MUHARRAQ and Al Ahli both registered big wins last night in their season-opening games of the 2018-19 Zain Bahrain Basketball League, being played at Zain Arena in Um Al Hassam.
Muharraq made easy work of an overmatched Isa Town 96-62, while a new-look Ahli team did the same against lowly Samaheej in a 106-76 rout.
Following yesterday’s results, Muharraq and Ahli joined defending champions Manama, Riffa, Al Ettihad and Nuwaidrat as winners in the first week of the new season.
League action continues on Monday next week with another two games on the cards.
In Muharraq’s game against Isa Town, the winners came out firing and built a mammoth 28-11 advantage at the end of the first quarter and never looked back. Another strong showing in the final period, where they outscored Isa Town by 16, 30-14, to end the game on a high note.
Point guard Ahmed Aldurazi top scored for Muharraq with 15 points. He also had six rebounds and eight assists, but also committed six turnovers.
Muharraq had four other players finish in double figures in the game. American professional Sea Williams finished with 14 points, 22 rebounds, six assists and a monster eight blocked shots. Bader Abdulla Malabes had 1 3. Kadhem Majid chipped in with 10 points in the win.
On the other end, Ahmed Salman was the lone offensive weapon for Isa Town in the contest. He scored 25 points but received little help from his teammates.
Muharraq enjoyed a biggest lead of 44 points in the game.
Meanwhile, Ahli were just as dominant in their game against Samaheej.
Ahli were already well ahead of their opponents at the end of the first period, and they continued to roll from there. This, despite playing now playing in their frist season without the services of long-time star point guard Hussain Shaker, who has moved to arch-rivals Manama. Ahli have also lost influential forward Subah Hussain, who has switched to Riffa.
Amongst the key Ahli additions were new court general Ahmed Ali and veteran big man Ahmed Al Mutawa.
Ahli finished the first half boasting a commanding 50-30 advantage, and had a lead as big as 37 en route to the final whistle.
Hasan Ali Alsayed top scored with 25 points for Ahli. He made three three-pointers on the night, and also had eight rebounds and three steals.
Hesham Sarhan added another 20 markers including five assists and three steals. Ali Aqeel had 19 while Sayed Hashim chipped in with 10 points, five rebounds and eight assists.
Ahmed Fateel paced Samaheej with 22 points in the defeat, while Hussain Busafwan added 18, six rebounds and nine assists.
The league games on Monday see Manama take on Bahrain Club followed by Sitra battling Ettihad.