MANAMA outlasted a battling Muharraq 63-61 last night to take a commanding two-game lead in their best-of-five finals series in the Zain Bahrain Basketball League.
Seven-foot Georgian professional Nikoloz Tskitishvili made the go-ahead basket with 14 seconds to go, but then a horrific turnover on an inbounds play by Muharraq cost them their chance of staying in the game.
Manama’s Hassan Nowrooz was then fouled with just two seconds left. He missed both free-throws, the second intentionally, with Muharraq having no remaining time-outs. Veteran forward Mohammed Hassan was left with no choice but to try and heave the ball full court as the buzzer sounded.
Tskitishvili top scored for his team with 19 points. He also took down 15 rebounds and blocked three shots. Team captain Mohammed Hussain contributed 15 and was eight-of-nine from the charity stripe as the only other Manama player in double figures.
Mohammed Kuwayed added seven in the win, while Nowrooz and back-up big man Mohammed Ameer contributed five points apiece.
Muharraq point guard Ahmed Hassan finished with a game-high 22 points, including an impressive four-of-nine from beyond the arc, to pace his side in the losing effort.
Bahamas import Kadeem Colbey finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks but it wasn’t enough to help get their team over the hump. Ali Abbas chipped in with 11 off the bench while Bader Abdulla Malabes had a valiant eight markers.
Following yesterday’s result and their 83-74 victory in game one, Manama moved one win away from sweeping the finals and claiming the league crown for the fifth successive year. Game three is scheduled for April 18 next week.
Last night’s encounter was a heated and physical affair.
Both teams got off to a rocky start and could barely buy a basket early on, finishing the first quarter tied at 8-apiece. Manama picked it up in the second when they took a 15-12 lead midway through before extending it to a comfortable 33-23 advantage at the half.
But just as quickly as they fell behind, Muharaq turned things around and rallied in the start of the third period. They eventually took a slim one-point advantage, 47-46, heading in the nail-biting final canto.
Both teams exchanged blows over the exciting closing minutes of the game. A Malabes lay-up gave Muharraq a 51-50 lead, but Hussain answered on the very next possession with a three-pointer to put Manama ahead 53-51.
After tying things at 53, Manama went on a 5-0 spurt but Hassan answered with a triple to get things back to within a basket.
Later, with under a minute to play, Abbas gave Muharraq a 61-60 edge with a stunning three-pointer in transition and just 49 seconds on the game clock.
A pair of Hussain free-throws then tied it for Manama at 61-all, paving the way for Tskitishvili’s late-game heroics, which was the eventual winning basket.
The game had 12 lead changes and was tied nine times. Manama finished with a huge advantage on fast break points, scoring 21 while holding Muharraq to just three.