BASKETBALL – MUHARRAQ will take on Kuwait Club in a top-of-the-table Group A clash in the 2023-24 West Asia Super League (WASL)-Gulf Region at the Shaikh Saad Al Abdullah Sport Hall Complex in Kuwait tonight.
The Bahraini club are currently second in the four-team table with five points from two wins and a loss after three games, behind Kuwait Club, who have six points from three consecutive wins.
Muharraq, who finished as runners-up to Manama – the WASL defending champions – in both the 2022-23 Zain Basketball League and the 2022-23 Khalifa bin Salman Cup last season, are participating for the first time in the WASL, which is in its second season.
But Muharraq’s debut game at home last November resulted in a disheartening 108-92 loss to Kuwait Club, meaning that the Bahraini team will be seeking to avenge that defeat when they step on to the court tonight for the return fixture.
It didn’t take Muharraq long to bounce back from their opening game debacle, however, as, just two weeks later, they overcame Al Ahli-Jeddah (currently last in the table with three points from three consecutive defeats) 94-80, also at home, to register their first WASL-Gulf Region win.
Then, in mid-December, Muharraq notched up their second win in a row by defeating Qatar’s Al Rayyan (currently third in the standings with four points from one win and two defeats) 79-65 in Doha.
Wilkerson ... star performer for Muharraq
The star player for Muharraq in all three of their games thus far has been the 6’8” American power forward Tyler Wilkerson who has truly been on song this season, scoring 34 points to go along with 12 rebounds and four assists in the loss to Kuwait Club; 21 points with 14 rebounds and three assists in the win over Al Ahli-Jeddah and 19 points with two rebounds in the victory over Al Rayyan.
Meanwhile, Kuwait Club will be seeking to keep their winning streak going with the backing of the home crowd sure to create extra pressure for their opponents.
In late November, they followed up their victory over Muharraq with a dominant 85-62 win over Al Rayyan at home and then hammered Al Ahli-Jeddah 110-92 in an away fixture in Jeddah a fortnight later.
The 6’4” Kuwaiti power forward Mohammad Hasan has been the key player for his team, scoring 15 points to go with seven rebounds against Muharraq; 20 points along with six rebounds and one assist against Al Rayyan and a whopping 36 points with six rebounds and five assists in the comprehensive win against Al Ahli-Jeddah.
Meanwhile, Manama, who remain undefeated across competitions this season, lead the Group B table with six points from three straight wins and will play Kuwait’s Kazma Club in the return fixture at the same venue on January 15.
Kazma are in third place with four points from one win and two defeats behind Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai, who have five points from two wins and a 73-67 loss to Manama in Dubai three weeks ago.
Qatar’s Al Shamal Club are at the bottom of the table with three points from three consecutive defeats.