Iranian Basketball Super League Finals:
Shahrdari Gorgan crowned champion after Game 3 victory
Shahrdari Gorgan claimed the Iranian Basketball Super League title, thanks to a 98-95 home victory over Tabiat Eslamshahr in the second overtime in a thrilling Game 3 on Monday.
Arsalan Kazemi stole the show with a double-double (14 points and 24 rebounds) as Shahrdari won the best-of-five series 3-0 to send a packed home arena into frenzy and make up for last year’s loss to Tabiat in the Finals.
Desperate for a lifeline in the third game, Tabiat got off to flying start and won the first quarter 23-20 before leading by 60-54 at halftime.
Shahrdari rallied from behind to take a 76-74 lead with 14 seconds remaining, before a couple of free throws with seven second left helped Tabiat force the game into overtime.
The first overtime finished at 85-85, but Mobin Sheikhi dropped a three-pointer with 31 seconds left in the second OT to open a five-point gap for the host, which held on to win 98-95.
Shahrdari had won the first game of the finals 81-78 last Wednesday, before routing Tabiat 100-73 in Game 2 on Friday – with both games staged at Tehran’s Mahmoud Mashhoun Arena.
Having finished fourth in the regular season standings, Shahrdari eased past Golnour Isfahan 3-0 in the first round of the playoffs, and then came from behind to beat Kaleh Mazandaran 3-1 in the best-of-five semifinal series.
Tabiat, meanwhile, stood runner-up to Kaleh in the 11-team table and went on to beat Payesh Part Shahrud for a last-four spot.
Mehran Shahintab’s men won the semifinal series 3-1 against Palayesh Naft Abadan.