Superleague Round 15: Al Shorta lose their first game against Al-Hashd

What a coincidence that all visitors won their games. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Al Shorta (11-1) in Baghdad on Friday night. Hosts were defeated by third ranked Al-Hashd (9-4) 82-78. It ended at the same time the 11-game winning streak of Al Shorta. Al-Hashd have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain third place with 9-4 record having just one point less than leader Al Naft, which they share with Dijlah. Al Shorta at the other side still keeps top position with one game 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 Naft.
Very important is a home loss of third ranked Al Karkh (6-9) against fourth ranked Dijlah (9-4) on Friday night. Host Al Karkh was defeated by Dijlah in a tough game in Al Karkh 100-106. Dijlah have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Al-Hashd. Newly promoted Al Karkh dropped to the fifth position with nine games lost. They share it with Al Kahraba. Dijlah's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Baghdad to the arena Al Shorta.
The game in Kirkuk was also quite interesting. Second ranked Zakho (10-4) played at the court of 6th ranked Nift Al-Shamal (7-10). Zakho managed to secure a 4-point victory 82-78 on Monday. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Zakho. They maintain second place with 10-4 record behind leader Al Naft. Loser Nift Al-Shamal dropped to the fourth position with ten games lost. Zakho will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Nift Al-Shamal will play against Al-Tadamoun (#6) in Najef and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 15: Zakho destroyed Ghaz Al-Shamal on the opponent's court 105-78. Al-Tadamoun unfortunately lost to Ghaz Al-Shamal in a home game 90-107. Nift Al-Shamal managed to beat Al Hilla on the road 98-92.

Nift Al-Shamal - Zakho 78-82

The game in Kirkuk was also quite interesting. Second ranked Zakho (10-4) played at the court of 6th ranked Nift Al-Shamal (7-10). Zakho managed to secure a 4-point victory 82-78 on Monday. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Zakho. They maintain second place with 10-4 record behind leader Al Naft. Loser Nift Al-Shamal dropped to the fourth position with ten games lost. Zakho will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Nift Al-Shamal will play against Al-Tadamoun (#6) in Najef and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Ghaz Al-Shamal - Zakho 78-105

Rather expected game in Kirku where 5th ranked Ghaz Al-Shamal (7-9) was crushed by second ranked Zakho (10-4) 105-78 on Wednesday. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Zakho. They maintain second place with 10-4 record behind leader Al Naft. Ghaz Al-Shamal lost their seventh game in a row. They dropped to the third position with nine games lost. Zakho will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Ghaz Al-Shamal will play against Al Hilla and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Al-Tadamoun - Ghaz Al-Shamal 90-107

The game between closely ranked teams ended with fifth ranked Ghaz Al-Shamal's (7-9) road victory over 6th ranked Al-Tadamoun (2-15) 107-90 on Sunday. Ghaz Al-Shamal moved-up to third place. Loser Al-Tadamoun keeps the sixth position with 15 games lost. Ghaz Al-Shamal will meet Al Hilla (#5) on the road in the next round. Al-Tadamoun will play against Nift Al-Shamal and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Al Shorta - Al-Hashd 78-82

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Al Shorta (11-1) in Baghdad on Friday night. Hosts were defeated by third ranked Al-Hashd (9-4) 82-78. It ended at the same time the 11-game winning streak of Al Shorta. Al-Hashd have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain third place with 9-4 record having just one point less than leader Al Naft, which they share with Dijlah. Al Shorta at the other side still keeps top position with one game 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 Naft.

Al Karkh - Dijlah 100-106

Very important is a home loss of third ranked Al Karkh (6-9) against fourth ranked Dijlah (9-4) on Friday night. Host Al Karkh was defeated by Dijlah in a tough game in Al Karkh 100-106. Dijlah have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Al-Hashd. Newly promoted Al Karkh dropped to the fifth position with nine games lost. They share it with Al Kahraba. Dijlah's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Baghdad to the arena Al Shorta.

Al Hilla - Nift Al-Shamal 92-98

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 5th ranked Al Hilla (2-12) was defeated at home by sixth ranked Nift Al-Shamal (7-10) 98-92 on Sunday. Nift Al-Shamal moved-up to fourth place. Al Hilla lost their sixth game in a row. They keep the fifth position with 12 games lost. Nift Al-Shamal will meet Al-Tadamoun (#6) in the next round. Al Hilla will play against Ghaz Al-Shamal and it may be a tough game between close rivals.