Superleague Round 9 (Regular Season): Naft Abadan defeat Alborz in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Seventh-ranked Alborz (3-5) gave a tough game to third ranked Naft Abadan (7-2) on Monday. Naft Abadan managed to secure only two-point victory 80-78. However their fans expected much easier game. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Alborz. Naft Abadan have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Kalleh. Newly promoted Alborz dropped to the eighth position with five games lost. Naft Abadan is looking forward to face Mahshahr (#7) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Alborz will play against Shahrod and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game between Top Four teams took place in . Leader host Tabiat (9-0) defeated second-best Kalleh (7-2) 107-89. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Kalleh. The victory was the ninth consecutive win for Tabiat. Defending champion maintains first place with 9-0 record. Newly promoted Kalleh keeps the second position with two games lost. They share it with Naft Abadan. Tabiat will play against Raad (#11) in Mashhad in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Kalleh will play at home against Foolad (#10) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Ayandeh Sazan has finally registered their first victory this season after seven consecutive losses. The win is especially important as it came on the road game in Bandar Abbass, where they edged Foolad (2-7) 75-72 on Monday. It was the only win of guest team this round and in all other games host teams recorded victories. Newly promoted Ayandeh Sazan maintains twelfth place with 1-7 record. It was Foolad's fourth loss in a row. They keep the tenth position with seven games lost. They share it with Raad. Ayandeh Sazan will meet at home higher ranked Gorgan (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Foolad will play against the league's second-placed Kalleh (#2) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 9: Raad lost to Ishafan on the opponent's court 71-82. Gorgan outscored Mahshahr in a home game 84-49. Zob Ahan recorded a loss to Shahrod on the road 68-62.



Ishafan - Raad 82-71

Very expected game when 11th ranked Raad (2-7) was defeated on the road by fifth ranked Ishafan (5-4) 82-71 on Monday. Newly promoted Ishafan maintains fifth place with 5-4 record. Raad at the other side dropped to the tenth position with seven games lost. They share it with Foolad. Ishafan will meet at home Zob Ahan (#9) in the next round. Raad will play against the league's leader Tabiat and hope to secure a win.

Tabiat - Kalleh 107-89

The game between Top Four teams took place in . Leader host Tabiat (9-0) defeated second-best Kalleh (7-2) 107-89. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Kalleh. The victory was the ninth consecutive win for Tabiat. Defending champion maintains first place with 9-0 record. Newly promoted Kalleh keeps the second position with two games lost. They share it with Naft Abadan. Tabiat will play against Raad (#11) in Mashhad in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Kalleh will play at home against Foolad (#10) and hopes to get back on the winning track.

Naft Abadan - Alborz 80-78

Seventh-ranked Alborz (3-5) gave a tough game to third ranked Naft Abadan (7-2) on Monday. Naft Abadan managed to secure only two-point victory 80-78. However their fans expected much easier game. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Alborz. Naft Abadan have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Kalleh. Newly promoted Alborz dropped to the eighth position with five games lost. Naft Abadan is looking forward to face Mahshahr (#7) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Alborz will play against Shahrod and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Foolad - Ayandeh Sazan 72-75

Ayandeh Sazan has finally registered their first victory this season after seven consecutive losses. The win is especially important as it came on the road game in Bandar Abbass, where they edged Foolad (2-7) 75-72 on Monday. It was the only win of guest team this round and in all other games host teams recorded victories. Newly promoted Ayandeh Sazan maintains twelfth place with 1-7 record. It was Foolad's fourth loss in a row. They keep the tenth position with seven games lost. They share it with Raad. Ayandeh Sazan will meet at home higher ranked Gorgan (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Foolad will play against the league's second-placed Kalleh (#2) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.

Gorgan - Mahshahr 84-49

Rather predictable result when fourth ranked Gorgan (6-3) smashed at home 6th ranked Mahshahr (3-4) 84-49 on Monday. Gorgan maintains fourth place with 6-3 record. Newly promoted Mahshahr dropped to the seventh position with four games lost. Gorgan will meet bottom-ranked Ayandeh Sazan (#12) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Mahshahr will play against Naft Abadan (#3) and hope to secure a win.

Shahrod - Zob Ahan 68-62

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 9th ranked Zob Ahan's (2-5) road loss to eighth ranked Shahrod (4-5) 62-68 on Monday. Shahrod moved-up to sixth place. Zob Ahan lost their third game in a row. They keep the ninth position with five games lost. Shahrod will meet Alborz (#8) on the road in the next round. Zob Ahan will play against Ishafan and hope to secure a win.