BAHRAIN’S Manama battled past Saudi Arabia’s Ohod 102-95 last night to march into the semi-finals of the Fiba Asia Champions Cup 2019 Gulf Basketball Association (GBA) Qualifiers, being played at Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town.
The Bahrainis used a strong third quarter to take control of a tight contest and did enough in the final period to hold on to their lead and secure the win.
Bahrain’s other team in the tournament, Al Ahli, could not advance, as they bowed to Al Shamal of Qatar 67-78 in their quarter-final clash yesterday.
Meanwhile, joining Manama and Shamal in the final four were UAE clubs Sharjah and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai. Sharjah defeated Al Seeb of Oman 97-81 to book their seat while Shabab Al Ahli Dubai beat Al Arabi of Qatar 81-73 to move through.
Both semi-finals are scheduled to be played today, as Manama face off with Shabab and Sharjah take on Shamal. The winners get to lock horns in tomorrow’s final, while the losers play for third place, also tomorrow.
In Manama’s victory yesterday, professionals Maciej Lampe of Poland and Terrico White from the US came up big for the Bahraini side. They combined for 57 points to fuel the Manama attack.
Lampe finished the game with a near triple-double, scoring 32 while taking down nine rebounds and dishing out nine assists. White contributed 25 along with four three-pointers, the last of which put Manama ahead 96-86 with three-and-a-half minutes remaining in the game. Ohod got no closer than six the rest of the way.
Manama’s Bahraini sharpshooters Hassan Nowrooz and Maytham Jameel contributed 16 and 12, respectively.
Ohod had 26 points apiece from the American pair of Musa Abdul Aleem and Shane Rector, as well as 23 from Nassir Jalas in the losing effort.
In Ahli’s defeat, the Bahrainis had a horrendous start to the game, allowing Shamal to go up 23-7 at the end of the first quarter. But Ahli gradually fought back, slowly chipping away at the deficit, although they would not get any closer than five points, despite their spirited effort.
American professional Wayne Chism had a valiant 34 points, including four three-pointers, while also grabbing 13 rebounds and registering three blocks and three steals in the loss. American-Kiwi Marcel Jones added 15 points, but Ahli got little help from elsewhere.
Mohamed Harat paced Shamal’s balanced attack with 21 points and 23 rebounds. Omar Salem and Mansour Elhadary contributed 18 apiece, with Salem firing in six triples; while American Jeffery Newberry II had 15.
In Sharjah’s win, Seeb stayed within striking distance for much of the game but the Emiratis took full control in the final quarter to claim their spot in the final four. Sharjah outscored Seeb 27-14 in the fourth to turn the slim 70-67 lead into a blowout.
American Tyler Wilkerson was sizzling hot in the contest, pouring in an impressive 46 points, including five three-pointers, while grabbing 11 rebounds. Fellow-import Marvelle Harris added 24 and nine assists.
Louis Munks paced Seeb with 28, while seven-foot Serbian Mile Ilic added 20 markers and 12 boards in defeat.
For Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, they did well to turn away a late surge from Arabi, who got to within five points with just under three minutes remaining. But Shabab quickly replied with six unanswered points, sealing the game and their berth in the next stage.
Kevin Murphy led the victors in scoring with 21 points. He also had eight rebounds and six assists. Qais Omar Alshabebi had 19 points, 11 rebounds and 15 assists, while Chris Johnson had just 11 points but he took down 18 assists.
Heading into today’s semi-finals, both UAE sides are the favourites, as both have yet to taste defeat in the competition.