BASKETBALL – DEMARCO Dickerson scored the UAE’s final 16 points to lift them to a resounding 86-82 victory over Egypt last night in the 26th Arab Men’s Basketball Championship, currently being hosted by the kingdom.
With the Emiratis trailing 70-74 and just under five minutes to go in the contest, Dickerson stepped up and spearheaded their stunning comeback, which was part of a decisive, game-ending 16-8 run. He buried three three-pointers during this stretch, deflating their opponents’ hopes.
The result gave the UAE a 3-3 win-loss record to end their campaign in the tournament with a chance of taking the bronze medals, while handing the Egyptians their third successive defeat after opening with back-to-back wins. The Egyptians also have a shot at bronze.
Also winning last night at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town were Qatar, who edged past winless Kuwait 72-69. They too are eyeing third place but must win today on the last day of this seven-nation competition, which is being played in league format.
In the opening fixture at 4pm, Tunisia take on the Qataris, to be followed by an exciting clash between newly crowned champions Algeria and Egypt. Hosts Bahrain then take on Kuwait in the championship’s concluding fixture, scheduled for an 8pm tip-off.
All games will be played at the same venue. Entry for fans is free and all are welcome to attend.
In the UAE’s win yesterday, the first two quarters was a see-saw affair but Egypt managed to take a slim 36-35 lead at the break following a Mohamed Taha lay-up for the last basket of the second period.
The Egyptians stayed ahead in the third and held a 60-54 advantage heading into the final frame, where they were well in control – leading by as many as eight points – until Dickerson’s end-game heroics. He made back-to-back triples at the three-minute mark to give his team the lead for good at 78-75, and Egypt never recovered. They tried to stay in the fight but got no closer than three points.
Dickerson finished with a game-high 33 markers, including four three-pointers, to go along with nine rebounds. Abdulaziz Ahmed contributed 21 points while Mamadou Ndiaye had nine points, nine rebounds, and three blocked shots.
Egypt’s skipper Ebrahim Amin had 28 points to pace his side. Taha added 15 while Mohamed Tareq scored nine points.
Meanwhile, the Qataris came away with a hard-earned victory late in their contest against their Kuwaiti counterparts.
Abdulla Moosa hit a go-ahead basket on a driving floater with a minute and a half remaining to break a 66-all deadlock, and then Oussama Arfa grabbed an offensive rebound and had an emphatic put-back slam dunk to make it 70-66.
After Kuwait got back to within two points, Arfa then had another offensive board before sinking one of two free-throws with 13.5 seconds remaining to keep Qatar ahead by three.
Both sides then added a free-throw apiece in the closing seconds to peg the final score.
It was a tightly contested affair between the two Gulf sides, as neither led by more than eight points.
Djan Janik topped Qatar’s scoresheet with 24 points, including an impressive five triples, while Moosa had 18 and nine assists. Arfa had just three points but took down 11 rebounds in the win.
For Kuwait, Mohamed Adnan Hasan scored 25 points while Abdulaziz Alhamidi contributed 16.
Qatar won for the second time in five tries while Kuwait suffered their fifth straight loss.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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