MANAMA scored a fine 92-68 victory over Riffa last night in a sixth week match of the Zain Bahrain Basketball League at Zain Arena in Um Al Hassam.
It was Manama’s sixth straight victory from as many matches and it moved them to the top of the table with 12 points, one ahead of overnight joint leaders Muharraq and Al Ahli.
Manama are also the only unbeaten team in the league so far.
For Riffa it was their second loss from six matches and they stay fifth with 10 points, same as Al Hala.
Manama won the first quarter 23-18 but lost the second 16-22 before bouncing back to claim the last two in emphatic fashion - 24-13, 29-15.
Mohammed Hussain, Mohammed Jasim and Mozamel Ameer led the way for Manama with 13 points each while import Christopher Mcknight also got into double figures with 10 points.
For Riffa, Rickey Young, who top scored with 21 points, including three three-pointers and 12 rebounds, was the hero in a lost cause.
Younis Kuwayed and Subah Hussain contributed 11 points each.
Earlier, a special match was played between former players of Manama Club and former Bahrain internationals (along with some GCC players) to mark the retirement of one of Bahrain’s greatest basketball players Abdulmajeed Ali Shahram.
Shahram, who played for Manama and Muharraq and Kuwait Club in Kuwait, ended his glittering career recently after having won an array of trophies locally and in GCC events.
In yesterday’s match, Shahram played briefly for both the teams much to the appreciation of his fans.
The event was held under the patronage of Bahrain Basketball Association president Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.
Next matches:
Sunday: Al Najma vs Isa Town (6pm). Al Ahli vs Al Hala (7.45pm).