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-October
14th:
* Sagesse v/s
Sakandari: (110-103)
Head Coach
Ghassan Sarkis used only eight players for the whole 45
minutes of the game against mighty Al Ittihad Sakandari
and could have scored an easy victory had his players been
able to stop Sakandari’s transition game. Sagesse needed
an overtime to seal their victory 110-103 but Sakandari
had 60 points off fast breaks.
Sagesse cruised in the first half following a
three-pointer from Johnny Rhodes, two free throws and a
stop jump shot from Fadi El Khatib. Sagesse showed more
fluidity in their game and created a 12-point gap but
ended the quarter with a 9-point advantage.
Rhodes opened the second quarter with a three-pointer and
Khatib followed it with a lay-up and failed in another
dunk. This is when Sakandari started their comeback using
huge spaces in Sagesse defense. Sakandari developed their
transition game while Sagesse were slow to return to
defend. Sakandari tied at 35, went up by two but failed to
increase the lead. Sagesse regained their edge and went to
the break up by three, 47-44.
The difference showed in the rebounding game. While
Sagesse grabbed 15 rebounds in the first quarter, they
only got seven in the second quarter. Sakandari took
advantage of their rebounding game to develop their
transition offense and were able to outscore Sagesse
27-21.
In the third quarter, Sagesse scored another 21 points
while Sakandari had 23. Rhodes, Khatib and Elie Mechantaf
had a three-pointer each and Elie Nasr, who played the
whole 45 minutes forced in 4 points under the rim.
But the play of the day came from Sherrel Ford when
he went coast to coast for a dunk that sent Sagesse fans
off their feet and left Sakadari’s fans mute. Two other
moves also deserved the “play-of-the-day” tag; the
first was a lay-up from Rhodes off an assist from Elie
Nasr and the second also was a three-pointer from Rhodes
off another assist from Nasr.
But the man of the game was skipper Elie Mechantaf who was
a money-time scorer. And when Rhodes was called for his
fifth foul, Ford took the relay. Sagesse took possession
of the ball with 20 seconds remaining but Sagesse failed
to take advantage of the possession and the game went to
overtime, with the sides tied at 88.
Ford and Mechantaf scored a three-pointer each but Ford
took charge during overtime and scored three lay ups.
Assane Ndiaye, who had 11 rebounds, added five points in
the last two minutes.
Sagesse shot 77% from the foul line and 46% from the
field. Nasr had 11 rebounds; skipper Mechantaf had 7
rebounds and three assists while Khatib had 4 assists.
Rhodes had 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
Sagesse tomorrow plays Syria’s Al Wahda for the first
place of the group.
Starters:
Johnny Rhodes, Elie Nasr, Elie Mechantaf, Assane Ndiaye
and Fadi Khatib.
Substitute:
Sherrel Ford, Ali Chamsine and Dani Barhoum.
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