Superleague Round 4 (Regular Season): Gorgan is defeated by Kalleh

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Gorgan (3-1) at the home court on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by fourth ranked Kalleh (3-1) 92-85. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Gorgan. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Kalleh moved-up to second place, which they share with 4 other teams including defeated Gorgan. Kalleh is looking forward to face Kerman (#11) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Gorgan will play against Mahram (#5) in Tehran and is hoping to win this game.
Very significant was Naft Abadan's (#1) just 2-point road victory against their biggest opponent Tabiat 80-78. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Tabiat. It was a key game for the top position in the league. The winners were led by Mehdi Hasanzadeh who had that evening a double-double by scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds and Ehsan Dalirzahan supported him with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. Even 31 points by Swiss point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) did not help to save the game for Tabiat. Naft Abadan have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 4-0 record. Newly promoted Tabiat keeps the second place with one game lost. They share the position with 4 other teams. Naft Abadan will play against Limondis (#9) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Tabiat will play against Raad (#10) in Mashhad and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Averta has registered their first victory this season after three consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Raad (1-3) 83-80 on Tuesday. Averta left bottom position moving up to eighth place, which they share with Raad and Limondis. Averta will meet higher ranked Rafsanjan (#7) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Raad will play against Tabiat and hope to win that game.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 4: Mahram won against Limondis on the opponent's court 96-85. Rafsanjan managed to outperform Sanaye in a home game 83-78. Winless Kerman recorded a loss to Zob Ahan on the road 71-64.



Gorgan - Kalleh 85-92

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Gorgan (3-1) at the home court on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by fourth ranked Kalleh (3-1) 92-85. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Gorgan. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Kalleh moved-up to second place, which they share with 4 other teams including defeated Gorgan. Kalleh is looking forward to face Kerman (#11) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Gorgan will play against Mahram (#5) in Tehran and is hoping to win this game.

Averta - Raad 83-80

Averta has registered their first victory this season after three consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Raad (1-3) 83-80 on Tuesday. Averta left bottom position moving up to eighth place, which they share with Raad and Limondis. Averta will meet higher ranked Rafsanjan (#7) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Raad will play against Tabiat and hope to win that game.

Limondis - Mahram 85-96

Rather expected game when 8th ranked Limondis (1-3) were defeated at home by fifth ranked Mahram (3-1) 96-85 on Sunday. Mahram shot 60.6 percent from the field. They also forced 20 Limondis turnovers. They shot the lights out from three sinking 12 long-distance shots on high 54.5 percentage. The former international forward Sajjad Pazrofteh (205-1996) fired 28 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. The former international Mohammad Jamshidi (199-1991, agency: BIG) chipped in 18 points. American point guard Jalen Bradley (185-1993, college: ORU, agency: Haylett Sports) produced 27 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and Serbian center Dragan Tubak (216-1987, agency: BIG) added 14 points respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Mahram moved-up to second place, which they share with 4 other teams. Newly promoted Limondis keep the eighth position with three games lost. They share it with Raad and Averta. Mahram will meet at home league's second-placed Gorgan in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Limondis will play against the league's leader Naft Abadan (#1) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Mahram: S.Pazrofteh 28+8reb+2ast, G.Piter 24+1ast, M.Jamshidi 18+4reb+3ast, O.Anosike 12+7reb+4ast, S.Mashayekhi 6+2reb+1ast, S.Ali Reza 3+1ast
Limondis: J.Bradley 27+5reb+5ast, D.Tubak 14+4reb, V.Aliabadi 12+4ast, S.Farbod 11+1reb, V.Dalirzahan 6+4reb+1ast, A.Sabeti 5+3reb

Rafsanjan - Sanaye 83-78

Very predictable result when seventh ranked Rafsanjan (2-2) defeated at home bottom-ranked Sanaye (0-4) 83-78 on Monday. However just five-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Croatian swingman Fran Pilepic (194-1989) fired 21 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Lithuanian power forward Julius Jucikas (204-1989, agency: BIG) chipped in a double-double by scoring 19 points and 13 rebounds. Four Rafsanjan players scored in double figures. Montenegrin center Marko Perovic (204-1992, agency: PEPI SPORT) produced 25 points and 6 rebounds and Vaez Mahmoodinasab added 21 points and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Rafsanjan maintains seventh position with 2-2 record. Sanaye at the other side still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Kerman. Rafsanjan will meet at home Averta (#8) in the next round. Sanaye will play against Zob Ahan (#6) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Rafsanjan: F.Pilepic 21+6reb+6ast, T.Mohamadreza 20+5reb+4ast, J.Jucikas 19+13reb, A.Amin 14+6reb+2ast, Y.Pouya 4+1reb+1ast, M.Manesh 3
Sanaye: M.Perovic 25+6reb, M.Vaez 21+2reb+4ast, H.Eshagh 11+2reb+2ast, J.Sarem 9+5reb, P.Kiani 7+4reb+2ast, S.Pooria 3+3reb+5ast

Tabiat - Naft Abadan 78-80

Very significant was Naft Abadan's (#1) just 2-point road victory against their biggest opponent Tabiat 80-78. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Tabiat. It was a key game for the top position in the league. The winners were led by Mehdi Hasanzadeh who had that evening a double-double by scoring 23 points and 14 rebounds and the former international guard Ehsan Dalirzahan (186-2000) supported him with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. Even 31 points by Swiss point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) did not help to save the game for Tabiat. The former international swingman Saeid Davarpanah (190-1987, agency: Interperformances) added 12 points and 8 assists for lost side. Naft Abadan have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 4-0 record. Newly promoted Tabiat keeps the second place with one game lost. They share the position with 4 other teams. Naft Abadan will play against Limondis (#9) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Tabiat will play against Raad (#10) in Mashhad and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Naft Abadan: H.Mehdi 23+14reb+1ast, S.Amir 22+9reb, D.Ehsan 19+6reb+8ast, N.Khajezadeh 7+7reb+2ast, R.Hesam 5+4reb+4ast, F.Aslani 3+4reb+1ast
Tabiat: J.Stevens 31+2reb+3ast, M.Gbinije 16+2reb, S.Davarpanah 12+3reb+8ast, A.Akbari Hasan 5+6reb, M.Shahrian 5+3reb+2ast, A.Zangeneh 4+16reb

Zob Ahan - Kerman 71-64

Not a big story in a game in Esfahan where bottom-ranked Kerman (0-4) was defeated by sixth ranked Zob Ahan (3-1) 71-64 on Tuesday. Zob Ahan moved-up to second place, which they share with 4 other teams. Kerman at the other side still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Sanaye. Zob Ahan will meet bottom-ranked Sanaye (#12) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Kerman will play against Kalleh in Amol and hopes to get finally their first victory.