Division I Round 18: Al Wahda is defeated by Al Thawra in a derby game

There are only two more rounds left in the Regular Season in Division I. There was no lack of excitement in the last round games. The round ended with derby games and favorites losing the games. Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Damascus: Al Thawra (#8) and Al Wahda (#4). Al Thawra (6-10) won against visiting Al Wahda (11-5) 79-71. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Al Wahda. Al Thawra moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Al Nawaeer. Al Wahda at the other side keeps the fourth position with five games lost. They share it with Al Jalaa. Al Thawra is looking forward to face Al Hurriyeh (#10) in Aleppo in the next round. Al Wahda will play on the road against Al Ittihad (#3) in Aleppo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a home loss of second ranked Al Ittihad (13-3) against seventh ranked Al Nawaeer (6-10) on Thursday night. Host Al Ittihad was defeated by Al Nawaeer in a tough game in Aleppo 85-92. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Al Ittihad. Newly promoted Al Nawaeer maintains seventh position with 6-10 record, which they share with Al Thawra. Al Ittihad at the other side dropped to the third place with three games lost. Al Nawaeer will play against Al Ouroube (#11) in Aleppo in the next round. Al Ittihad will play at home against Al Wahda (#5) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Division I top team - Al Karameh (15-1) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they crushed ninth ranked Al Hurriyeh (5-11) in Homs 98-64. Al Karameh maintains first position with 15-1 record. Loser Al Hurriyeh keeps the ninth place with 11 games lost. They share the position with Al Wathba. Al Karameh will meet Al Jalaa (#4) in the next round. Al Hurriyeh will play against Al Thawra (#8) in Damascus and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
A very interesting game took place in Homs. It ended with only two-point home defeat of 9th ranked Al Wathba (5-11) to sixth ranked Al Talee'a (8-8) 75-73 on Friday evening. Al Talee'a maintains sixth position with 8-8 record. Al Wathba at the other side keeps the ninth place with 11 games lost. Al Talee'a will have a break next round. Al Wathba will play on the road against Al Yarmouk (#12) in Aleppo and hope to win that game.
12th ranked Al Yarmouk (1-15) was outscored at home by second ranked Al Jaish (14-2) with the biggest margin this round 90-48 on Friday night. Al Jaish have an impressive ten-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 14-2 record behind leader Al Karameh. Al Yarmouk lost seventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 15 games lost. Al Jaish will face higher ranked Al Talee'a in Hama in the next round. Al Yarmouk will play at home against Al Wathba (#9) and hope to win that game.

In the last game of round 18 Al Jalaa destroyed Al Ouroube on the opponent's court 107-66.

Al Thawra - Al Wahda 79-71

The most interesting game was a derby match between two local teams from Damascus: Al Thawra (#8) and Al Wahda (#4). Al Thawra (6-10) won against visiting Al Wahda (11-5) 79-71. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Al Wahda. Al Thawra moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Al Nawaeer. Al Wahda at the other side keeps the fourth position with five games lost. They share it with Al Jalaa. Al Thawra is looking forward to face Al Hurriyeh (#10) in Aleppo in the next round. Al Wahda will play on the road against Al Ittihad (#3) in Aleppo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Al Ittihad - Al Nawaeer 85-92

Very important is a home loss of second ranked Al Ittihad (13-3) against seventh ranked Al Nawaeer (6-10) on Thursday night. Host Al Ittihad was defeated by Al Nawaeer in a tough game in Aleppo 85-92. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Al Ittihad. Newly promoted Al Nawaeer maintains seventh position with 6-10 record, which they share with Al Thawra. Al Ittihad at the other side dropped to the third place with three games lost. Al Nawaeer will play against Al Ouroube (#11) in Aleppo in the next round. Al Ittihad will play at home against Al Wahda (#5) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Al Wathba - Al Talee'a 73-75

A very interesting game took place in Homs. It ended with only two-point home defeat of 9th ranked Al Wathba (5-11) to sixth ranked Al Talee'a (8-8) 75-73 on Friday evening. Al Talee'a maintains sixth position with 8-8 record. Al Wathba at the other side keeps the ninth place with 11 games lost. Al Talee'a will have a break next round. Al Wathba will play on the road against Al Yarmouk (#12) in Aleppo and hope to win that game.

Al Yarmouk - Al Jaish 48-90

12th ranked Al Yarmouk (1-15) was outscored at home by second ranked Al Jaish (14-2) with the biggest margin this round 90-48 on Friday night. Al Jaish have an impressive ten-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 14-2 record behind leader Al Karameh. Al Yarmouk lost seventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom place with 15 games lost. Al Jaish will face higher ranked Al Talee'a in Hama in the next round. Al Yarmouk will play at home against Al Wathba (#9) and hope to win that game.

Al Karameh - Al Hurriyeh 98-64

Division I top team - Al Karameh (15-1) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they crushed ninth ranked Al Hurriyeh (5-11) in Homs 98-64. Al Karameh maintains first position with 15-1 record. Loser Al Hurriyeh keeps the ninth place with 11 games lost. They share the position with Al Wathba. Al Karameh will meet Al Jalaa (#4) in the next round. Al Hurriyeh will play against Al Thawra (#8) in Damascus and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Al Ouroube - Al Jalaa 66-107

Very expected game in Aleppo where 11th ranked Al Ouroube (1-15) was crushed by fifth ranked Al Jalaa (11-5) 107-66 on Saturday. Al Jalaa moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Al Wahda. Al Ouroube lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the eleventh position with 15 games lost. Al Jalaa will face league's leader Al Karameh in Homs in the next round and it may be the game of the week. Al Ouroube will play at home against Al Nawaeer (#7) and hope to win that game.