Aaman Soma Takes Center Stage in an Unforgettable Week of MBL Action
If there is one thing we know about this league, it’s that the box score can’t always capture the intensity, but every once in a while, a performance comes along that is simply undeniable. This week, that performance belonged to Aaman Soma. Leading the Washed Kings in a nail-biting showdown against Levant, Soma was an absolute force, putting up a massive 24 points and 12 rebounds. Shooting an efficient 9-of-16 from the floor, he kept his composure when it mattered most, finishing the game with a staggering 46.9 Game Score. It was the kind of total-package effort that defines a Sunday night at Open Gym Premier, showing exactly why he earns our top honors this time around.
Washed Kings 60, Levant 58
The headliner of the night lived up to every bit of the hype. Aaman Soma anchored the Washed Kings’ narrow win, but he certainly had help, as Waqas Anis chipped in 12 points and Rehan Bokhari added 8 points with some critical defensive stops. Levant fought tooth and nail to stay in it, led by Ravi Sharma’s 22-point barrage and Ali Ankir’s 16-point, 7-rebound effort. Anthony Shallowhorn controlled the interior with 9 boards for the Levant side, but the Kings managed to hold off the late charge to secure the two-point victory. It was a game defined by small margins and high stakes, with the Kings just finding enough daylight to escape with the win.
Bucket Cartel 60, The Last Dance 43
Bucket Cartel showed everyone why they are sitting near the top of the standings with a methodical dismantling of The Last Dance. Yasseen Elmeligui was the clear catalyst, dropping 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting while snagging 8 rebounds in a dominant display. Ayaan Ismail provided a reliable secondary scoring option with 10 points, and Yousif Zanana contributed 9 points and 3 boards to keep the pressure on. The Last Dance struggled to find a rhythm offensively, though Raja Rabat put up a team-high 16 points and Irfan Anwar worked hard for 8 points and 5 rebounds. Ultimately, the Cartel’s balanced attack proved to be too much for the Dance to handle.
Legal Lions 75, My Condolences 54
In a game where the offense seemed to click from the opening whistle, the Legal Lions cruised to a 21-point victory over My Condolences. Jacob Guzman paced the Lions with 19 points and 6 rebounds, while Eesa Baig proved nearly impossible to stop, adding 16 points and connecting on 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. Rafay Shahid and Wajeeh Mahmood were efficient contributors, helping the Lions pull away early. For My Condolences, Yanal Zakarni led the way with 17 points, followed closely by Yahya Azar’s 15-point, 7-rebound performance. Despite their efforts, the Lions’ depth and superior shooting percentage kept them in the driver’s seat for all four quarters.
PTSD 72, Al Aqsanauts 60
PTSD leaned on a total team effort to keep the Al Aqsanauts at arm’s length throughout their Sunday matchup. Humza Shariff was the anchor, recording a double-double with 13 points and 12 boards, while Poyesh Rahmani orchestrated the offense with 15 points and 7 assists. Yahia Sufian was the team’s leading scorer, pouring in 18 points on efficient shooting. The Al Aqsanauts kept things competitive thanks to Sabri Elfarra’s 17 points and Amer Bishara’s 13-point outing, but they couldn't overcome the rebounding deficit. Jad Shehadeh also provided a nice spark off the bench for PTSD, adding 12 points to help seal the 12-point win.
Most Hated 78, Akhwan 68
It turned into a true track meet when Most Hated took on Akhwan, resulting in a high-octane 146 combined points. Most Hated relied on a lethal perimeter attack, with Anthony Newman lighting it up for 24 points—including 6-of-12 from deep—and Omar Almoukdad adding 22 points of his own. Arman Nazarzai was also on fire, finishing with 16 points. Despite the loss, Akhwan’s Adam Torki had an absolute night to remember, single-handedly keeping them in the game with 29 points and a lights-out 6-of-11 from three-point range. Aamir Ansari added 19 points for Akhwan, but Most Hated’s shooting barrage was simply too consistent to match.
Poole Party 61, Gaza City 48
Poole Party kept their momentum going with a solid 13-point victory over Gaza City. Ayman Suliman took the lead for the winners, finishing with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Norris Marusca and Azaan Khan chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively. Poole Party’s ability to share the ball and find the open man was the difference-maker. Gaza City received a gritty effort from Soloman Awad, who stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, 5 boards, and 6 assists, while Mason Jones added a near double-double with 11 points and 9 rebounds. Even with that effort, Gaza City couldn't bridge the gap as Poole Party’s defense tightened up in the second half.
League Honors and Looking Ahead
The stat sheets were packed this week, but it was Adam Torki who matched Soma for the highest offensive ceiling with his 29-point outburst. When it comes to cleaning the glass, no one was better than Humza Shariff, who pulled down 12 boards to anchor his team's interior defense. We also saw some elite playmaking, with Poyesh Rahmani dishing out 7 assists and Kevin El Basri proving his value with 6 assists and 8 rebounds. Player of the Week: Aaman Soma (Washed Kings), who posted a massive 24 points, 12 rebounds, and a 46.9 Game Score.
Looking ahead, all eyes turn to the standings as teams start to eye the playoff picture. With Most Hated sitting at an unblemished 4-0, their continued dominance has made them the team to beat. We are keeping a close watch on the upcoming battle between Bucket Cartel (3-1) and Poole Party (3-1), a matchup of two teams with identical records who are both looking to prove they have what it takes to climb to the top of the ladder.