Superleague Round 22 (Regular Season): Limondis beat Zob Ahan by three after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 22 in the Superleague took place in Esfahan. This derby game ended with only three-point home defeat of much higher ranked Zob Ahan (16-6) to ninth ranked Limondis (8-14) 91-88 on Monday evening. It was quite big embarassment for the home team. Limondis made 27-of-32 free shots (84.4 percent) during the game. Limondis outrebounded Zob Ahan 40-24 including a 30-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Jalen Bradley (185-1993, college: ORU, agency: Haylett Sports) who helped to win the game recording 27 points and 6 rebounds. Center Seyed Mortaza Jafari (178-2001) contributed with 20 points and 6 rebounds (made all of his nine free throws !!!) for the winners. American point guard Dwight Buycks (191-1989, college: Marquette, agency: Epic Sports Consulting LLC) replied with 19 points and 5 assists for Zob Ahan. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Limondis moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Averta. Zob Ahan at the other side keeps the second position with six games lost.
An interesting game for Gorgan (20-2) which hosted in Gorgan 3rd ranked Tabiat (15-7). First ranked Gorgan had an easy win 76-54. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Tabiat. The former international Arsalan Kazemi (201-1990, college: Oregon, agency: BIG) scored 14 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Sina Vahedi chipped in 16 points during the contest. At the losing side the former international Arman Zangeneh (202-1993, agency: BIG) responded with 6 points and 11 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Gorgan have an impressive five-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 20-2 record. Newly promoted Tabiat keeps the third place with seven games lost. They share the position with Mahram.

Other games in round 22 were not that significant. Foolad was beaten by Kalleh on the road 97-81. Mahram won against Rafsanjan on its own court 91-87. Averta unfortunately lost to Kerman in a road game 82-96. Naft Abadan managed to beat Raad at home 81-63.



Kalleh - Foolad 97-81

No shocking result in a game when seventh ranked Kalleh (12-10) beat 11th ranked Foolad (5-17) in Amol 97-81. Kalleh made 29-of-33 charity shots (87.9 percent) during the game. Kalleh outrebounded Foolad 45-34 including 33 on the defensive glass. Foolad was plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. International center Jalal Agha (203-2001) scored 26 points and 6 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and the former international Matin Aghajanpour (198-2001) chipped in 23 points and 6 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side American point guard JVon McCormick (183-1997, college: Auburn, agency: BIG) responded with 19 points and 7 rebounds and the former international point guard Mohammad Bahram (180-1998) scored 12 points. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Foolad's coach Reza Hengampour rotated twelve players seeing no chance for a win. Kalleh have a solid three-game winning streak. Newly promoted Kalleh maintains seventh position with 12-10 record. Foolad at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the eleventh place with 17 games lost.
Top scorers:
Kalleh: A.Jalal 26+6reb+2ast, A.Matin 23+6reb+1ast, Y.Amirhossein 16+4reb+1ast, M.Mirzaei 10+16reb+3ast, L.Mohammadhadi 8+2reb+6ast, L.Mohammadmahdi 6+4reb+1ast
Foolad: J.McCormick 19+7reb+3ast, J.Sarem 13+4reb, M.Perovic 12+2reb+1ast, M.Bahram 12+4reb+3ast, H.Eshagh 8+1reb+1ast, G.Omid 8+7reb

Mahram - Rafsanjan 91-87

Very expected game when 10th ranked Rafsanjan (6-16) lost to fourth ranked Mahram (15-7) in Tehran 87-91. However just four-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Mahram dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Rafsanjan's 40. They outrebounded Rafsanjan 39-27 including a 17-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. The former international Mohammad Jamshidi (199-1991, agency: BIG) scored 30 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the charge for the winners and the former international forward Sajjad Pazrofteh (205-1996) chipped in 14 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side guard Pouya Yakhchali (-1996) responded with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and Mohamadreza Taghiloo (192-2000) scored 20 points. Five Rafsanjan players scored in double figures. Mahram have an impressive five-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Tabiat. Rafsanjan lost third consecutive game. They keep the tenth position with 16 games lost.
Top scorers:
Mahram: M.Jamshidi 30+5reb+5ast, S.Pazrofteh 14+7reb+1ast, H.Mohammad 11+3reb, G.Piter 9+4reb+1ast, N.Jankovic 7+7reb+1ast, A.Khandanpour 6+7reb
Rafsanjan: T.Mohamadreza 20+3reb+3ast, F.Pilepic 16+1reb+1ast, Y.Pouya 15+7reb+4ast, V.Ali 15+6reb+4ast, J.Pressley 11+5reb+2ast, A.Amin 6+2reb+1ast

Kerman - Averta 96-82

Rather predictable result when fifth ranked Kerman (13-9) won against at home 8th ranked Averta (8-14) 96-82. Kerman made 27-of-34 charity shots (79.4 percent) during the game. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 36 assists comparing to just 17 passes made by Averta's players. American point guard Corin Henry (183-1988, college: Tarleton St., agency: BIG) had a double-double by scoring 11 points, 6 rebounds and 15 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Mohsen Moradkhani chipped in 20 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side Nima Fathi responded with 23 points and 4 assists and the former international Majid Rahimian scored 17 points and 6 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Kerman maintains fifth position with 13-9 record, which they share with Naft Abadan. Averta lost seventh consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the eighth place with 14 games lost. They share the position with Limondis.
Top scorers:
Kerman: M.Mohsen 20+7reb, A.Mitrovic 19+4reb+2ast, C.Henry 11+6reb+15ast, H.Seyed 10+3reb+4ast, S.Erfan 8+2reb+4ast, M.Esmaeili 8+5reb+2ast
Averta: F.Nima 23+4reb+4ast, R.Majid 17+6reb+3ast, E.Beigi 12+3reb, J.van der List 11+6reb+6ast, H.Mahdi 9+1reb, A.Mortazavi 4+3reb

Naft Abadan - Raad 81-63

Not a big story in a game when 12th ranked Raad (1-21) lost on the road to sixth ranked Naft Abadan (13-9) 81-63. Naft Abadan dominated down low during the game scoring 44 of its points in the paint compared to Raad's 24. Naft Abadan players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. The former international center Mohammad Torabi (211-1992, agency: BIG) had a double-double by scoring 17 points, 20 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks to lead the charge for the winners and the former international guard Ehsan Dalirzahan (186-2000) chipped in 6 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists during the contest. At the losing side center Ahmad Bostanian (220-1990) responded with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 14 rebounds and Pedram Fakhfori scored 22 points. Raad's coach Jamal Seyfi rotated ten players seeing no chance for a win. Naft Abadan moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Kerman. Raad lost nineteenth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 21 lost games.
Top scorers:
Naft Abadan: M.Torabi 17+20reb+4ast, N.Khajezadeh 13+2reb+1ast, A.Moradi 10+3reb+3ast, F.Aslani 8+1reb+3ast, Z.Nader 7, E.Ali 7+2reb
Raad: F.Pedram 22+3reb, E.Samadi 12+5reb+4ast, A.Bostanian 12+14reb+1ast, K.Pooria 9+2reb+1ast, V.Mohsen 6+5reb+1ast, S.Hosein 2+3reb+2ast

Gorgan - Tabiat 76-54

An interesting game for Gorgan (20-2) which hosted in Gorgan 3rd ranked Tabiat (15-7). First ranked Gorgan had an easy win 76-54. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Tabiat. Gorgan forced 19 Tabiat turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. The former international Arsalan Kazemi (201-1990, college: Oregon, agency: BIG) scored 14 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and international point guard Sina Vahedi (185-2001) chipped in 16 points during the contest. Four Gorgan players scored in double figures. At the losing side the former international Arman Zangeneh (202-1993, agency: BIG) responded with 6 points and 11 rebounds and Ashkan Jaffari scored 11 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Gorgan have an impressive five-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 20-2 record. Newly promoted Tabiat keeps the third place with seven games lost. They share the position with Mahram.
Top scorers:
Gorgan: V.Sina 16+4reb+3ast, A.Kazemi 14+6reb+6ast, Y.Mohammad 11+4reb+2ast, W.Cherry 11+6reb+4ast, S.Monji 7+5reb, A.Gholizadeh 6+1ast
Tabiat: J.Ashkan 11+4reb+2ast, N.Reza 11+4reb, J.Stevens 9+1reb+1ast, G.Seyed 7+1reb, A.Zangeneh 6+11reb+1ast, S.Davarpanah 3+4reb+4ast

Zob Ahan - Limondis 88-91

The most exciting game of round 22 in the Superleague took place in Esfahan. This derby game ended with only three-point home defeat of much higher ranked Zob Ahan (16-6) to ninth ranked Limondis (8-14) 91-88 on Monday evening. It was quite big embarassment for the home team. Limondis made 27-of-32 free shots (84.4 percent) during the game. Limondis outrebounded Zob Ahan 40-24 including a 30-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Jalen Bradley (185-1993, college: ORU, agency: Haylett Sports) who helped to win the game recording 27 points and 6 rebounds. Center Seyed Mortaza Jafari (178-2001) contributed with 20 points and 6 rebounds (made all of his nine free throws !!!) for the winners. American point guard Dwight Buycks (191-1989, college: Marquette, agency: Epic Sports Consulting LLC) replied with 19 points and 5 assists and the former international center Masoud Soleymani (207-1990) added 17 points and 6 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field) in the effort for Zob Ahan. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Limondis moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Averta. Zob Ahan at the other side keeps the second position with six games lost.
Top scorers:
Limondis: J.Bradley 27+6reb+2ast, S.Mortaza Jafari 20+6reb+3ast, V.Aliabadi 18+1reb+4ast, V.Dalirzahan 9+6reb+1ast, M.Rezaei 9+9reb+1ast, M.Khaleghifard 6+9reb+1ast
Zob Ahan: D.Buycks 19+5ast, M.Soleymani 17+6reb+1ast, J.Jones 12+2reb, K.Ali 10+3reb, A.Kardoust 9+5reb+2ast, R.Arghavan 8+6reb+3ast