Muslim Basketball

Damascus earned one of its best wins of the season by turning defense into offense all game long. Holding Mahrooz and Shafic under 30 combined points was the difference. Husan poured in 24 points, while Mikail Chowdhury added a crucial 12-point performance, helping Damascus secure an impressive victory over the former champs.

With the return of superstar Abdul Ghanee, Delhi looked like a completely different team in this Game of the Week. Abdul Ghanee exploded for 37 points, earning Player of the Week honors and instantly putting the league on notice. Chris quietly anchored both ends of the floor with strong playmaking and defense as Delhi picked up a huge win to bring them up in the rankings. 

This wasn't the championship-caliber performance we've come to expect from Mombasa. Frustration boiled over throughout the game, resulting in three technical fouls—including two on Mahrooz—which completely shifted the momentum. The emotional collapse led to poor shot selection, turnovers, and ultimately a disappointing loss.

Jerusalem reminded everyone why they're one of the league's toughest defensive teams. Holding Tripoli to just 9 points in an entire half speaks for itself. After a slow start to the season, they've now won four games and are finding their rhythm. Ehsan Popal led the way with 18 points, while Big Moose chipped in 14 as Jerusalem continues to trend upward.

If Akshay isn't in your Most Improved Player conversation, it's time to rethink it. He erupted for an incredible 27 points and 12 rebounds, scoring from everywhere on the floor. When Kabul has its full roster available, they're proving week after week that they're capable of beating anyone. 

Granada's second-half rally wasn't enough after digging themselves too deep a hole early against a 1-4 Istanbul squad. Omar Abassi and Towfeek carried the offense, but little scoring came from the rest of the lineup. The rebounding battle was even more concerning, with Istanbul nearly doubling Granada's total. In a crowded race at the top, this is one they'll wish they had back.

Islamabad finally caught a break, taking down a Mattias-less Gaza to climb back to .500 at 3-3. Jamall flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Aymen controlled the paint with 12 rebounds. It's been an up-and-down start for a team many expected to top the standings, but if they can build momentum over the next three weeks, they'll still be a dangerous playoff team.

Beirut made it three straight wins with a convincing victory over a short-handed Amman squad. While the result comes with an asterisk given Amman only had four players, Beirut still handled business from start to finish. Ronny, Elton, and Omar continue to fuel one of the hottest teams in the league as they surge back into the playoff picture.

For one half, Tripoli looked ready to give Jerusalem a battle. Then everything unraveled. They managed just 9 second-half points while Jerusalem exploded for 36, turning a competitive game into a runaway. Marawan returned with 9 points and 12 rebounds, but without the Shah brothers, Tripoli couldn't generate enough offense. Against a team as deep as Jerusalem, that's a tough recipe.

The formula has become pretty clear: without Mattias, Gaza struggles to close games. Sami Butt continues to shine, averaging 16 PPG, and Usman is putting together a great MB season, but the offense falls off quickly beyond those two. If Gaza wants to make a deep playoff run, they'll need the entire team to consistently step up when their superstar isn't on the floor.

A much-needed win for Istanbul, who stayed composed despite Granada's late push. Ahmed Kasana continued his dominant season with a powerful 20-point, 16-rebound performance, proving once again he's one of Central's premier big men. Rahman Hussaini also delivered a season-high 15 points to go with 6 rebounds, giving Istanbul the secondary scoring they've been searching for.

Despite another strong showing from Ahmed Ismaeli (26 points, 13 rebounds) and 18 points from Alex Lorenzo, Cairo couldn't match Delhi's firepower. The talent is clearly there, but getting consistent production from the supporting cast remains the biggest hurdle. Until that changes, Cairo may continue letting winnable games slip away.

Another week, another game without the MacKnight brothers and Anas. Playing with just four players made this one an uphill battle from the opening tip, but credit to Amman for competing until the end. If this team can finally get healthy and available, they still have the talent to make noise. It was also great to see Omar Abuattieh back in uniform.

The losses continue to pile up for Lahore, but finding just one win before the playoffs could completely change their confidence. Waheed did everything he could with 18 points and 17 rebounds, and if he keeps producing at that level, Lahore may finally break through before postseason play begins.