MUHARRAQ defeated Al Ahli 92-86 last night to draw first blood in their best-of-three Golden Square semi-final series in the 2018/2019 Zain Bahrain Basketball League.
The victors used a red-hot third quarter in which they outscored Ahli 31-13 to turn back an early deficit and take control of the contest.
Spearheading them in their victory were the trio of American professional Kevin Murphy and Bahraini standouts Mohammed Juma’a and Bader Abdulla Malabes, who combined for an impressive 80 of Muharraq’s output.
Ahli also didn’t help their cause with a horrible shooting clip of 11-for-25 from the free-throw line. Muharraq were an efficient 15-for-17.
Muharraq now hope to close out the series when they face off with Ahli in game two on Monday next week. That game will be played at the same venue at the Khalifa Sports City arena in Isa Town.
Should Ahli avoid a sweep and force a decisive third game, that is scheduled to take place on Friday next week.
The other Golden Square semi-final series is between reigning national champions Manama and title hopefuls Riffa. They begin their head-to-head today in a game scheduled for a 7.30pm tip-off at Khalifa Sports City.
In last night’s Golden Square opener, Ahli opened the proceedings as the aggressors and managed to build a 26-21 lead at the end of the first quarter.
They marginally extended it in the second to go ahead 50-44 at the half.
But Muharraq responded well and right after the interval had a game-changing rally. They managed to take the lead at 55-54 on a floating jump shot by Murphy midway through the third, sparking an 18-6 surge that helped them take a commanding 73-60 advantage.
They closed out the period up 75-63, and began the fourth with a three-pointer by Juma’a that gave them their biggest lead of the game, 78-63.
Ahli tried valiantly to stay within striking distance and managed to get to within six points, 82-88, on a Marcel Jones lay-up with less than a minute to go. But they could not cut the deficit any further and Muharraq made no mistake in closing out the win.
Murphy had a game-high 31 points, which included four three-pointers. Juma’a added 26 while Malabes chipped in 23. Both Juma’a and Malabes buried three triples each while also taking down six rebounds apiece.
Murphy’s countryman and pro partner CJ Giles had just four points but also grabbed eight rebounds, while star Bahraini guard Ahmed Hassan Aldurazi also had just four points.
Jones paced Ahli with 23 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, while Jordanian Zaid Abbas had 14 and 11.
Bahraini skipper Hesham Sarhan added 10, as did Sayed Hashim Habib who came off the bench.