Superleague Round 18 (Regular Season): Naft Abadan defeat Shahrod in the closest game of the week

The games are now more important than at the beginning of the Regular Season. We may still expect few shocking results in upcoming 4 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Eighth-ranked Shahrod (6-11) gave a tough game to third ranked Naft Abadan (13-4) on Thursday. The visitors from Abadan managed to secure only three-point victory 92-89. However their fans expected much easier game. Naft Abadan have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 13-4 record behind leader Tabiat. Shahrod lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the eighth place with 11 games lost. Naft Abadan are looking forward to face Zob Ahan (#7) in Esfahan in the next round. Shahrod will play against Ishafan and is hoping to prove to their fans that they can break losing series.
Superleague top team - Tabiat (14-2) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed tenth ranked Mahshahr (3-13) 87-66. Defending champion maintains first position with 14-2 record. Mahshahr lost tenth consecutive game. Newly promoted team dropped to the eleventh place with 13 games lost. Tabiat will play against Ayandeh Sazan (#9) in Tehran in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Mahshahr will play on the road against Foolad in Bandar Abbass and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in Esfahan was also quite interesting. Fourth ranked Gorgan (12-5) played at the court of 7th ranked Zob Ahan (8-8). Gorgan managed to secure a 9-point victory 65-56 on Thursday. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Zob Ahan. Gorgan maintains fourth position with 12-5 record. Zob Ahan at the other side keeps the seventh place with eight games lost. Gorgan will meet at home Alborz (#6) in the next round. Zob Ahan will play against Naft Abadan and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 18 bottom-ranked Raad lost to Ayandeh Sazan on the opponent's court 69-71. Kalleh managed to outperform Ishafan in a home game 102-88.



Shahrod - Naft Abadan 89-92

Eighth-ranked Shahrod (6-11) gave a tough game to third ranked Naft Abadan (13-4) on Thursday. The visitors from Abadan managed to secure only three-point victory 92-89. However their fans expected much easier game. Naft Abadan have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 13-4 record behind leader Tabiat. Shahrod lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the eighth place with 11 games lost. Naft Abadan are looking forward to face Zob Ahan (#7) in Esfahan in the next round. Shahrod will play against Ishafan and is hoping to prove to their fans that they can break losing series.

Ayandeh Sazan - Raad 71-69

Everything could happen in Tehran at the game between two tied teams. Both eleventh ranked Ayandeh Sazan and 12th ranked Raad had identical 3-14 record. This time Ayandeh Sazan used a home court advantage and edged the opponent from Mashhad 71-69 on Thursday night. Ayandeh Sazan (4-14) moved-up to ninth place. Raad at the other side stay at the bottom position with 15 games lost. Ayandeh Sazan will meet league's leader Tabiat in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Raad will play against the league's second-placed Kalleh (#2) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.

Mahshahr - Tabiat 66-87

Superleague top team - Tabiat (14-2) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed tenth ranked Mahshahr (3-13) 87-66. Defending champion maintains first position with 14-2 record. Mahshahr lost tenth consecutive game. Newly promoted team dropped to the eleventh place with 13 games lost. Tabiat will play against Ayandeh Sazan (#9) in Tehran in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Mahshahr will play on the road against Foolad in Bandar Abbass and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Zob Ahan - Gorgan 56-65

The game in Esfahan was also quite interesting. Fourth ranked Gorgan (12-5) played at the court of 7th ranked Zob Ahan (8-8). Gorgan managed to secure a 9-point victory 65-56 on Thursday. It ended at the same time the six-game winning streak of Zob Ahan. Gorgan maintains fourth position with 12-5 record. Zob Ahan at the other side keeps the seventh place with eight games lost. Gorgan will meet at home Alborz (#6) in the next round. Zob Ahan will play against Naft Abadan and hope to secure a win.

Kalleh - Ishafan 102-88

Rather predictable result in Amol where second ranked Kalleh (14-4) defeated 5th ranked Ishafan (9-7) 102-88 on Thursday. Kalleh have a solid four-game winning streak. Newly promoted Kalleh maintains second position with 14-4 record having just two point less than leader Tabiat. Ishafan at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the fifth place with seven games lost. They share the position with Alborz. Kalleh will meet bottom-ranked Raad (#12) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Ishafan will play against Shahrod (#8) and hope to secure a win.