Golnoor 75-81 Pas Kurdistan: the comeback fell six points short

Sanandaj, Thursday 7 Aban, 17:00. Golnoor Isfahan were the guests of Pas Kurdistan in week two of Iran's men's Premier League (1405-06 season) and lost the game 81-75.

First half: a 13-point gap

Pas Kurdistan took the first quarter 23-17 and stretched the lead with a 23-16 second quarter, going into the break 46-33 up. In those 20 minutes Golnoor never found their attacking rhythm and could not stop Pas from scoring.

Second half: a comeback that came up short

Golnoor were a different team after the break. They took the third quarter 24-19 and the fourth 18-16, winning the second half 42-35. But the 13-point hole from the first half was too deep, and Pas Kurdistan closed out an 81-75 win.

Sabouri the best player on the floor

Farhad Sabouri led Golnoor with 22 points, five rebounds and two assists, and his performance index of 25 made him the game's best player. Mehdi Aghajani added 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Kiasha Taheri had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Saleh Moradian chipped in nine points, eight rebounds and three assists. Marko Perovic finished with seven points and eight rebounds.

The stats: decided from three

Golnoor made 27 of 61 shots (44%): 20 of 39 from two and seven of 22 from three. Pas Kurdistan made 29 of 64 (45%): 20 of 36 from two and nine of 28 from three. Both teams scored exactly 14 points at the line, Golnoor on 14 of 25 and Pas on 14 of 17. With two-pointers and free throws level, the whole six-point margin came from Pas making two more threes.

Golnoor out-rebounded Pas 39-36 and recorded 16 assists, seven steals and four blocks, with 14 turnovers.

A young squad with room to grow

Golnoor, coached by Aren Davoudi, are a young side still building towards where they want to be in the Premier League. This is a second defeat in the opening two weeks, but a second half won 42-35 in Sanandaj shows a team that keeps fighting to the last second, and that is something to build on.