Superleague Round 16: Al Naft defeat Ghaz Al-Shamal in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Ninth-ranked Ghaz Al-Shamal (6-8) gave a tough game to top-ranked Al Naft (14-0) in Baghdad on Sunday. Al Naft managed to secure only three-point victory 75-72. However their fans expected much easier game. Undefeated Al Naft have an impressive 14-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 14-0 record. Ghaz Al-Shamal at the other side dropped to the eighth place with eight 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.
Important game to mention about took place in Al Hilla. Eighth ranked Al Hilla (6-6) saved a 3-point victory at home edging 5th ranked Al Shorta (6-5) 71-68 on Saturday evening. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Al Shorta. Al Hilla moved-up to seventh place. Al Shorta at the other side dropped to the sixth position with five games lost. Al Hilla will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Al Shorta will play at home against Nift Al-Shamal (#12) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Superleague top team - Al Naft (14-0) had no problems winning another game on Monday. This time they beat eleventh ranked Al-Semawah (2-10) in Baghdad 90-74. Undefeated Al Naft have an impressive 14-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 14-0 record. Al-Semawah lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh place with ten 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.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 16: bottom-ranked Nift Al-Shamal was destroyed by Al-Jameaa on the opponent's court 92-54. Zakho managed to outperform Al Kahraba in a home game 89-80. Al-Hashd rolled over Al-Tadamoun on the road 78-54. Al Naft crushed Nift Al-Shamal on its own court 126-83. Ghaz Al-Shamal beat Al-Semawah in Kirku 90-72.

Al Naft - Al-Semawah 90-74

Superleague top team - Al Naft (14-0) had no problems winning another game on Monday. This time they beat eleventh ranked Al-Semawah (2-10) in Baghdad 90-74. Al Naft have an impressive 14-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 14-0 record. Al-Semawah lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh place with ten 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.

Al-Jameaa - Nift Al-Shamal 92-54

Very expected game when 12th ranked Nift Al-Shamal (1-12) was crushed on the road by second ranked Al-Jameaa (8-4) 92-54 on Thursday. Al-Jameaa have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 8-4 record having eight points less than leader Al Naft, which they share with Zakho and Al-Hashd. Nift Al-Shamal lost seventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 12 games lost. Al-Jameaa will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Nift Al-Shamal will play against Al Shorta (#6) in Baghdad and hope to win that game.

Zakho - Al Kahraba 89-80

Rather predictable result when fourth ranked Zakho (8-4) defeated at home 7th ranked Al Kahraba (5-6) 89-80 on Friday. Zakho moved-up to second place, which they share with Al-Hashd and Al-Jameaa. Loser Al Kahraba dropped to the ninth position with six 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.

Al-Tadamoun - Al-Hashd 54-78

Not a big story in a game in Najef where 10th ranked Al-Tadamoun (4-8) was rolled over by third ranked Al-Hashd (8-4) 78-54 on Friday. Al-Hashd moved-up to second place, which they share with Zakho and Al-Jameaa. Al-Tadamoun lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the tenth position with eight games lost. Al-Hashd will meet at home bottom-ranked Nift Al-Shamal (#12) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Al-Tadamoun will play against Nift Al-Basra and hope to secure a win.

Al Naft - Nift Al-Shamal 126-83

Everything went according to plan in Baghdad where top-ranked Al Naft (14-0) outscored bottom-ranked Nift Al-Shamal (1-12) 126-83 on Friday. Al Naft have an impressive 14-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 14-0 record. Nift Al-Shamal lost seventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 12 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.

Al-Semawah - Ghaz Al-Shamal 72-90

There was no surprise when 11th ranked Al-Semawah (2-10) was defeated at home by ninth ranked Ghaz Al-Shamal (6-8) 90-72 on Friday. Ghaz Al-Shamal moved-up to eighth place. Al-Semawah lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh position with ten games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

Al Hilla - Al Shorta 71-68

Important game to mention about took place in Al Hilla. Eighth ranked Al Hilla (6-6) saved a 3-point victory at home edging 5th ranked Al Shorta (6-5) 71-68 on Saturday evening. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Al Shorta. Al Hilla moved-up to seventh place. Al Shorta at the other side dropped to the sixth position with five games lost. Al Hilla will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Al Shorta will play at home against Nift Al-Shamal (#12) and hopes to get back on the winning track.

Al Naft - Ghaz Al-Shamal 75-72

Ninth-ranked Ghaz Al-Shamal (6-8) gave a tough game to top-ranked Al Naft (14-0) in Baghdad on Sunday. Al Naft managed to secure only three-point victory 75-72. However their fans expected much easier game. Al Naft have an impressive 14-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 14-0 record. Ghaz Al-Shamal at the other side dropped to the eighth place with eight 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.