Superleague Round 29: Al Naft beat Al Shorta by three after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

Second-ranked Al Shorta (13-2) was very close to win a game against first ranked Al Naft (18-1) in Baghdad on Tuesday. Al Naft managed to secure only three-point victory 80-77. However their fans expected easier game. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Al Shorta. Al Naft held Al Shorta to an opponent 0.0 percent shooting from the field compared to 0.0 percent accuracy of the winners. The former international center Ihab Al-Zuhairi (209-98) orchestrated the victory by scoring 21 points and 8 rebounds. The former international point guard Kevin Galloway (200-88, college: Texas Southern) contributed with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. American guard Qyidar Davis (198-93, college: Indiana St.) answered with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for Al Shorta. Al Naft have a solid series of four victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 18-1 record. Al Shorta at the other side keeps the second position with two games lost.
The game in Kirkuk was also worth to mention about. 7th ranked Al-Khtot (7-11) played at the court of eighth ranked Nift Al-Shamal (6-10). Nift Al-Shamal defeated Al-Khtot 73-63. Mohammed Al-Lawi stepped up with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and Jasim Mahdi chipped in 11 points and 12 rebounds. Hamzah Abs responded with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Nift Al-Shamal have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to seventh place. Al-Khtot at the other side dropped to the sixth position with 11 games lost.
The game between 10th ranked Ghaz Al-Shamal (4-13) and seventh ranked Al-Khtot (7-11) in Kirku on Wednesday ended with biggest points difference. Guests from Baghdad beat Ghaz Al-Shamal 86-70. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Ghaz Al-Shamal. Nawras Altaleb nailed a double-double by scoring 22 points and 15 rebounds for the winning side. Rekan Abdulla came up with 16 points and 5 assists for Ghaz Al-Shamal in the defeat. Al-Khtot moved-up to sixth place. Loser Ghaz Al-Shamal keeps the tenth position with 13 games lost.

Al Naft - Al Shorta 80-77

Second-ranked Al Shorta (13-2) was very close to win a game against first ranked Al Naft (18-1) in Baghdad on Tuesday. Al Naft managed to secure only three-point victory 80-77. However their fans expected easier game. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Al Shorta. Al Naft held Al Shorta to an opponent 0.0 percent shooting from the field compared to 0.0 percent accuracy of the winners. The former international center Ihab Al-Zuhairi (209-98) orchestrated the victory by scoring 21 points and 8 rebounds. The former international point guard Kevin Galloway (200-88, college: Texas Southern) contributed with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. American guard Qyidar Davis (198-93, college: Indiana St.) answered with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international guard Hassan Abdullah (190-94) added 15 points and 9 rebounds in the effort for Al Shorta. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Al Naft have a solid series of four victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 18-1 record. Al Shorta at the other side keeps the second position with two games lost.
Top scorers:
Al Shorta: Q.Davis 22+7reb+4ast, H.Abdullah 15+9reb+2ast, M.Al-Khafaji 11+12reb+1ast, H.Talib 10+8reb+1ast, S.Hasan 9+2reb, H.Aldiwani 8+1reb+1ast
Al Naft: K.Hamzah 21+4reb+3ast, I.Al-Zuhairi 21+8reb+1ast, K.Galloway 17+7reb+4ast, A.Ismael 12+7reb, A.Hamad 4+4reb+2ast, I.Ismail 3+1reb+1ast

Nift Al-Shamal - Al-Khtot 73-63

The game in Kirkuk was also worth to mention about. 7th ranked Al-Khtot (7-11) played at the court of eighth ranked Nift Al-Shamal (6-10). Nift Al-Shamal defeated Al-Khtot 73-63. Nift Al-Shamal held Al-Khtot to an opponent 0.0 percent shooting from the field compared to 0.0 percent accuracy of the winners. Nift Al-Shamal forced 19 Al-Khtot turnovers. Mohammed Al-Lawi stepped up with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and forward Jasim Mahdi (191-92) chipped in 11 points and 12 rebounds. Hamzah Abs responded with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and Nawras Altaleb scored 15 points and 8 rebounds. Nift Al-Shamal have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to seventh place. Al-Khtot at the other side dropped to the sixth position with 11 games lost.
Top scorers:
Al-Khtot: A.Hamzah 15+9reb+4ast, A.Nawras 15+8reb+1ast, S.Al-Saedi 11+6reb, I.Ahmed 9+3reb+4ast, A.Hussein 6+5reb, A.Zuhair 3+4reb
Nift Al-Shamal: A.Mohammed 24+10reb, J.Salem 13+3reb+3ast, J.Mahdi 11+12reb+2ast, B.Ashe 9+4reb+5ast, S.Ali 7+9reb+1ast, H.Saeed Brwa 5+5reb+5ast

Ghaz Al-Shamal - Al-Khtot 70-86

The game between 10th ranked Ghaz Al-Shamal (4-13) and seventh ranked Al-Khtot (7-11) in Kirku on Wednesday ended with biggest points difference. Guests from Baghdad beat Ghaz Al-Shamal 86-70. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Ghaz Al-Shamal. Al-Khtot held Ghaz Al-Shamal to an opponent 0.0 percent shooting from the field compared to 0.0 percent accuracy of the winners. They outrebounded Ghaz Al-Shamal 41-29 including 33 on the defensive glass. Nawras Altaleb nailed a double-double by scoring 22 points and 15 rebounds for the winning side and Hamzah Abs accounted for 15 points, 9 rebounds and 14 assists. Rekan Abdulla came up with 16 points and 5 assists and center Ali Fadhil (202-99) added 14 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Ghaz Al-Shamal in the defeat. Four Ghaz Al-Shamal players scored in double figures. Al-Khtot moved-up to sixth place. Loser Ghaz Al-Shamal keeps the tenth position with 13 games lost.
Top scorers:
Ghaz Al-Shamal: A.Rekan 16+4reb+5ast, A.Fadhil 14+7reb+1ast, A.Mustafa 11+5reb, S.Kayhan 10+1reb+3ast, S.Khalid 9+10reb+1ast, R.Sobara 1
Al-Khtot: S.Al-Saedi 26+1reb, A.Nawras 22+15reb+3ast, A.Hamzah 15+9reb+14ast, A.Mohammed 9+2reb, A.Amjed 6+8reb, I.Ahmed 6+5reb+2ast



Tags : IHAB AL-ZUHAIRI, AL NAFT BAGHDAD, IRAQI BASKETBALL