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Antranik continued its rise by inflicting a heavy defeat on Champville (83-60), while Mayrouba stunned Hrajel in the final moments (87-83) to claim the summit derby. A day marked by the dominance of the home teams and Sam Daniel’s stellar performance!
Antranik Beirut is gaining momentum! Georges Akiki’s team secured its second consecutive victory in the Lebanese Basketball Championship, handing a heavy defeat to Champville (83-60). A 23-point margin that reflects total domination on Tuesday at the Demirdjian Center in Naccache, during the second game week.
While the opening minutes suggested a balanced duel (18-16 for Antranik), the second quarter turned into a masterclass. Roudi Hajj Moussa shined with pinpoint passes, crucial steals and remarkable shooting accuracy, while Champville collapsed. The result: a resounding 23-9 that left the visitors on the mat.
Despite a slight comeback after halftime (17-18 for Champville), the damage was done. Antranik drove the nail in during the final quarter (25-17), sealing a commanding victory.
Numbers battle: Antranik Stronger on All Fronts
With 50 rebounds grabbed compared to 37 for Champville, including 11 offensive, Antranik imposed its dominance in the paint. Their collective game also made the difference, dishing out 19 assists compared to 12 for their opponents, while recording 11 steals and 6 blocks.
Champville, on the other hand, suffered from glaring inefficiency, particularly from beyond the arc, with a poor 6/29 three-point shooting. Despite a slight edge in offensive rebounding (14 grabs versus 11), the visitors lost too many possessions (17 turnovers), making Antranik’s job easier.
Players of the Match
If Antranik cruised to victory, it was largely thanks to its red-hot individual performances. Tony Criswell was unstoppable with a double-double (25 points, 14 rebounds), well supported by Anthony Fairley (15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks). Roudi Hajj Moussa excelled across the board with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals, while Joe Abou Samra contributed to the team effort with 14 points and 3 assists. Khalil Aoun played a crucial role in defense and was involved in every key play.
On the other side, Travis Leslie led Champville with 23 points and 7 rebounds, while J’Von McCormick added 16 points and 6 assists. Karim Zeinoun (11 points, 6 rebounds) and Jimmy Salem (5 points, 10 rebounds) tried to limit the damage, but it wasn’t enough to compete.
Mayrouba Stuns Hrajel After a Phenomenal Comeback
In the other game of the day, Mayrouba pulled off a historic comeback against Hrajel, winning 87-83 after trailing by 15 points at halftime (15-24, 22-24, 20-24, 30-11), in the “summit derby.”
The hero of the night? Sam Daniel, simply unstoppable with 36 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. He carried his team almost single-handedly, turning around a game that seemed out of reach before a spectacular final quarter (30-11).
Mayrouba, which had already stunned Homenetmen in the first game week, is now cementing its status as a team to watch. Hrajel, meanwhile, suffered a second frustrating loss after controlling the game for three quarters.
The championship is heating up, and the upcoming rounds promise to be explosive!
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