BASKETBALL – BAHRAIN’S Riffa suffered a disheartening exit at the quarter-final stage yesterday from the Orleans Challenger in France, part of the 2025 Fiba 3x3 World Tour.
The kingdom’s representatives lost 17-19 in overtime to Toulouse of France to be eliminated from further title contention.
It was a tightly contested game that could have gone either way. After falling behind 13-15 with less than half-a-minute to play, Jonas Foerts buried a long-range two-pointer and was fouled in the process, sending him to the free-throw line.
He converted two of the ensuing three charity shots for a narrow 17-15 lead, and it appeared that Riffa had done enough to march through to the last four, especially after Toulouse misfired on their game-tying attempt with 12.6 seconds remaining in regulation.
But Andrej Cuyvers missed on an unnecessary drive to the basket, and then Raphael Wilson grabbed the rebound, rushed to the corner, and fired in a desperation, turn-around two-pointer to tie the game at 17-all as time expired, sending the contest into the extra session.
There, Toulouse took advantage of the opportunity, and then baskets from Paul Djoko and Wilson sealed their narrow win.
Cuyvers finished as the leading scorer for Riffa in the loss with seven points, while Foerts had four, and Vic Van Oosterwyck and Mohammed Kowayed had three points apiece. Hugo Suhard scored seven to pace Toulouse.
Following the loss, both of Bahrain’s teams in the competition, Riffa and Seef, bowed out. The pair are next on tap to compete in the Hong Kong Masters on the Fiba 3x3 World Tour, scheduled for next Saturday and Sunday.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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