BASKETBALL – Manama held off Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai 78-74 to sweep Group B of the Fiba West Asia Super League (WASL)-Gulf League last night at the Zain Basketball Arena.
Free throws by Sir’Dominic Pointer and Ahmed Haji, plus a costly turnover along the sideline by opposing reinforcement Chavaughn Lewis, proved enough for the home team to come out with the win after the visitors got to within a point, 75-74, with 19.3 seconds left to play.
Travin Thibodeaux was responsible for breaking the 60-all deadlock following a successful three-point play conversion with 5:23 remaining in the final quarter.
Manama would remain ahead the rest of the way. They even held a six-point edge, 72-66, behind a pair of free throws by Thibodeaux as well with under three minutes to go.
Still, it wasn’t without major threats from the opposition. Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai slowly chipped away the deficit, and Lewis’ own three-point play – a contact dunk over Pointer plus a free throw – pulled themselves to within a point, 75-74, with 19.3 seconds left.
Pointer, though, would give his team more breathing space after a split from the line shortly after. He then stepped up on defence, helping force Lewis to a turnover.
Haji would then seal the game through a perfect trip to the foul line with exactly eight seconds left to play, ultimately allowing Manama to win another tight affair against Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai, who they beat by only six points, 73-67, in their first encounter.
The reigning Fiba WASL champions will head into the sub-zone semi-finals with a perfect 6-0 record. Their Emirati counterparts, meanwhile, finished with a 3-3 card.
A total of six players, including the starting five, finished in double figures in the win, with Haji leading the way as he finished with 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
Pointer provided all-around numbers with 13 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and five blocks. Fellow reinforcement Cameron Clark supplied 12 points and seven boards.
Thibodeaux made 11 points, while the tandem of Mohammed Ameer and Hassan Nowrooz delivered 10 points apiece and combined for 11 rebounds.
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