BASKETBALL – Champions Algeria signed off from the 26th Arab Men’s Basketball Championship 2025 in style last night.
After securing the coveted title on Friday night, the Algerians put a stamp on their dominance in the kingdom with a 78-70 victory over fellow-African powerhouses Egypt at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.
The result earned them an unbeaten record in their six games in the tournament, making for a fitting ending to their dream run, where they secured the Arab crown for only the second time in the competition’s history. They won their maiden title in the 2005 edition held in Riyadh, where they beat Morocco in the final.
Egypt, the last edition’s champions in 2023, finished the tournament in sixth place after suffering their fourth straight loss. They had begun their campaign with back-to-back wins but could not maintain their winning ways.
Also yesterday, Tunisia cemented their podium position as silver-medallists with a 79-72 victory against Qatar.
The Tunisians were already assured of a runner-up finish heading into their concluding fixture last night, but they didn’t let up to finish their tournament schedule with a 5-1 win-loss record. Their only defeat came against the Algerians in both teams’ very first fixture on opening night.
Qatar dropped to a 2-4 record and ranked fifth on the final standings to end this seven-team tournament, held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Algeria finished their game against Egypt yesterday strong, allowing them to turn a narrow two-point deficit, 53-55, after three to their closing victory.
After an Ahmed Yasser three-pointer tied it at 64-apiece for the Egyptians, skipper Briki Sofiane had two free-throws and then scored with a driving lay-up to give the Algerians the lead for good with just over three minutes to play.
Ben Zaim Sid then added a basket to stretch their advantage to six, and although Egypt got back to within four late on, it was too late as Algeria pegged the final score from the charity stripe.
Sedoud Chakib had 25 points to pace their team, while Koob Moussaab and Sid chipped in with 10 points each. Sofiane and Alain Adel scored seven points apiece.
Moamen Tareq had 18 to pace Egypt, while Abdulrahman Khaled had 11 as their only other player in double figures.
Meanwhile, in Tunisia’s triumph, they took a commanding 51-31 lead into the half and then did enough over the last two quarters to seal the win. They enjoyed a 69-53 cushion heading into the final frame, where they took their foot off the gas, allowing the Qataris to cut into the deficit. Qatar got to within five late in the contest on an Abdulla Moosa lay-up, but came no closer.
Oussama Mamaoui top scored for the Tunisians with 21 points while Jawhar Jawadi added 13 and Yacine Toumi scored 10. Omar Abada and team captain Mohamed Ochi contributed nine points apiece for their team.
Djan Janik scored 32 and Moosa had 16 for Qatar. Both played the full 40 minutes of the contest, with Janik grabbing eight rebounds and Moosa nine. Oussama Arfa chipped in with 14 points and 11 boards in the loss.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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