Plovdiv (4-2) beat 7th ranked Spartak Pleven (2-4) 95-82. It was a quality performance for Jordan Semple who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 42 points (!!!), 11 rebounds and 4 assists (on 17-of-19 shooting from the field). Academik Plovdiv moved-up to second place, which they share with Rilski and Beroe. Spartak Pleven at the other side keeps the seventh position with four games lost. Academik Plovdiv’s next round opponent will be league’s second-placed Beroe in Stara Zagora and it will be for sure the game of the week. …

continue reading in source www.eurobasket.com