BAHRAIN and Saudi Arabia posted mammoth victories last night in the Fiba Asia Cup 2021 Pre-Qualifiers Western Region, being held at Zain Basketball Arena in Um Al Hassam.
The host Bahrainis thrashed Bangladesh by 74 points in a 126-52 rout, while Saudi crushed Sri Lanka by 63, 107-44.
The wins were the second in as many games for both Gulf sides. They are now set to face each other tonight as the pre-qualifiers continue at the same venue. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7pm. The first fixture at 5pm will be between Palestine and Sri Lanka.
All are welcome to attend. Entry is free.
In Bahrain’s big win, the home side showed no mercy as they dominated from the very start.
They enjoyed a 23-13 lead at the end of the first quarter before exploding for 39 points in the second for a commanding 62-32 advantage at the break. In the third period, they didn’t let up, pouring in 34 points while holding Bangladesh to just nine, before cruising in the fourth and sealing the one-sided result.
Their 74-point winning margin was their biggest lead of the game.
Bahrain were red hot from the field, shooting 64 per cent on two-point baskets and 42 per cent on threes, having made a total of 16 from beyond the arc.
They dominated virtually all aspects of the game, including the paint where they scored 60 compared to Bangladesh’s 10. They also had 57 fast-break points while holding their rivals to six, and the bench came up huge with 72 markers, while Bangladesh’s substitutes only scored nine.
All of Bahrain’s players got onto the scoresheet, with eight finishing in double figures. Ahmed Aziz topped the list with 23 points including six three-pointers. Bader Abdulla Malabes and Hasan Gerashi added 14 apiece, while Hesham Sarhan scored 13.
Maytham Jameel and Mohammed Buallay both contributed 11 points, while Mohammed Kuwayed had 10. Hussain Shaker almost posted a triple-double with 10 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
Mohammed Ameer (seven), Subah Hussain (six), Ali Asghar (four) and Ali Shukrallah (three) rounded out the Bahrainis’ scorers.
Mithun Biswas led Bangladesh with 16 in the loss.
In Saudi’s win, they came out of the gates firing on all cylinders and did well to maintain their high level throughout the contest, enjoying leads as high as 65 points.
The Saudis ended the first period already comfortably ahead 28-11, and then they stretched their lead to 52-20 at the interval. Sri Lanka kept things respectable in the third but Saudi closed out strong, powering to a 32-9 fourth quarter.
Thamer Mohammed and Nasser Alabasi both had 18 points to lead the Saudis in their win. Praneeth Udumalagala had his own 18 for Sri Lanka in defeat.