Superleague Round 13 of Regular Season

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Superleague round 13 most important game was a victory of Gorgan over their biggest opponent Zob Ahan 78-72 on Saturday night. It ended at the same time the ten-game winning streak of Zob Ahan. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Gorgan forced 19 Zob Ahan turnovers. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Will Cherry (185-1991, college: Montana) who helped to win the game recording 19 points and 7 assists. The former international Arsalan Kazemi (200-1990, college: Oregon, agency: BIG) contributed with 12 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. American point guard Dwight Buycks (191-1989, college: Marquette) answered with 14 points and 6 rebounds for Zob Ahan. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Gorgan (12-1) have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place. Zob Ahan at the other side keeps the second position with two games lost. Gorgan are looking forward to face Kerman (#7) at home in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Zob Ahan will play against Rafsanjan (#9) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that the loss was just an accident.
Important game to mention about took place in Tehran. Eighth ranked Averta (6-7) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging 3rd placed Mahram (9-4) 84-81 on Tuesday evening. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Mahram. The former international Majid Rahimian stepped up and scored 18 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners and Derric Jean chipped in 25 points. At the losing side American-Guinea-Bissau point guard Parrish Petty (185-1988, college: UTRGV) responded with 27 points and 6 rebounds. Newly promoted Averta maintains eighth place with 6-7 record. Mahram at the other side keeps the third position with four games lost. Averta will play against higher ranked Naft Abadan (#5) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Mahram will play against Tabiat and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked Foolad is still unable to win any game. This time they lost on the road their 13th consecutive match to fifth ranked Naft Abadan (8-5) 74-73 on Sunday evening. Mehdi Hasanzadeh nailed a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds for the winning side. Sarem Jafari came up with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 13 rebounds for Foolad in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. The victory was the third consecutive win for Naft Abadan. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Kalleh and Tabiat. Foolad lost their thirteenth game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings with 13 games lost. Naft Abadan will meet Averta (#8) in the next round. Foolad will play against Raad (#11) and hopes to get finally their first victory.

Other games in round 13 were not that significant. Tabiat smashed Kalleh on the road 100-77. Kerman won against Limondis on its own court 78-72. Rafsanjan outscored Raad in a road game 90-69.



Zob Ahan - Gorgan 72-78

Superleague round 13 most important game was a victory of Gorgan over their biggest opponent Zob Ahan 78-72 on Saturday night. It ended at the same time the ten-game winning streak of Zob Ahan. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Gorgan forced 19 Zob Ahan turnovers. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Will Cherry (185-1991, college: Montana) who helped to win the game recording 19 points and 7 assists. The former international Arsalan Kazemi (200-1990, college: Oregon, agency: BIG) contributed with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. American point guard Dwight Buycks (191-1989, college: Marquette) answered with 14 points and 6 rebounds and the former international center Asghar Kardoust (212-1986, agency: BIG) added 12 points and 7 rebounds in the effort for Zob Ahan. 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. Gorgan (12-1) have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place. Zob Ahan at the other side keeps the second position with two games lost. Gorgan are looking forward to face Kerman (#7) at home in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Zob Ahan will play against Rafsanjan (#9) and is hoping to prove to their supporters that the loss was just an accident.
Top scorers:
Zob Ahan: D.Buycks 14+6reb+3ast, A.Kardoust 12+7reb+1ast, M.Soleymani 11+6reb+1ast, R.Mozafari 11+2reb+5ast, J.Jones 8+1reb+1ast, R.Arghavan 7+1reb+1ast
Gorgan: N.Rezaeifar 19+4reb+2ast, W.Cherry 19+4reb+7ast, V.Sina 14+3reb+2ast, A.Kazemi 12+10reb+3ast, N.Pelle 9+3reb, Y.Mohammad 3+3reb

Kalleh - Tabiat 77-100

There was a small surprise when sixth ranked Tabiat (8-5) crushed 4th placed Kalleh (8-5) in Amol 100-77 on Sunday. Tabiat made 16-of-21 free shots (76.2 percent) during the game. American point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) nailed 34 points (!!!) and 8 assists for the winning side and the former international Arman Zangeneh (202-1993, agency: BIG) accounted for 22 points and 17 rebounds. Four Tabiat players scored in double figures. American point guard Patrick Rembert (185-1990, college: UC Irvine, agency: Slash Sports) came up with 23 points and international center Jalal Agha (205-2001) added 18 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Kalleh in the defeat. Kalleh's coach Ali Arezoomandi gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Tabiat moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Kalleh and Naft Abadan. Tabiat will meet at home higher ranked Mahram (#3) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Kalleh will play against Limondis and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Kalleh: P.Rembert 23+3reb+2ast, A.Jalal 18+9reb, A.Matin 17+6reb, R.Ranjbar 5+1reb, D.Ali 4+2reb+3ast, Y.Amirhossein 4+3reb+1ast
Tabiat: J.Stevens 34+3reb+8ast, A.Zangeneh 22+17reb, M.Gbinije 19+4reb+3ast, S.Davarpanah 18+6reb+2ast, M.Shahrian 7+1reb+3ast, S.Majid 0+2reb+1ast

Naft Abadan - Foolad 74-73

Bottom-ranked Foolad is still unable to win any game. This time they lost on the road their 13th consecutive match to fifth ranked Naft Abadan (8-5) 74-73 on Sunday evening. Mehdi Hasanzadeh nailed a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds for the winning side and the former international guard Ehsan Dalirzahan (186-2000) accounted for 17 points, 7 assists and 4 steals. The former international power forward Sarem Jafari (207-2005, agency: BIG) came up with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 13 rebounds and Montenegrin center Marko Perovic (204-1992, agency: PEPI SPORT) added 14 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Foolad in the defeat. Five Foolad players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. The victory was the third consecutive win for Naft Abadan. They moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Kalleh and Tabiat. Foolad lost their thirteenth game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings with 13 games lost. Naft Abadan will meet Averta (#8) in the next round. Foolad will play against Raad (#11) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Foolad: M.Bahram 18+2reb+1ast, M.Perovic 14+5reb+3ast, D.Mohammadamin 11+2reb, G.Omid 10+4reb+1ast, J.Sarem 10+13reb+1ast, P.Kiani 6+2reb
Naft Abadan: H.Mehdi 18+13reb+1ast, D.Ehsan 17+3reb+7ast, S.Amir 13+6reb+1ast, A.Taherkhani 9+2reb+2ast, R.Hesam 7+1reb, K.Ashkan 5+6reb

Kerman - Limondis 78-72

Rather expected game when 10th ranked Limondis (3-10) lost on the road to seventh ranked Kerman (7-6) 78-72 on Monday. Kerman looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Limondis' players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Kerman made 8 blocks. Erfan Soleimani nailed 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and American point guard Corin Henry (183-1988, college: Tarleton St., agency: BIG) accounted for 10 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. American point guard Jalen Bradley (185-1993, college: ORU, agency: Haylett Sports) came up with 32 points and center Seyed Mortaza Jafari (178-2001) added 6 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists respectively for Limondis in the defeat. Limondis' coach Mohammed Eslami rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Kerman maintains seventh place with 7-6 record. Limondis lost their fifth game in a row. Newly promoted team keep the tenth position with ten games lost. Kerman will meet league's leader Gorgan on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Limondis will play against Kalleh (#6) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Limondis: J.Bradley 32+3reb+3ast, A.Sabeti 10+1reb, V.Dalirzahan 10+6reb+1ast, V.Aliabadi 8+1reb+1ast, S.Mortaza Jafari 6+8reb+6ast, M.Rezaei 3+7reb+2ast
Kerman: S.Erfan 17+5reb+4ast, M.Mohsen 13+3reb, H.Seyed 10+2reb+2ast, C.Henry 10+5reb+6ast, M.Esmaeili 10+4reb+2ast, M.Amirhosein 9+9reb+1ast

Raad - Rafsanjan 69-90

Rather predictable result when ninth ranked Rafsanjan (5-8) rolled over 11th ranked Raad (1-12) in Mashhad 90-69 on Monday. Rafsanjan dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Raad's 26. Croatian swingman Fran Pilepic (194-1989) nailed 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals for the winning side and Ali Vernosafadarani accounted for 11 points and 10 rebounds. Pouria Sajadimanesh came up with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and Mohsen Varankeshi added 17 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Raad in the defeat. Five Rafsanjan and four Raad players scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Rafsanjan maintains ninth place with 5-8 record. Raad lost their tenth game in a row. They keep the eleventh position with 12 games lost. Rafsanjan will meet at home league's second-placed Zob Ahan in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Raad will play against Foolad (#12) in Bandar Abbass and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Raad: S.Pouria 18+7reb+4ast, V.Mohsen 17+8reb, F.Pedram 10+2reb, K.Pooria 10+3reb+2ast, G.Mohammad 8+6reb+2ast, J.Behnam 5+3reb
Rafsanjan: A.Amin 19+3reb+1ast, F.Pilepic 16+6reb+4ast, Y.Pouya 11+4reb+4ast, V.Ali 11+10reb+3ast, A.Meysam 10+5reb, K.Amir 6+1reb

Mahram - Averta 81-84

Important game to mention about took place in Tehran. Eighth ranked Averta (6-7) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging 3rd placed Mahram (9-4) 84-81 on Tuesday evening. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Mahram. The former international Majid Rahimian stepped up and scored 18 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners and American-Haitian guard Derric Jean (188-1997, college: La Tech, agency: BIG) chipped in 25 points. At the losing side American-Guinea-Bissau point guard Parrish Petty (185-1988, college: UTRGV) responded with 27 points and 6 rebounds and Nigerian-American power forward OD Anosike (203-1991, college: Siena) produced a double-double by scoring 12 points and 12 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Newly promoted Averta maintains eighth place with 6-7 record. Mahram at the other side keeps the third position with four games lost. Averta will play against higher ranked Naft Abadan (#5) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Mahram will play against Tabiat and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Mahram: P.Petty 27+6reb+3ast, M.Jamshidi 18+5reb+1ast, O.Anosike 12+12reb+3ast, G.Piter 11+3reb, S.Pazrofteh 9+3reb+4ast, S.Ali Reza 3+3reb
Averta: D.Jean 25+2reb, R.Majid 18+6reb+7ast, E.Beigi 12+6reb, M.Yazdanpanah 12+4reb, A.Mortazavi 6+3reb+1ast, F.Nima 5+5reb+2ast