Rilski Sportist beats Levski again, this time in the NBL

14-12-2008 21:59

After defeating Levski in the Eurohold Balkan League back on the 5-th of last month Rilski Sportist did it again, this time in the National Basketball League. Today they won 82-80 and are now 5th in the table at 5-5, just behind Spartak Pleven. Levski is now tied for second with Cherno More. Both teams have а 7-3 record and will meet in Varna next week for their last game of the year.

In front of about 1200 spectators at Arena Samokov Stanislav Vaklinov scored the first basket in the game but then Stanislav Slaveykov hit a three pointer and Levski led from that moment until the very end of the first quarter. The margin went to six, 8-14, but the quarter finished at 20-21 in favour of the visitors.

They continued to have a lead through the middle of the second quarter when Ivan Lilov scored to give the hosts their second lead of the game at 28-27. Then the teams exchanged leads before Rilski Sportist made it a 4-point margin at 40-36. Levski tied the score but then the hosts were in front 44-42 at the break.

At the start of the second half it was very close and Levski regained the advantage at 46-48. In the next two minutes though Rilski Sportist managed a 9-0 run to take their biggest lead at 55-48 with 5'44'' to play in the third quarter. A triple by Petroslav Zafirov and baskets by Stefan Georgiev and Marcus Hall brought Levski right back into the game at 56-55. After the interesting final minutes of the period the hosts went up by 6 but Levski cut it to three with 10 minutes to play.

A three-pointer by Morton tied the score for nearly two minutes at the start of the last quarter. Then Travis Peterson started to show his good form while Levski tried to stay in the game thanks to Hall and Slaveykov. With 2'33'' to play Rilski Sportist was in front 78-71 but the visitors made a 6-0 run to cut it to a single point with 42 seconds remaining. Mirkovic and Boev both scored twice from the free throw line and with 4 seconds to go Velikov went to the line with his team traling by 3 (82-79). He scored the first free throw and intentionally missed the second one but Belberov grabbed the rebound and Rilski won the game.

For the hosts Peterson finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Belberov added 13 points while Ivan Lilov had 12.

For Levski once again Marcus Hall was the top scorer despite being ill and missing some practices - 18 points. Slaveykov scored 15 and grabbed 5 rebounds, while Stefan "Toro" Georgiev finished with 13 and 10 respectively for his third double double of the season.

Next week Rilski Sportist visits CSKA in Sofia to try and finish the year in style with a win.