HOSTS Egypt defeated Algeria 69-62 last night in the opening game of the 23rd Arab Men’s Basketball Championship, being held in Cairo.
The Egyptians held a narrow 51-47 lead heading into the final quarter and did well to close the game out and make a winning start.
Tournament action continues today with two games on the cards. The Algerians will be looking to bounce back from yesterday’s loss when they take on the UAE in the early game at 6pm, Bahrain time. In the late fixture, Bahrain go head to head with Saudi Arabia at 8pm.
Following Bahrain’s game tonight, they next take on Egypt on Saturday. They then face Algeria on Monday, before battling the UAE on Tuesday in their final first round game.
The five-nation tournament features a single round-robin for its opening stage. The top four move on to the knockout semi-finals, with the winners of those games facing off in the title contest.
Bahrain are playing in Cairo with a new-look side, as their roster features a mix of youngsters and their international regulars.