BASKETBALL – Bahrain host continental powerhouses Lebanon tonight in a crucial game in the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.
The contest is scheduled for a 7pm tip-off at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.
The Bahrainis are currently one of three teams – along with Syria and the UAE – who are battling to secure the second qualifying berth from Group F in the tournament proper.
The nationals are currently second on the table behind the undefeated Lebanese. They have two wins from their four games to date and a victory tonight, coupled with another on Monday against Syria in Doha, Qatar, will ensure their spot in the Fiba Asia Cup 2025, which will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in August.
If they win just one of their two remaining games, they will need for the UAE to lose at least once to go through. The Emiratis face Syria in this evening’s other Group F fixture, also to be played in the Qatari capital, and then travel to Lebanon to play the hosts on Monday. Two losses for Bahrain in these remaining two fixtures will put them in a tough situation in their bid to qualify.
A packed house of local supporters are expected to fill Khalifa Sports City Arena in tonight’s clash, with the Bahrain Basketball Association announcing that tickets to the game have completely sold out.
The Bahrainis played two tune-up contests against Jordan as part of their preparations for this evening’s fixture.
The nationals, coached by Lebanese tactician Jad El Hajj, have a 12-player squad for their qualifiers, including Mohammed Hussain, Mohammed Kowayed, Subah Hussain, Ahmed Salman, Ali Jaber, Ahmed Bin Daina, Mustafa Hussain, Ali Shukrallah, Ali Hussain, Ali Aqeel, Mohammed Ameer, and Wayne Chism.
Bahrain are amongst 24 countries divided into six groups for this stage of qualification. Saudi are already assured of their place as the tournament’s hosts, while seven others have also already qualified as of last night.
They include the Lebanese from Bahrain’s group, two-time defending champions Australia from Group A, the Philippines and New Zealand from Group B, Japan and China from Group C, and Jordan from Group D.
Following this stage, the six third-placed teams from all the groups will play for four final places at the tournament, depending on the performance of Saudi, who are currently second in Group D.
The Fiba Asia Cup is the continent’s premier basketball tournament, featuring senior men’s national teams from Fiba Asia as well as from Fiba Oceania. Bahrain are looking to qualify for the championship for the 10th time.
The national team made their debut in the competition’s 1977 edition in Malaysia. Bahrain’s best finish so far was 10th in the 1997 event held in Saudi. They qualified for the previous edition in 2022 held in Indonesia, where they ranked 13th overall amongst the 16 participating nations.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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