Round 6 (Regular Season): Al-Manama hand first defeat to Shabab Al Ahli

West Asia Super League is at the halfway of the Regular Season and there are still another 6 rounds left. 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 UAE Shabab Al Ahli (2-1) in Dubai on Monday night. Hosts were defeated by Bahrain Al-Manama (3-0) 73-67. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Shabab Al Ahli. It was a key game for the top position in the league. The best player for the winners was point guard Mustafa Rashed (177-2002) who scored 29 points. American forward Tony Farmer (201-1994, college: Lee JC) chipped in 16 points and 8 rebounds. Al-Manama's coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was American Nick Minnerath (207-1988, college: Detroit) who recorded a double-double by scoring 26 points and 10 rebounds. Al-Manama have a solid three-game winning streak. Defending Bahrain champion maintains first position with 3-0 record, which they share with Kuwait and Gorgan. Defending UAE champion Shabab Al Ahli keeps the second place with one game lost. They share the position with Al-Muharraq and Sagesse. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Another exciting game was played in Doha between fourth ranked Kuwaiti Kazma and one of their biggest challengers Qatari Al Shamal where Kazma (1-2) crushed Al Shamal (0-3) on the road with 26-point difference 101-75. It was a good game for American power forward Clinton Chapman (208-1989, college: Texas, agency: Diamond Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 13 rebounds. Travis Leslie contributed with 25 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Kazma's coach felt very confident that he used 11 players and allowed the starting five to rest. Nigerian point guard Uchenna Iroegbu (183-1996, college: Stony Brook) replied with 27 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for Al Shamal. Kazma left bottom position moving up to third place, which they share with Al Rayyan and Al Ittihad. It was Al Shamal's third loss in a row. They still close the standings with three games lost. They share the position with Al Ahli and Al Naft. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Baghdad. Top-ranked Lebanese Al Riyadi faced 3rd ranked Iraqi Al Shurtah. Guests from Beirut (2-0) smashed host Al Shurtah (0-2) 115-83. Elmedin Kikanovic scored 28 points and 5 rebounds (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field) to lead the charge for the winners. The best for the losing side was Delwan Graham with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 11 rebounds. Al Shurtah's coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Defending Lebanese champion maintains first position with 2-0 record. Al Shurtah at the other side still closes the standings with two games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

Group Gulf

Shabab Al Ahli - Al-Manama 67-73

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of UAE Shabab Al Ahli (2-1) in Dubai on Monday night. Hosts were defeated by Bahrain Al-Manama (3-0) 73-67. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Shabab Al Ahli. It was a key game for the top position in the league. The best player for the winners was point guard Mustafa Rashed (177-2002) who scored 29 points. American forward Tony Farmer (201-1994, college: Lee JC) chipped in 16 points and 8 rebounds. Al-Manama's coach used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was American Nick Minnerath (207-1988, college: Detroit) who recorded a double-double by scoring 26 points and 10 rebounds and his fellow American import swingman Chavaughn Lewis (195-1993, college: Marist) added 15 points and 7 rebounds respectively. Al-Manama have a solid three-game winning streak. Defending Bahrain champion maintains first position with 3-0 record, which they share with Kuwait and Gorgan. Defending UAE champion Shabab Al Ahli keeps the second place with one game lost. They share the position with Al-Muharraq and Sagesse. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Shabab Al Ahli: N.Minnerath 26+10reb, C.Lewis 15+7reb+1ast, Q.Alshabebi 12+9reb+1ast, M.Alajmani 6+2reb+2ast, A.Abdulelah 4, B.Assane 2+1reb+1ast
Al-Manama: R.Mustafa 29+4reb+2ast, T.Farmer 16+8reb, A.Haji 10+1reb+2ast, R.Ali 4+1reb+2ast, M.Hamooda 4+3reb+2ast, S.Pointer 4+9reb+4ast

Al Shamal - Kazma 75-101

Another exciting game was played in Doha between fourth ranked Kuwaiti Kazma and one of their biggest challengers Qatari Al Shamal where Kazma (1-2) crushed Al Shamal (0-3) on the road with 26-point difference 101-75. Kazma players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Al Shamal's players. It was a good game for American power forward Clinton Chapman (208-1989, college: Texas, agency: Diamond Sports) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 13 rebounds. The other American import swingman Travis Leslie (193-1990, college: Georgia) contributed with 25 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Five Kazma players scored in double figures. Kazma's coach felt very confident that he used 11 players and allowed the starting five to rest. Nigerian point guard Uchenna Iroegbu (183-1996, college: Stony Brook) replied with 27 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and Palestinian-Canadian forward Shane Osayande (200-1993, college: Saskatchewan) added 7 points and 16 rebounds in the effort for Al Shamal. Kazma left bottom position moving up to third place, which they share with Al Rayyan and Al Ittihad. It was Al Shamal's third loss in a row. They still close the standings with three games lost. They share the position with Al Ahli and Al Naft. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Al Shamal: U.Iroegbu 27+6reb+4ast, M.Talla 15+5reb+1ast, T.Harris 12+10reb+2ast, A.Mohammed 8+2reb+1ast, S.Osayande 7+16reb+2ast, A.Jassim 6+2reb
Kazma: T.Leslie 25+7reb+3ast, C.Chapman 21+13reb+2ast, M.Rebec 15+7reb+6ast, A.Albaloushi 13+2reb+4ast, A.Abdulaziz 11+3reb+4ast, R.Abdulaziz 7+1reb+1ast

Group West Asia

Al Shurtah - Al Riyadi 83-115

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Baghdad. Top-ranked Lebanese Al Riyadi faced 3rd ranked Iraqi Al Shurtah. Guests from Beirut (2-0) smashed host Al Shurtah (0-2) 115-83. Al Riyadi forced 24 Al Shurtah turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 18 passes made by Al Shurtah's players. Bosnian center Elmedin Kikanovic (211-1988) scored 28 points and 5 rebounds (on 13-of-17 shooting from the field) to lead the charge for the winners and Palestinian power forward Sani Sakakini (204-1988) chipped in 26 points and 6 rebounds (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line) during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward Delwan Graham (200-1988, college: Jacksonville, agency: BIG) with a double-double by scoring 21 points and 11 rebounds and his fellow American import Lamont Jones (183-1990, college: Iona, agency: Diamond Sports) scored 21 points and 8 assists. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Al Shurtah's coach gave up on the game allowing to play ten players seeing no chance for a win. Defending Lebanese champion maintains first position with 2-0 record. Al Shurtah at the other side still closes the standings with two games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Al Shurtah: L.Jones 21+4reb+8ast, D.Graham 21+11reb+3ast, H.Abdullah 12+1reb+1ast, A.Ismael 11+8reb+1ast, H.Talib 10+3reb+3ast, B.Wesley 8+2reb+2ast
Al Riyadi: E.Kikanovic 28+5reb, S.Sakakini 26+6reb+1ast, K.Zeinoun 18+4reb+2ast, W.Arakji 17+5reb+11ast, B.Tabbara 10+2reb+2ast, M.Harris 10+8reb+2ast