KUALA LUMPUR (Mageshwaran’s AsiaScope) - There are far more significant connotations attached to Zob Ahan's entry into the semifinals of the ongoing 2014 Iran Super League than the Isfahan club redeeming the proud sporting tradition of the steel city.

Surely it's a welcome relief to the thousands of Isfahan fans to see their favorite team return to their reputed stature as a competent team that present a competitive front at the business end of things in the playoffs stages of what is touted as the most competitive league in this part of the world. More so after the team was beleaguered by financial strife in the last couple of seasons that almost saw the disbanding of the team itself by its masters.

Much credit must go to coach Farzad Kouhian for not only putting together a competitive combination but also steering the team past some serious challenges - the three-game see-saw battle in the quarterfinals against the mighty Foolad Mahan is a case in point - to bring the team where they are. As some fans might say, where the team deserves to be.

But the rise of Zob Ahan as much as their presence in the Final Four adds a completely refreshing dimension to Iran's preparation for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup to be played in Spain from Aug 30-Sept 14 itself.

For, Zob Ahan is probably one of those rare teams in Iranian basketball who have always depended more on a defensive strategy to win their games. Not that the other teams don't play defense at all, but just more often than not the tendency to rely - a little too much - on their offensive strength rather the defense discipline has been the hallmark of all the other top teams.

As a matter of fact, all the other three semifinalists - reigning champions Petrochimi, four-time former champions Mahram and Azad University - along with Foolad Mahan have all been guilty of depending a little too hard on their offense.

This year too, the 'D' word has been the key and played a dominant role in Kouhian's scheme of things in a roster that lacks star power.

The only player of note (read in the reckoning for the National Team) is Rouzbeh Arghavan - a player more in the defensive mould - who was more used as a defense relief for Oshin Sahakian at the 27th FIBA Asia Championship in Manila (Philippines) last August when Iran won the gold to qualify for Spain.

That the 'top' players in the other teams in the semifinals will be tested against this defensive web of Kouhian will be a matter of interesting study for Becirovic before he finds the final pieces to his Spain jigsaw.

Mahdi Kamrani, Arsalan Kazemi and Hamed Afagh - who will all suit up for Petrochimi in the semifinals series starting on Sunday - will have a lot to show on how they can cut their flamboyance to break past Zob's defense in presenting their cases to Becirovic.

Again, I know for a fact that an Iranian National Team without any of these three is quite unimaginable, just that they have to cut on their flamboyance and put some serious work into their daily showing in the coming few days.

Zob Ahan have won the Iran Super League nine times in the past and played the Finals on five other occasions. Their return to the top rungs is surely an exciting prospect to the discerning. That, never before their presence at this stage of the League has been more significant makes their presence even more purposeful.

So long…

S Mageshwaran

FIBA Asia

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