BASKETBALL – BAHRAIN champions Muharraq suffered an agonising 101-107 loss against Kuwait SC last night in game one of their best-of-three play-off series in the Gulf sub-zone of the 2025-26 Fiba West Asia Super League (WASL).
The kingdom’s representatives are battling the Kuwaitis for the right to claim a spot in this season’s Gulf semi-finals.
The Bahrainis fell behind by as many as 21 points in the contest but then took a stunning three-point lead late in the fourth quarter after a resounding 17-0 run helped them tie the game, which was played at Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex in Kuwait City.
Muharraq could not complete their comeback, however, as Kuwait closed the night strong with a decisive 11-2 run en route to the final buzzer.
Muharraq will be looking to bounce back when they face Kuwait at home in game two on Monday next week. A win would extend the series to a decisive third game, which is scheduled for February 16, again in the Kuwaiti capital.
Both teams ended the opening period tied at 24-all, but Kuwait took control after outscoring Muharraq 37-21 in the second to power ahead 61-45 at the half. The Bahrainis narrowed the gap – although only slightly – after three at 76-89, but then mounted a furious rally in the final frame.
After falling into a 78-95 hole, Muharraq strung together 17 unanswered points, roaring back into contention. Baskets by Mohammed Juma’a and Kris Clyburn then gave them a 99-96 advantage with just under three minutes to play, but that signalled the beginning of the end for their team.
Kuwait mounted their own mini-run to get back in front, and they held on from there. Mohammad Hasan buried a three-pointer with 30 seconds to play to tuck the game away for the hosts and draw first blood in their play-off clash.
Three players finished with over 20 points for Muharraq to spearhead their charge in the loss. Clyburn had 27 while Michael Isaiah Warren chipped in with 24 and Nicholas Simon West had 23. Both Clyburn and West also took down 11 rebounds. Charles Moore scored 24 points to pace Kuwait, while Joffrey Lauvergne added 23.
The winner of the Muharraq-Kuwait match-up will move on to play Ittihad Club of Saudi Arabia in the Gulf sub-zone’s final four.
The other Gulf play-off is between Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE and Al Arabi SC of Qatar, with the victor of their head-to-head next taking on Al Ula Club from Saudi in the semis, which will be held in March and April.
The Gulf sub-zone finals and game for third place are also scheduled for April. Both the semis and title-decider will be held in best-of-three format.
The top three teams in the Gulf sub-zone will earn direct berths in this season’s Fiba WASL Final Eight, where the overall champions will be determined.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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