BASKETBALL – BAHRAIN representatives Riffa and Seef had mixed results last night in the Orleans Challenger in France, being held as part of the 2025 Fiba 3x3 World Tour.
Riffa split their two preliminary round games and booked their place in the event’s quarter-finals, while Seef – making their historic debut as the first-ever all-Bahraini team to compete in street basketball’s premier international series – lost both their assignments.
Riffa began their tournament campaign with a thrilling 21-19 overtime victory over Elancourt of France in Pool D. After falling behind 17-19 late in regulation, baskets from Vic Van Oosterwyck and Andrej Cuyvers right before the final buzzer helped them forge a 19-all deadlock and send the game into the extra session. There, Jonas Foerts rattled in a game-winning two-pointer on their first possession to seal the win.
Cuyvers had eight points to lead Riffa while Bahraini Mohamed Kowayed added six, Van Oosterwyck had four, and Foerts three.
Riffa then lost their second game against Carolina of Puerto Rico 18-21. Foerts got the kingdom’s side to within 18-19 with a minute remaining, but Carolina were able to close it out with a pair of baskets.
Cuyvers had nine points in the narrow loss, while Van Oosterwyck added six and Foerts had three.
Riffa finished second in Pool D, behind Carolina, whom they joined in the last eight. There, they will take on Toulouse of France, who were winners of Pool B, which included Seef.
Seef, comprising top local talents Sayed Mohammed Hameed, Sadeq Shukrallah, Hassan Fahad, and Nasser Al Mosawi, first loss to Toulouse 10-21 in their first fixture, and then succumbed to Marijampole Mantinga from Lithuania with a similar 10-21 score line to bow out of further contention.
The event’s knockout phase will be held today, starting with the quarter-finals and to be followed by the semis and final.
The Orleans Challenger acts as a qualifier for the Shenzhen Masters in China, scheduled for October 4 and 5 on this year’s Fiba 3x3 World Tour.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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