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Homenetmen hosted Riyadi for the second game of their semi-final series at their Mezher stadium. The hosts lost 86-102, reducing their chances of qualifying for the final. Riyadi now only need a home win to secure their place in the final. Homenetmen, meanwhile, will have to outdo themselves to win the next three games and keep their final hopes alive.
The team line-ups for this match were as follows:
– For Homenetmen: Gaby Ajemian, Jad Khalil, Gerard Hadidian, Zack Lofton, and Dewayne Jackson.
– For Riyadi: Karim Zeinoun, Elmedin Kikanovic, Wael Arakji, Jonathon Simmons, and Hayk Gyokochyan.
The first quarter was intense and full of twists and turns. Homenetmen took the lead with a tight score of 28-27. Zack Lofton was exceptional with his 7 points, but Hayk Gyokochyan answered for Riyadi with 9 points. Unfortunately, Homenetmen fans weren’t able to savor this lead for long, as Riyadi quickly regained the upper hand and extended their lead to 11 points before the end of the first quarter.
Jonathon Simmons, in his first experience in the Lebanese League, delivered a remarkable performance with 15 points in the first half, finishing the game with 25 points and 4 rebounds in total. Zack Lofton was the game’s top scorer with 26 points, adding 10 rebounds and 2 assists to his performance.
Statistics:
Riyadi dominated the second half in all areas. They posted a successful shooting percentage of 46% versus 40% for Homenetmen. In addition, al-Riyadi converted 40% of their three-point shots, surpassing Homenetmen’s 30%. Rebounding also tipped in al-Riyadi’s favor, with a total of 47 to Homenetmen’s 42.
Homenetmen’s Gerard Hadidian put in an outstanding performance with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 counters, making it difficult for Thon Make to defend. al-Riyadi showed impressive offensive strength throughout both games, breaking the 100-point barrier in every game.
Ahmad Farran’s men are now just one step away from the final. They must beat Homenetmen in Manara on May 11. For Homenetmen, the task is more arduous, as they will have to win their last three matches to keep their hopes of reaching the final intact.
