Superleague Round 9: Al Mina beat Nift Al-Janoub in a derby game

Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Basra: Al Mina (#4) and Nift Al-Janoub (#5). Al Mina (6-2) won against visiting Nift Al-Janoub (4-3) 62-56. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Nift Al-Janoub. Al Mina held Nift Al-Janoub to an opponent 0.0 percent shooting from the field compared to 0.0 percent accuracy of the winners. The best player for the winners was the former international power forward Mohammed Mahdi (202-80) who had a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds. American point guard Jeffery Stubbs (189-91, college: Jackson St.) chipped in 22 points and 6 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Abbas Alqarnawi who recorded 17 points and 5 rebounds. Al Mina have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Al Shurtah. Nift Al-Janoub at the other side keeps the fifth position with three games lost.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Baghdad. Leader Al Naft faced second-best Duhok. Host Al Naft (7-0) smashed guests from Duhok (6-3) 88-62. It was a good game for the former international swingman Demario Mayfield (196-91, college: Angelo St., agency: Two Points) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists. Ihab Al-Zuhairi contributed with 14 points, 19 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. American guard Chris Johnson (192-91, college: St.Catharine) answered with 13 points and 7 rebounds for Duhok. Duhok's coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Undefeated Al Naft have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 7-0 record. Duhok lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team dropped to the fourth position with three games lost. Al Naft's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Baghdad to the arena Al Kahraba.
The game in Najef was also quite interesting. Third ranked Al Shurtah (6-2) played at the court of 6th ranked Al-Tadamoun (3-5). Al Shurtah managed to secure a 9-point victory 82-73 on Monday. Rashad Woods stepped up and scored 25 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. The best for the losing side was Ahmed Al-Abd with 12 points and 6 rebounds. Al-Tadamoun's coach rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Al Shurtah moved-up to second place, which they share with Al Mina. Al-Tadamoun lost their fourth game in a row. They dropped to the seventh position with five games lost. Al Shurtah will meet at home Duhok (#4) in the next round. Al-Tadamoun will have a break next round.

In the last game of round 9 Al Kahraba was defeated by Zakho in a road game 73-65.
The best stats of 9th round was 30 points and 6 rebounds by Hussein Al-Hayali of Al Kahraba.

Al Mina - Nift Al-Janoub 62-56

The most exciting game was a derby match between two local teams from Basra: Al Mina (#4) and Nift Al-Janoub (#5). Al Mina (6-2) won against visiting Nift Al-Janoub (4-3) 62-56. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Nift Al-Janoub. Al Mina held Nift Al-Janoub to an opponent 0.0 percent shooting from the field compared to 0.0 percent accuracy of the winners. The best player for the winners was the former international power forward Mohammed Mahdi (202-80) who had a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds. American point guard Jeffery Stubbs (189-91, college: Jackson St.) chipped in 22 points and 6 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Abbas Alqarnawi who recorded 17 points and 5 rebounds and American forward John Dickson (198-90, college: Sacramento St.) added 12 points and 9 rebounds respectively. Al Mina have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Al Shurtah. Nift Al-Janoub at the other side keeps the fifth position with three games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Mina: J.Stubbs 22+6reb+1ast, M.Mahdi 18+12reb+2ast, K.Al-Elayawi 11+8reb+1ast, I.Al-Zubaidi 4+5reb+1ast, M.Al-Jebur 4+1reb, S.Ali 3
Nift Al-Janoub: A.Abbas 17+5reb+1ast, A.Ahmed 14+4reb+4ast, J.Dickson 12+9reb+1ast, A.Jasim 7+11reb+2ast, D.Al-Hchaimi 4+2reb+1ast, A.Adil 2+4reb

Al-Tadamoun - Al Shurtah 73-82

The game in Najef was also quite interesting. Third ranked Al Shurtah (6-2) played at the court of 6th ranked Al-Tadamoun (3-5). Al Shurtah managed to secure a 9-point victory 82-73 on Monday. Al Shurtah held Al-Tadamoun to an opponent 0.0 percent shooting from the field compared to 0.0 percent accuracy of the winners. American swingman Rashad Woods (197-86, college: Kent St.) stepped up and scored 25 points and 7 rebounds for the winners and the former international power forward Hussein Talib (201-90) chipped in 10 points and 10 rebounds. The best for the losing side was Ahmed Al-Abd with 12 points and 6 rebounds and guard Abbas Al-Draisawi (188-98) scored 12 points and 5 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Al-Tadamoun's coach rotated twelve players in this game, but that didn't help. Al Shurtah moved-up to second place, which they share with Al Mina. Al-Tadamoun lost their fourth game in a row. They dropped to the seventh position with five games lost. Al Shurtah will meet at home Duhok (#4) in the next round. Al-Tadamoun will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Al Shurtah: R.Woods 25+7reb+3ast, M.Al-Khafaji 15+4reb, H.Abdullah 14+2reb+6ast, H.Talib 10+10reb+3ast, H.Aldiwani 8+4reb+1ast, A.Al-Nasrawi 7+3reb+6ast
Al-Tadamoun: A.Sadeq 13+3reb, A.Al-Draisawi 12+2reb+5ast, A.Ahmed 12+6reb+1ast, A.Mohammed 11+2reb+3ast, A.Hasan 6+6reb+1ast, H.Mohammed 6+3reb

Al Naft - Duhok 88-62

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Baghdad. Leader Al Naft faced second-best Duhok. Host Al Naft (7-0) smashed guests from Duhok (6-3) 88-62. Al Naft held Duhok to an opponent 0.0 percent shooting from the field compared to 0.0 percent accuracy of the winners. Al Naft forced 19 Duhok turnovers and outrebounded them 44-29 including 32 on the defensive glass. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists comparing to just 10 passes made by Duhok's players. It was a good game for the former international swingman Demario Mayfield (196-91, college: Angelo St., agency: Two Points) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 5 rebounds and 11 assists. The former international center Ihab Al-Zuhairi (209-98) contributed with a double-double by scoring 14 points, 19 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Five Al Naft players scored in double figures. American guard Chris Johnson (192-91, college: St.Catharine) answered with 13 points and 7 rebounds and the former international guard Mohammed Abdulqader (183-95) added 14 points and 5 assists in the effort for Duhok. Duhok's coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Al Naft have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 7-0 record. Duhok lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team dropped to the fourth position with three games lost. Al Naft's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Baghdad to the arena Al Kahraba.
Top scorers:
Al Naft: D.Mayfield 22+5reb+11ast, K.Hamzah 18+5reb+2ast, I.Al-Zuhairi 14+19reb+4ast, A.Ismael 12+9reb+3ast, A.Hamad 12+2reb, M.Fareed 6+1reb+3ast
Duhok: M.Abdulqader 14+1reb+5ast, A.N 13+3reb+1ast, C.Johnson 13+7reb+2ast, R.Haji Alatroshi 8+1reb, A.Al-Tameemi 8+6reb+1ast, O.Alazawi 4+4reb+1ast

Zakho - Al Kahraba 73-65

There was no surprise when 11th ranked Al Kahraba (1-7) was defeated on the road by seventh ranked Zakho (4-5) 73-65 on Monday. Zakho held Al Kahraba to an opponent 0.0 percent shooting from the field compared to 0.0 percent accuracy of the winners. Mohammed Zewki stepped up with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds for the winners and center Mohammed Hussein (195-1) chipped in 19 points and 6 rebounds. The best for the losing side was Hussein Al-Hayali with 30 points and 6 rebounds and the former international center Malik Nahi (210-88) produced a double-double by scoring 13 points and 13 rebounds. Zakho moved-up to sixth place. Loser Al Kahraba keeps the eleventh position with seven games lost. Zakho will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Al Kahraba's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Baghdad Al Naft.
Top scorers:
Zakho: Z.Mohammed 25+11reb+1ast, Z.Jagarkhin 20+4reb, M.Hussein 19+6reb+2ast, S.Khalid 5+12reb+2ast, A.Akram 2+5reb+2ast, R.Muhanad 2+5reb+3ast
Al Kahraba: A.Hussein 30+6reb+1ast, M.Nahi 13+13reb+2ast, S.Ali 8+6reb, A.Mostafa 7+4reb+2ast, A.Baqer 5+4reb, K.Ahmed 2+5reb+4ast



Tags : MOHAMMED MAHDI, AL MINA, IRAQI BASKETBALL