MANAMA eliminated arch-rivals Muharraq from the 38th Gulf Clubs Basketball Championship yesterday, following a thrilling 89-82 victory in an all-Bahraini semi-final played at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat.
After a tight first half, Manama used a strong third quarter to pull away from their rivals and build a healthy lead. They did well in the final period to hold on to that advantage, and had an answer for Muharraq each time they tried to mount a late comeback.
American professional Terrell Stoglin was the star of the game. He was Manama’s top scorer and he sparked a crucial run that sealed the win for Manama after Muharraq fought back to within three, 72-75, with around just four minutes left to play.
Stoglin replied with five straight points and assisted Bahraini forward Mohammed Kuwayed on a fastbreak lay-up to put them back in the lead by double-digits.
Muharraq got back to within seven the rest of the way but came no closer.
With the result, Manama move on to the title game where they will face Sharjah of the UAE.
The Emirati outfit defeated Qatar’s Al Rayyan 90-86 in the other final four clash last night.
The final is scheduled to take place today at 4pm, Bahrain time. It will follow the game for third place between Muharraq and Rayyan at 2pm.
The winner of the championship will also earn a berth in the Fiba Asia Champions Cup, to be held in China in September later this year.
The Gulf clubs tiff acted as the regional qualifier for the Fiba Asia showcase.
Stoglin was once again the top focal point of Manama’s offence, finishing the contest with an impressive 40 points. He also had four three-pointers, five rebounds and three steals.
Seven-foot, two-inch countryman Loren Woods chipped in with just eight points but took down 21 rebounds and had two block shots in controlling the paint.
Kuwayed was Manama’s only other player in double figures with 14. Hassan Nowrooz contributed nine markers.
For Muharraq, US import Demarius Bolds almost matched Stoglin’s output with 39 points. He also had eight rebounds and four assists.
Sudanese-born Australian-Lebanese big man Ater Majok finished with 12 points and 17 rebounds, while the Bahraini backcourt of Ali Abbas and Bader Abdulla Malabes had 16 and 10, respectively, in the losing effort.
Three-pointer
Bolds buried a three-pointer right before the first quarter buzzer to cut Manama’s lead to 20-25 at the end of the period.
The winners later held on to their five-point advantage at 41-36 at the half with a Stoglin driving layup.
Manama then came out in the third quarter firing on all cylinders, and a Nowrooz triple made it 46-36.
Bolds made an emphatic end to the period with a two-handed slam dunk but Manama continued to lead, 69-57.
In the final canto, Muharraq fought back gradually and used an 8-0 run, capped by an Abbas mid-range jump shot to make it 72-75.
That set the stage for Stoglin’s heroics and Manama’s decisive end-game rally.