Superleague Round 16 (Regular Season): Zob Ahan beat Foolad by three after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Eleventh-ranked Foolad (2-14) was very close to win a game against second ranked Zob Ahan (14-2) in Esfahan on Monday. Zob Ahan managed to secure only three-point victory 72-69. However their fans expected much easier game. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Foolad. Zob Ahan looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Dwight Buycks (191-1989, college: Marquette) who helped to win the game recording 21 points. International Rasoul Mozafari (188-1994) contributed with 11 points and 8 assists for the winners. The former international power forward Sarem Jafari (207-2005, agency: BIG) replied with 18 points and 4 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) for Foolad. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Zob Ahan have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 14-2 record behind leader Gorgan. Newly promoted Foolad keeps the eleventh place with 14 games lost. Zob Ahan are looking forward to face Kalleh (#6) in Amol in the next round. Foolad will have a break next round.
An interesting game for Gorgan (15-1) which hosted in Gorgan 3rd ranked Mahram (10-6). First ranked Gorgan had an easy win 100-78. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international Arsalan Kazemi (200-1990, college: Oregon, agency: BIG) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and Sina Vahedi who added 26 points and 4 steals during the contest. Gorgan's coach Mostafa Hashemi felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side the former international Mohammad Jamshidi (199-1991, agency: BIG) responded with 24 points. Gorgan have an impressive 12-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 15-1 record. Mahram at the other side keeps the third place with six games lost. They share the position with Naft Abadan and Tabiat. Gorgan will play against Naft Abadan (#5) on the road in the next round. Mahram will play against Kerman and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game between fifth ranked Tabiat (10-6) and 12th ranked Raad (1-15) in on Tuesday ended with biggest points difference. Tabiat outscored guests from Mashhad 94-55. The winners were led by Jordan Stevens who scored that evening 29 points and 6 assists (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field). Even 20 points and 5 rebounds by Hosein Shekari 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. Tabiat moved-up to third place, which they share with Mahram and Naft Abadan. Raad lost thirteenth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 15 games lost. Tabiat will meet Rafsanjan (#9) on the road in the next round where they are favorite. Raad will play against Limondis and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 16 Naft Abadan beat Limondis on the road 89-77.



Limondis - Naft Abadan 77-89

No shocking result in a game when fourth ranked Naft Abadan (10-6) beat on the road 10th ranked Limondis (4-12) 89-77 on Monday. Naft Abadan dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Limondis' 26. Naft Abadan looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The winners were led by Amir Seddighi who scored that evening 19 points and 9 rebounds and Hesam Rezaei supported him with 19 points and 4 assists (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field). Five Naft Abadan players scored in double figures. Even 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists by American point guard Jalen Bradley (185-1993, college: ORU, agency: Haylett Sports) did not help to save the game for Limondis. Vahid Aliabadi (197) added 23 points and 4 assists for lost side. Limondis' coach Mohammed Eslami rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Naft Abadan moved-up to third place, which they share with Mahram and Tabiat. Newly promoted Limondis keep the tenth position with 12 games lost. Naft Abadan will meet at home league's leader Gorgan in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Limondis will play against Raad (#12) in Mashhad and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Naft Abadan: S.Amir 19+9reb+1ast, R.Hesam 19+2reb+4ast, N.Khajezadeh 14+3reb+2ast, D.Ehsan 11+1reb+7ast, H.Haddadi 11+6reb+5ast, F.Aslani 8+1reb+1ast
Limondis: J.Bradley 24+5reb+4ast, V.Aliabadi 23+2reb+4ast, V.Dalirzahan 13+2reb+3ast, M.Rezaei 6+1reb, M.Khaleghifard 4+8reb+2ast, S.Dehghani 3+6reb+2ast

Gorgan - Mahram 100-78

An interesting game for Gorgan (15-1) which hosted in Gorgan 3rd ranked Mahram (10-6). First ranked Gorgan had an easy win 100-78. Gorgan dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Mahram's 38. Gorgan forced 19 Mahram turnovers. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international Arsalan Kazemi (200-1990, college: Oregon, agency: BIG) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and international point guard Sina Vahedi (185-2001) who added 26 points and 4 steals during the contest. Gorgan's coach Mostafa Hashemi felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the losing side the former international Mohammad Jamshidi (199-1991, agency: BIG) responded with 24 points and American-Guinea-Bissau point guard Parrish Petty (185-1988, college: UTRGV) scored 17 points and 6 assists. Gorgan have an impressive 12-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 15-1 record. Mahram at the other side keeps the third place with six games lost. They share the position with Naft Abadan and Tabiat. Gorgan will play against Naft Abadan (#5) on the road in the next round. Mahram will play against Kerman and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Gorgan: V.Sina 26+3reb+3ast, W.Cherry 24+1reb+1ast, A.Kazemi 18+13reb+2ast, N.Rezaeifar 9+4reb+3ast, N.Pelle 6+6reb+1ast, Y.Mohammad 6+4reb+2ast
Mahram: M.Jamshidi 24+4reb+1ast, P.Petty 17+3reb+6ast, S.Pazrofteh 11+12reb+2ast, R.Mohammadmehdi 9+6reb+2ast, S.Ali Reza 7+2reb, G.Piter 7+2reb+1ast

Zob Ahan - Foolad 72-69

Eleventh-ranked Foolad (2-14) was very close to win a game against second ranked Zob Ahan (14-2) in Esfahan on Monday. Zob Ahan managed to secure only three-point victory 72-69. However their fans expected much easier game. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Foolad. Zob Ahan looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Dwight Buycks (191-1989, college: Marquette) who helped to win the game recording 21 points. International Rasoul Mozafari (188-1994) contributed with 11 points and 8 assists for the winners. The former international power forward Sarem Jafari (207-2005, agency: BIG) replied with 18 points and 4 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) and Montenegrin center Marko Perovic (204-1992, agency: PEPI SPORT) added 14 points and 7 rebounds in the effort for Foolad. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Zob Ahan have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 14-2 record behind leader Gorgan. Newly promoted Foolad keeps the eleventh place with 14 games lost. Zob Ahan are looking forward to face Kalleh (#6) in Amol in the next round. Foolad will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Zob Ahan: D.Buycks 21+2reb+2ast, R.Mozafari 11+1reb+8ast, R.Arghavan 9+6reb+1ast, J.Jones 8+1reb+1ast, M.Soleymani 7+8reb, A.Davoudichegani 5+3reb+7ast
Foolad: J.Sarem 18+4reb+4ast, J.McCormick 17+4reb+2ast, M.Perovic 14+7reb+3ast, G.Omid 6+5reb+1ast, M.Bahram 6+2reb+7ast, H.Eshagh 4+10reb+4ast

Tabiat - Raad 94-55

The game between fifth ranked Tabiat (10-6) and 12th ranked Raad (1-15) in on Tuesday ended with biggest points difference. Tabiat outscored guests from Mashhad 94-55. Tabiat dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Raad's 30. Tabiat forced 22 Raad turnovers and outrebounded them 34-21 including 26 on the defensive glass. Tabiat looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Raad's players. The winners were led by American point guard Jordan Stevens (182-1994, college: Midwestern St.) who scored that evening 29 points and 6 assists (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field) and the former international swingman Saeid Davarpanah (190-1987, agency: Interperformances) supported him with 7 points and 6 assists. Even 20 points and 5 rebounds by Hosein Shekari did not help to save the game for Raad. Pooria Khalifeh added 19 points for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Tabiat moved-up to third place, which they share with Mahram and Naft Abadan. Raad lost thirteenth consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 15 games lost. Tabiat will meet Rafsanjan (#9) on the road in the next round where they are favorite. Raad will play against Limondis and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Tabiat: J.Stevens 29+4reb+6ast, M.Gbinije 12+3reb+1ast, S.Majid 9+1reb+1ast, A.Zangeneh 7+6reb+2ast, S.Davarpanah 7+4reb+6ast, M.Shahrian 6+3reb+7ast
Raad: S.Hosein 20+5reb, K.Pooria 19+2reb+2ast, E.Samadi 5+3reb+1ast, A.Bostanian 4+2reb, J.Behnam 3+1reb+1ast, N.Alireza 2