Superleague Round 17: Al-Jameaa defeat Al-Hashd in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most exciting game of round 17 in the Superleague took place in Baghdad. This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of 4th placed Al-Hashd (9-5) to second ranked Al-Jameaa (9-5) 63-62 in the game for the second place. Al-Jameaa have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain second place with 9-5 record having five points less than leader Al Naft, which they share with defeated Al-Hashd. Al-Jameaa is looking forward to face Nift Al-Basra (#7) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Al-Hashd's supporters also look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Baghdad Al Shorta.
Very important is a road loss of second ranked Al-Jameaa (9-5) against sixth ranked Al Shorta (8-5) on Sunday night. Visiting Al-Jameaa was crushed by Al Shorta in Baghdad 98-72. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Al-Jameaa. Al Shorta moved-up to fifth place. Al-Jameaa at the other side keeps the second position with five games lost. They share it with Al-Hashd. Al Shorta's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Baghdad to the arena Al-Hashd.
Eleventh-ranked Al-Semawah (2-12) gave a tough game to ninth ranked Al Kahraba (6-6) in Baghdad on Tuesday. Al Kahraba managed to secure only three-point victory 82-79. However their fans expected easier game. Al Kahraba moved-up to eighth place. Al-Semawah lost their eighth game in a row. They keep the eleventh position with 12 games lost. Al Kahraba will meet Ghaz Al-Shamal (#9) in the next round. Al-Semawah will have a break next round.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 17: bottom-ranked Nift Al-Shamal was destroyed by Al-Hashd on the opponent's court 103-56. Al Shorta outscored Al-Tadamoun in a home game 102-61. Al-Semawah recorded a loss to Al Hilla on the road 97-88.

Al-Hashd - Nift Al-Shamal 103-56

Very expected game in Baghdad where 12th ranked Nift Al-Shamal (1-13) was crushed by fourth ranked Al-Hashd (9-5) 103-56 on Thursday. Al-Hashd moved-up to second place, which they share with Al-Jameaa. Nift Al-Shamal lost their eighth game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 13 games lost. Al-Hashd's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Baghdad Al Shorta.

Al Shorta - Al-Tadamoun 102-61

Rather predictable result in Baghdad where sixth ranked Al Shorta (8-5) smashed 10th ranked Al-Tadamoun (4-9) 102-61 on Wednesday. Al Shorta moved-up to fifth place. Al-Tadamoun lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the tenth position with nine games lost. Al Shorta's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Baghdad to the arena Al-Hashd.

Al-Hashd - Al-Jameaa 62-63

The most exciting game of round 17 in the Superleague took place in Baghdad. This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of 4th placed Al-Hashd (9-5) to second ranked Al-Jameaa (9-5) 63-62 in the game for the second place. Al-Jameaa have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain second place with 9-5 record having five points less than leader Al Naft, which they share with defeated Al-Hashd. Al-Jameaa is looking forward to face Nift Al-Basra (#7) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Al-Hashd's supporters also look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Baghdad Al Shorta.

Al Hilla - Al-Semawah 97-88

Not a big story in a game when 11th ranked Al-Semawah (2-12) was defeated on the road by seventh ranked Al Hilla (7-6) 97-88 on Friday. Al Hilla moved-up to sixth place. Al-Semawah lost their eighth game in a row. They keep the eleventh position with 12 games lost.

Al Shorta - Al-Jameaa 98-72

Very important is a road loss of second ranked Al-Jameaa (9-5) against sixth ranked Al Shorta (8-5) on Sunday night. Visiting Al-Jameaa was crushed by Al Shorta in Baghdad 98-72. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Al-Jameaa. Al Shorta moved-up to fifth place. Al-Jameaa at the other side keeps the second position with five games lost. They share it with Al-Hashd. Al Shorta's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Baghdad to the arena Al-Hashd.

Al Kahraba - Al-Semawah 82-79

Eleventh-ranked Al-Semawah (2-12) gave a tough game to ninth ranked Al Kahraba (6-6) in Baghdad on Tuesday. Al Kahraba managed to secure only three-point victory 82-79. However their fans expected easier game. Al Kahraba moved-up to eighth place. Al-Semawah lost their eighth game in a row. They keep the eleventh position with 12 games lost. Al Kahraba will meet Ghaz Al-Shamal (#9) in the next round. Al-Semawah will have a break next round.