Superleague Round 14 (Regular Season): Tabiat defeat Mahram in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of one of their biggest challengers Mahram (9-5) to fourth ranked Tabiat (9-5) 79-76 in the game for the third place. American point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) scored 32 points to lead the charge for the winners and the former international Arman Zangeneh (202-1993, agency: BIG) chipped in 5 points, 19 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. American-Guinea-Bissau point guard Parrish Petty (185-1988, college: UTRGV) responded with 27 points and 6 rebounds. Tabiat moved-up to third place, which they share with defeated Mahram. Tabiat is looking forward to face Naft Abadan (#6) on the road in the next round. Mahram will play against Limondis and is hoping to win this game.
Foolad has finally registered their first victory this season after 13 consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Raad (1-13) 77-54. Point guard Mohammadamin Dehghanzadeh (185-2002) notched 16 points and 6 rebounds to lead the effort and Marko Perovic supported him with 19 points. Even 23 points by Pedram Fakhfori did not help to save the game for Raad. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Foolad left bottom position moving up to eleventh place, which they share with defeated Raad. It was Raad's eleventh loss in a row. Foolad will play against higher ranked Rafsanjan (#9) at home in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Raad will play against Averta to get more than just one victory in their record.
Superleague top team - Gorgan (13-1) had no problems winning another game on Sunday. This time they crushed seventh ranked Kerman (7-7) 94-74. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Kerman. The best player for the winners was Arsalan Kazemi who had a double-double by scoring 15 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists. Gorgan's coach Mostafa Hashemi used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Seyed Hoseini produced 22 points for the guests. Gorgan have an impressive ten-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 13-1 record. Kerman at the other side keeps the seventh place with seven games lost. They share the position with Averta. Gorgan will meet Kalleh (#5) in the next round. Kerman will play against the league's second-placed Zob Ahan and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 14: Naft Abadan lost to Averta on the opponent's court 71-76. Limondis managed to outperform Kalleh in a home game 88-83. Zob Ahan rolled over Rafsanjan on the road 81-52.



Averta - Naft Abadan 76-71

There was a minor upset when 6th ranked Naft Abadan (8-6) was defeated on the road by eighth ranked Averta (7-7) 76-71 on Sunday. Averta forced 20 Naft Abadan turnovers. The best player for the winners was American-Haitian guard Derric Jean (188-1997, college: La Tech, agency: BIG) who scored 24 points and 8 rebounds. The former international Majid Rahimian chipped in 23 points and 4 steals. The former international guard Ehsan Dalirzahan (186-2000) produced 19 points and 8 rebounds and Amir Seddighi added 18 points and 5 rebounds respectively for the guests. Five Naft Abadan players scored in double figures. Averta moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Kerman. Naft Abadan at the other side dropped to the fifth position with six games lost. They share it with Kalleh. Averta will meet bottom-ranked Raad (#12) in the next round where they are favorite. Naft Abadan will play against Tabiat (#3) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Averta: D.Jean 24+8reb+1ast, R.Majid 23+2reb+2ast, M.Yazdanpanah 9+7reb+2ast, F.Nima 6+1reb+1ast, E.Beigi 6+3reb, J.van der List 5+5reb+3ast
Naft Abadan: D.Ehsan 19+8reb+3ast, S.Amir 18+5reb, H.Mehdi 11+5reb, F.Aslani 10+4reb+1ast, M.Torabi 10+8reb+2ast, N.Khajezadeh 3

Limondis - Kalleh 88-83

There was a surprise result when tenth ranked Limondis (4-10) defeated at home higher ranked Kalleh (8-6) 88-83 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was American point guard Jalen Bradley (185-1993, college: ORU, agency: Haylett Sports) who scored 29 points and 6 assists. Arash Sabeti chipped in 20 points and 7 rebounds. Four Limondis players scored in double figures. The former international Matin Aghajanpour (199-2001) produced 25 points and American point guard Patrick Rembert (185-1990, college: UC Irvine, agency: Slash Sports) added 17 points and 6 assists respectively for the guests. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Newly promoted Limondis maintains tenth position with 4-10 record. Kalleh at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the fifth place with six games lost. They share the position with Naft Abadan. Limondis will meet higher ranked Mahram (#4) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Kalleh will play against the league's leader Gorgan and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Limondis: J.Bradley 29+4reb+6ast, A.Sabeti 20+7reb+1ast, V.Dalirzahan 14+5reb+3ast, S.Mortaza Jafari 10+1ast, M.Khaleghifard 3+5reb, V.Aliabadi 3+1reb
Kalleh: A.Matin 25+4reb+3ast, P.Rembert 17+6ast, M.Mirzaei 13+7reb, A.Jalal 9+7reb, R.Ranjbar 7+3reb, Y.Amirhossein 7+1reb

Rafsanjan - Zob Ahan 52-81

Not a big story in a game when 9th ranked Rafsanjan (5-9) was rolled over at home by second ranked Zob Ahan (12-2) 81-52 on Sunday. Zob Ahan forced 20 Rafsanjan turnovers. The best player for the winners was the former international Hossien Makarian (195-2001) who scored 9 points and 9 rebounds. International Rasoul Mozafari (188-1994) chipped in 10 points and 4 steals. Guard Pouya Yakhchali (-1996) produced 11 points and Amin Abdi added 11 points respectively for the hosts. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Zob Ahan maintains second position with 12-2 record behind leader Gorgan. Rafsanjan at the other side keeps the ninth place with nine games lost. Zob Ahan will meet Kerman (#8) on the road in the next round where they are favorite. Rafsanjan will play against Foolad in Bandar Abbass and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Zob Ahan: J.Jones 11+2reb, R.Mozafari 10+4reb+2ast, M.Hossien 9+9reb+1ast, M.Soleymani 9+4reb+1ast, M.Reza Akbari 9+3reb+2ast, A.Kardoust 8+3reb+1ast
Rafsanjan: A.Amin 11+3reb, Y.Pouya 11+3reb+1ast, S.Ali 9+3reb+1ast, A.Mohamad 6+1reb+1ast, A.Meysam 6+4reb, A.Reza 3+2reb

Foolad - Raad 77-54

Foolad has finally registered their first victory this season after 13 consecutive losses. They used home court advantage to defeat Raad (1-13) 77-54. Foolad made 19-of-23 charity shots (82.6 percent) during the game. Point guard Mohammadamin Dehghanzadeh (185-2002) notched 16 points and 6 rebounds to lead the effort and Montenegrin center Marko Perovic (204-1992, agency: PEPI SPORT) supported him with 19 points. Four Foolad players scored in double figures. Even 23 points by Pedram Fakhfori did not help to save the game for Raad. The former international swingman Ehsan Samadi (192-1998) added 13 points for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Foolad left bottom position moving up to eleventh place, which they share with defeated Raad. It was Raad's eleventh loss in a row. Foolad will play against higher ranked Rafsanjan (#9) at home in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Raad will play against Averta to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
Foolad: M.Perovic 19+3reb, D.Mohammadamin 16+6reb+2ast, G.Omid 10+6reb, M.Bahram 10+4reb+1ast, J.Sarem 9+6reb+1ast, P.Kiani 8+5reb
Raad: F.Pedram 23+2reb+2ast, E.Samadi 13+1reb+1ast, A.Bostanian 9+3reb, V.Mohsen 4+7reb+2ast, J.Behnam 3+5reb, M.Ali 77 Amir 2+2reb+1ast

Gorgan - Kerman 94-74

Superleague top team - Gorgan (13-1) had no problems winning another game on Sunday. This time they crushed seventh ranked Kerman (7-7) 94-74. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Kerman. Gorgan made 22-of-25 free shots (88.0 percent) during the game. They outrebounded Kerman 42-22 including a 17-3 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was the former international Arsalan Kazemi (200-1990, college: Oregon, agency: BIG) who had a double-double by scoring 15 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists. The former international center Salar Monji (203-1997, agency: BIG) chipped in a double-double by scoring 13 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks. Four Gorgan players scored in double figures. Gorgan's coach Mostafa Hashemi used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Seyed Hoseini produced 22 points and Erfan Soleimani added 14 points and 5 rebounds (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) respectively for the guests. Gorgan have an impressive ten-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 13-1 record. Kerman at the other side keeps the seventh place with seven games lost. They share the position with Averta. Gorgan will meet Kalleh (#5) in the next round. Kerman will play against the league's second-placed Zob Ahan and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Gorgan: W.Cherry 20+2reb+1ast, V.Sina 16+1ast, A.Kazemi 15+15reb+4ast, S.Monji 13+10reb, N.Rezaeifar 8+2reb+1ast, A.Azari 8+1ast
Kerman: H.Seyed 22+2reb+3ast, C.Henry 15+1reb+1ast, S.Erfan 14+5reb+2ast, M.Esmaeili 6+3reb+2ast, A.Mehdi 6+4reb+7ast, E.Sajjad 5+2reb+2ast

Tabiat - Mahram 79-76

This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of one of their biggest challengers Mahram (9-5) to fourth ranked Tabiat (9-5) 79-76 in the game for the third place. American point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) scored 32 points to lead the charge for the winners and the former international Arman Zangeneh (202-1993, agency: BIG) chipped in 5 points, 19 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. 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 10 points and 13 rebounds. Tabiat moved-up to third place, which they share with defeated Mahram. Tabiat is looking forward to face Naft Abadan (#6) on the road in the next round. Mahram will play against Limondis and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Tabiat: J.Stevens 32+4reb+3ast, M.Shahrian 15+5reb+2ast, M.Gbinije 11+5reb+1ast, S.Davarpanah 7+11reb+3ast, A.Zangeneh 5+19reb+5ast, T.Morteza 5
Mahram: P.Petty 27+6reb+3ast, M.Jamshidi 19+5reb+1ast, O.Anosike 10+13reb+2ast, S.Pazrofteh 7+11reb+3ast, S.Ali Reza 6+2reb, G.Piter 5+5reb+2ast