BASKETBALL – BAHRAIN champions Muharraq were eliminated last night from the 2025-26 Fiba West Asia Super League (WASL).
The kingdom’s representatives suffered their disappointing exit following a 69-78 loss to Kuwait Sports Club in game two of their best-of-three play-off series for a berth in this WASL season’s Gulf sub-zone semi-finals.
Muharraq battled hard throughout the contest and stayed within striking distance for much of the second half. But the Kuwaitis came up with the clutch plays late on to come away with the win at the Bahrain Basketball Association Arena in Um Al Hassam Sports Complex and complete their two-game sweep.
Muharraq had previously lost game one last week at Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex in Kuwait City, and headed into yesterday’s affair needing a victory to stay alive in the tournament.
With the result, Kuwait marched through to the Gulf final four, where they will lock horns with Ittihad Club from Saudi Arabia.
Also hoping to advance to the sub-zone’s semis are Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE and Al Arabi of Qatar, who are clashing in the other play-off.
Shabab Al Ahli have a one-game lead after drawing first blood, 107-88, in their series opener last week in Dubai. The two teams face off once again tonight in game two.
The Emiratis will be hoping to wrap things up and advance to take on Al Ula from Saudi Arabia in the other Gulf semi-final, but Arabi will be determined to extend their match-up to a decisive, winner-take-all third game.
In Muharraq’s loss last night, they faced a slim 13-15 deficit at the end of the opening period but drew level by half-time at 39-all. They opened the third quarter with a Michael Isaiah Warren three-pointer for a 42-39 lead, but the visitors responded with a game-changing 14-0 run, sparked by a triple from Alexander Khaled Alghais.
Muharraq got to within six, 52-58, heading into the final frame, but came no closer than five points the rest of the way as Kuwait held on to unceremoniously end the Bahrainis’ title bid.
Mohammed Ameer had 22 points to pace the home team yesterday while Kris Clyburn added 15 and 11 rebounds and Nicholas Simon West had 12 and 14 boards. Warren chipped in with 11 in defeat.
Joffrey Lauvergne scored 20 as Kuwait’s top performer while Charles Moore had 19 and Mohammad Hasan 15.
This year’s West Asia Super League was the second time Muharraq competed in the Fiba event. They also participated in the 2023-24 tournament, where they lost to familiar foes Manama in an all-Bahraini Gulf sub-zone semi-final.
Following this season’s WASL Gulf semis, scheduled for next month, the finals and game for third place will be held in April. Both the sub-zone final four and title-decider are to be played in best-of-three format.
The top three teams in the Gulf will eventually earn direct berths to this season’s WASL Final Eight, where the overall champions will be crowned.
The Final Eight will also feature three teams from the WASL West Asia sub-zone, the winner of the play-off between the fourth-placed teams from the Gulf and West Asia sub-zones, and the winners of the South Asia Basketball Association Club Championship.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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