BASKETBALL – Bahrain representatives Riffa were last night crowned champions of the 3x3 Morocco Tour, held in Casablanca as part of this year’s Fiba 3x3 World Tour.
Riffa clinched the title after defeating Lugano Casa Pol from Switzerland 21-17 in a tightly contested final.
The two-day event was a Quest-level tournament that featured 18 squads from all over the world in the preliminary round.
With their triumph, Riffa not only came away with the champions’ trophy but also qualified for the higher-tier Macau Masters, scheduled for October 18 and 19 on the Fiba 3x3 World Tour.
Riffa took to the half-court in the competition with the quartet of Belgian nationals Dennis Donkor, Jonas Foerts, and Vic van Oosterwyck, along with Bahraini basketball star Mohammed Kowayed.
Against Lugano, the contest was tight at the start and a Foerts basket tied it at 10-all.
The Swiss then took a 12-10 advantage but Donkor replied with a lay-up plus the foul, and later van Oosterwyck contributed a basket to tie it at 13-all.
The teams continued to trade jabs until a Donkor lay-up with two minutes to go gave Riffa a 15-14 lead. He then scored on another drive, and was fouled, leading to a pair of bonus free-throws to put Riffa ahead 18-14.
Foerts then scored but Lugano tried to stay alive and got back to within 17-19. But Donkor was fouled with 2.7 seconds left in the game and he sank two pressure-packed charities to reach the game’s 21-point target for the win.
Earlier yesterday in the semi-finals against Famous from Togo, Riffa won 20-16.
They shrugged off a slow start and took a 7-3 lead following a Kowayed shot.
The Bahraini outfit continued to cruise until Famous reduced the deficit to 10-13. Foerts answered with a two-pointer and a fine assist to van Oosterwyck, while Donkor buried back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to make it 20-11.
Riffa could not add another basket for their target but sealed the win as time expired with the four-point gap.
In the quarters where they defeated As Far of Morocco 21-13, Riffa had a good start and went ahead 5-2 on a van Oosterwyck lay-up off a fine assist from Foerts.
Back-to-back two-pointers by Donkor and Foerts then gave them a 10-6 advantage, and later two Kowayed free-throws plus a Foerts lay-up gave them a 15-7 cushion.
Foerts was again on target from long range to make it 18-11, and then Kowayed sealed the win with a basket and the foul, sinking his two free-throws for the 21-point target.
Yesterday’s knockouts followed the preliminary round, where Riffa won both their games against Toulouse of France and then Marrakech Hoops of Morocco to top Pool A.
The Fiba 3x3 World Tour is the premier street basketball series under the International Basketball Federation (Fiba), which holds events around the world with participating teams representing cities.
This year’s calendar will head to Bahrain for the season-finale, scheduled for November 21 and 22.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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