MANAMA outclassed Al Ahli 86-79 last night to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five championship series in the Zain Bahrain Basketball League.
The victors led from start to finish and staved off a late rally against their bitter rivals. They moved one step forward towards defending their crown and securing five successive national titles.
Manama will be looking to go two games up while Ahli will be determined to level the proceedings when game two takes place on Sunday, also at the Khalifa Sports City arena in Isa Town.
Manama skipper Mohammed Hussain banked in a back-breaking jumper from mid-range with 19 seconds to go to help seal the win. Ahli turned the ball over on the ensuing possession and big man Mohamed Ameer picked up the loose back and strolled to the basket for an emphatic two-handed slam dunk. Ahli court general Hussain Shaker made one of two free-throws to peg the final score before the final buzzer.
American import Wayne Chism and Bahraini superstar Mohammed Kuwayed combined for 45 points to spearhead the victors.
Chism finished with 23 including five triples. He also took down 13 rebounds, dished out four assists while also registering two steals and two blocks before fouling out of the game with only seconds remaining.
Kuwayed came away with 22 markers including three three-pointers. He also had four assists and three steals.
Big man Mohammed Ameer chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds, while the sweet-shooting Maytham Jameel came off the bench to contribute 11 markers and nine rebounds. He was their only other player in double figures.
Ahli were paced by their own Bahraini-American tandem in court general Hussain Shaker and seven-foot, two-inch import Loren Woods, who combined for 46 points.
Shaker had a 24-point effort, while Woods enjoyed another monster night on both ends of the floor with 22 points and 20 rebounds. That would not be enough, however, as they received little help from elsewhere with only Kadhem Majed scoring 10 or more points.
Star guard Hesham Sarhan had a horrendous night from the floor, shooting just one-of-nine and finishing with four markers. Ahli never led in the game but faced deficits of up to 15.
Manama controlled the game from start to finish and enjoyed leads of up to 15 points. They took a 19-11 advantage at the end of the first quarter, and then after Ahli fought back to 23-27, Chism made it a double-digit deficit once again with back-to-back baskets from beyond the arc.
Manama led 39-33 at the half and in the third maintained a healthy gap from their rivals. They headed into the final canto up 64-54, and in the payoff period did just enough to keep Ahli at bay.