Iraq basketball semi-finals: Air Defense and Zakho close to final with wins on Wednesday

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Iraqi Basketball Federation has scheduled two decisive semi-final matches in the professional league for Wednesday evening, in Baghdad and Zakho. Federation member Ala Jabbar said the first game will pit Hashd al-Shaabi against Air Defense at the Armenian Club in Baghdad at 7 p.m., while Zakho will face Naft Maysan at the Zakho arena in the second match. The semi-final series are played in a best-of-three format, with two wins required to advance to the final. Jabbar noted that if Air Defense and Zakho win on Wednesday, each team will reach two victories, taking into account their existing 1-0 leads in their series, and will qualify for the final without a third game being played. If either team loses, the series will be decided in third matches scheduled for May 26, according to the federation. All four clubs will take the court seeking to clear the penultimate stage on the path to the title.