New Jersey (North): Damascus (D2)

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Power Ranking By Week
WEEK RECORD RANK COMMENTS
Week 8 2-6 11
Damascus competed with Cairo before falling 77–63, and the second half showed both the fight and the limitation. Omar Singer kept trying to create structure, while Corey Chandler gave them the scoring pressure they needed to stay within reach. Ibrhahim O and Omar Elsamna still give Damascus a defensive backbone, but Cairo’s balance eventually stretched the floor and forced too many difficult possessions. The encouraging part is that Damascus is finding more pockets of offense and showing more ways to stay competitive. To climb, those flashes have to become longer scoring stretches, with cleaner spacing, better offensive decisions, and more support around Singer and Chandler, especially with Omar Qasem now injured.
Week 7 2-5 11
Damascus finally got rewarded for their defensive identity with a 64–56 win over Istanbul. Omar Singer gave them needed organization, Omar Qasem and Corey Chandler supplied important scoring, and Ibrhahim O / Omar Elsamna helped keep the physical tone that has been there even during losses. The difference this week was the second half: 35 points, cleaner possessions, and enough execution to turn stops into actual separation. Damascus still has work to do offensively, but this was a reminder that when they find even moderate scoring support, their defense can carry them to wins.
Week 6 1-5 12
Damascus drops another low-scoring result, 51–38 to Gaza, but the defense still gave them enough resistance to stay within reach for stretches. Corey Chandler had to carry too much of the creation burden, while Ibrhahim O and Omar Elsamna helped keep the physical, defense-first identity intact. The issue is becoming sharper each week: when the offense only gets to 38, every turnover, rushed shot, and missed finish feels magnified. Damascus needs another advantage-maker, cleaner spacing, and more easy offense early in possessions before every trip turns into a grind against a set defense.
Week 5 1-4 13
 
Damascus dropped a winnable-feeling game to Lahore, 63–50, and the same theme showed up again: the effort is there, but the offense still gets stuck for long stretches. Omar Singer gave them creation, Mohamed Miraoui put together a strong performance, and Ibrhahim O / Omar Elsamna helped keep the defensive identity alive. Without Corey Chandler’s scoring punch, though, Damascus struggled to generate enough easy baskets once the game started to separate. They compete hard enough to hang around; now they need cleaner spacing, more reliable shot creation, and another advantage-maker to turn those competitive stretches into actual wins.
Week 4 1-3 11

31–54 vs. Granada, and they never found consistent creation. Without Corey Chandler, Omar Singer felt like the only reliable offensive lever; still, the defense kept competing even when the offense stalled. The identity is solid — but they need more players who can bend the defense and create easier looks before the game turns into mud.
Week 3 1-2 11

70–58 loss to Islamabad, and the story was shot creation. They had to grind for everything, while Islamabad got easier looks off advantage basketball. Omar Singer is still the key to lifting the offense, and the defense remains legit behind Ibrhahim O and Omar Elsamna — disciplined, physical, connected. If they can manufacture easier early offense (before the game gets muddy), the results will follow.
Week 2 1-1 9

Damascus grabbed a much-needed win over Beirut (64–62) in a grinder. Captain Omar Singer had them tough and connected, and with Ibrhahim O + Omar Elsamna setting the defense-first tone, they executed just enough late to steal it. If they can keep that defensive identity while getting steadier scoring from Omar Singer and Corey Chandler, they won’t be stuck in the middle for long.
Week 1 0-1 14
 
Damascus ran into a buzzsaw vs. Mombasa (33–61). Even shorthanded, the defense-first crew still brings that identity — Ibrhahim O and Omar Elsamna are going to make teams work — but you can’t live on stops alone. When Omar Singer comes back, he can juice the offense; if they also protect the ball, they’ll be a tougher out than this score suggests.
Preseason 0-0 14
Physical and disciplined, with a defense-first identity led by Ibrhahim O and Omar Elsamna that travels anywhere. Offense comes easier with a speedy guard like Omar Singer, but if they win the rebounding battle and limit turnovers, Damascus will be a tough out every week.