Bulgaria – NBL Round 10: Leader Lukoil Acad. loses to Academik Plovdiv

JordanSemple Top ranked Lukoil Acad. (7-2) recorded its second loss on the court of third ranked Academik Plovdiv on Saturday night. Visitors were edged by Academik Plovdiv 74-72. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Lukoil Acad.. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Academik Plovdiv dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Lukoil Acad.’s 28. Academik Plovdiv forced 19 Lukoil Acad. turnovers. Strangely Lukoil Acad. outrebounded Academik Plovdiv 40-28 including 30 on the defensive glass. 25 personal fouls committed by Lukoil Acad. helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. French-American forward Jordan Semple (201-92, college: Chico St.) fired a double-double by scoring 19 points, 16 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. American point guard Oscar Bellfield (187-90, college: UNLV) chipped in 21 points and 9 assists. Academik Plovdiv’s coach Asen Nikolov used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. The former international Filip Videnov (196-80, college: W.Kentucky, agency: Alti Sport) produced 21 points for lost side. Academik Plovdiv (6-3) moved-up to second place, which they share with Beroe. Defending champion Lukoil Acad. still keeps top position with two games lost. Academik Plovdiv will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Lukoil Acad. will play at home against Balkan and is hoping to win this game. The game in Botevgrad was also worth to mention about. One of their biggest challengers Rilski (4-5) played at the court of fifth ranked Balkan (5-4). Balkan defeated Rilski 85-72. Worth to mention a great performance of Montenegrin center Mihailo Sekulovic (206-91) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 14 points and 14 rebounds. Stanimir Marinov contributed with 19 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. American forward Evan Bruinsma (202-92, college: Detroit Mercy, agency: Inception Sports) replied with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 11 rebounds for Rilski. Rilski’s coach Ludmil Hadjisotirov rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn’t help. Balkan moved-up to fourth place. Rilski lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the fifth position with five games lost. They share it with Spartak Pleven. Balkan will play against league’s leader Lukoil Acad. in Sofia in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Rilski will play at home against Cherno More (#8) and hopes to get back on the winning track. The game in Varna supposed to be also quite interesting. Second ranked Beroe (6-3) played at the court of 6th ranked Cherno More (3-6). Beroe smashed Cherno More 86-63 on Saturday. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Cherno More. Omari Gudul scored 17 points and 5 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners. At the losing side Stanislav Tsonkov responded with 22 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. Beroe maintains second position with 6-3 record behind leader Lukoil Acad., which they share with Akademik PL. Cherno More at the other side dropped to the eighth place with six games lost. Beroe will meet at home bottom-ranked Levski (#9) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Cherno More will play against Rilski in Samokov and hope to secure a win. In the last game of round 10 Spartak Pleven defeated Levski in a road game 90-86. The best stats of 10th round was 8 points and 8 rebounds by Mrdan Markovic of Cherno More.Balkan – Rilski 85-72The game in Botevgrad was also worth to …

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