BASKETBALL – BAHRAIN’S Muharraq are back in action this evening in the 2025-26 Fiba West Asia Super League (WASL).
The kingdom’s representatives are heading into the home stretch of their preliminary round campaign in the WASL’s Gulf sub-zone with two games remaining in this stage – first tonight against Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE.
The contest is scheduled for a 7.30pm tip-off and it will be played at the Bahrain Basketball Association Arena in Um Al Hassam Sports Complex.
Both Muharraq and Shabab Al Ahli are currently vying for a spot in the knockout stages – along with Kazma SC from Kuwait. They are each on six points in the Group A table, with Muharraq and Shabab Al Ahli having a game in hand.
The Bahrainis will need to claim an important victory tonight to boost their chances of advancing from the preliminaries. Following this evening’s fixture, they return to the hardwood for one more assignment on Monday next week against Ittihad Club from Saudi Arabia, who are currently in first place with nine points.
Muharraq head into their game against the Emiratis having split their first four outings. They opened their WASL campaign with back-to-back losses against Kazma and Shabab Al Ahli, but have since roared back into contention with wins against Ittihad and Kazma in their previous two outings.
They will now be looking to avenge their narrow 87-89 defeat to Shabab Al Ahli in their first meeting in November of last year in Dubai.
Muharraq need to finish in the top three of their group in order to stay in contention for the WASL’s Gulf sub-zone crown. The top-ranked side at the end of this stage advances directly to the Gulf semi-finals, while the second and third-ranked teams clash in a play-off round.
Group B in the Gulf sub-zone features current leaders Al Ula Club from Saudi, who are followed by Kuwait SC from Kuwait, Sharjah SC of the UAE, and Al Arabi SC from Qatar. The top three teams in the Gulf sub-zone will earn direct berths in this year’s Fiba WASL Final Eight, where the overall champions will be determined.
This season’s edition of the Fiba WASL is its fourth. It is the second time that Muharraq are competing in the tournament. They also participated in the 2023-24 edition, where they made it through to the Gulf semi-finals but then lost to Bahraini rivals Manama, who were the first-ever Fiba WASL overall title winners in 2022-23.
Last season, Manama and Al Ahli were the kingdom’s representatives. Manama made it through to the Gulf semi-finals, while Ahli were eliminated by Manama in the qualification for the semis.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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