ZOUK MIKAEL (Lebanon) - Shahrdari Gorgan achieved their first victory in the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) Final 8 2026, defeating Al Arabi SC 85-76 on Tuesday at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex. This win revives Gorgan's hopes for the Semi-Finals after their initial loss to Sagesse SC, improving their record to 1-1.
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In the fourth quarter, Navid Rezaeifar and Jordan Stevens led the charge for Gorgan, helping to secure the win. Coach Mehran Hatami praised his team's unity, stating, "My players fight as one. Our team was not dependent on one individual. We played as a team, and we won."
Rezaeifar was the top scorer for Gorgan, contributing 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting and grabbing 7 rebounds. Sajjad Pazirofteh, returning from injury, also made a significant impact with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds, earning the Capelli Sport Player of the Game award. Pazirofteh's key basket late in the third quarter helped Gorgan take the lead, and Rezaeifar's subsequent layup extended the margin.
The team mounted a strong 12-4 run in the fourth quarter, with Gorgan establishing a 71-60 lead. D'Angelo Harrison's consecutive three-pointers widened the gap to 17 points, sealing the game for Gorgan.
Stevens added 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Harrison also scored 12 points. Gorgan's collaborative effort proved essential for their victory this time.
After the match, Rezaeifar reflected on their prior performance, noting they lacked sufficient practice together. "Now, we can think about the next game," he said, highlighting the importance of their upcoming match against Al Ula Club on Thursday.
In defeat, Mosti Rashed led Al Arabi with a game-high 24 points, while Sindou Diallo added 20 points. Abdulrahman Saad contributed 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, with Elmedin Kikanovic scoring 13 points and 12 rebounds as Al Arabi fell to 0-2 in the tournament, putting their Semi-Final hopes in jeopardy.