BASKETBALL – THE stage is set for the 2025-26 edition of the Khalifa Bin Salman Cup, which tips off with two games this evening.
The prestigious annual tournament features eight teams from both the top-tier Premier Division and League Two from this season’s Zain Bahrain Basketball League.
Tonight, Khalifa Bin Salman Cup holders Muharraq will take on Sitra in the opening fixture at 8.30pm. That will be followed by Al Ahli facing Al Hala in a mouth-watering clash at 10.30pm.
This evening’s fixtures will be the first to be held by the Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) since the sudden halt of play last week due to the unfortunate events that have been taking place in the kingdom.
Tomorrow, Al Ettihad clash with Manama at 8.30pm, and then Nuwaidrat face Al Najma at 10.30pm.
All four contests will be held without any fans in attendance. The BBA said in a statement earlier this week that the return of spectators to games will be contingent upon the stabilisation of the current situation on the island and will be gradual.
The winners of the Muharraq-Sitra affair will next face the victors of Ahli-Hala, while the winners of Ettihad-Manama will clash with the victors of Nuwaidrat-Najma.
All four games in the last eight are set to be played at the BBA Arena in Um Al Hassam Sports Complex.
The ensuing best-of-three final four series and the championship game will be held at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.
Muharraq clinched last season’s Khalifa bin Salman Cup following an 89-86 win over Manama in the final.
Muharraq have won the coveted trophy twice since the tournament was first held. Ahli and Manama have the most titles with three apiece, while Riffa lifted the Khalifa bin Salman Cup once in the past.
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