BAHRAIN lock horns with Algeria tonight in one semi-final game of the 23rd Arab Men’s Basketball Championship, being held in Cairo.
The contest is scheduled for a 7pm tip-off, Bahrain time. The winners move on to the title-deciding clash tomorrow.
The other final four affair will be between hosts Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Their game will start at 5pm.
The gold medal game tomorrow is scheduled for an 8pm tip. It will be held following the bronze medal contest at 6pm.
The official closing ceremony and podium presentation is scheduled to be held right after.
Heading into tomorrow’s semis, Bahrain will be looking to bounce back from a loss in their final game of the elimination round against the UAE. The nationals had already clinched their berth in the last four prior to their game, and head coach Salman Ramadhan fielded a young team to close out against the Emiratis.
Both Bahrain and Algeria finished with identical 2-2 win-loss records. Bahrain won their head to head against the Algerians 99-68 during the eliminations.
The Bahrainis had training yesterday under head coach Salman Ramadhan. They will today once again be relying heavily on naturalised big man Wayne Chism, as well as top talents Mohammed Kuwayed, Ahmed Abdulaziz, Maytham Jameel, Mohammed Ameer, Mohammed Buallay, Ahmed Hassan and Ali Shukralla; and rising young stars Mustafa Hussain, Mozamel Ameer, Ahmed Khalifa and Sayed Mohammed Hameed.
Bahrain were the runners-up in the last edition of the tournament after losing to Egypt in the final. They hope to do better this year.