BASKETBALL – Holders Muharraq barged into the semi-finals of the 2025-26 Khalifa Bin Salman Cup last night with a crushing 153-94 win against Sitra in a their high-scoring quarter-final contest played at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.
Muharraq took control of the game with a 40-point second quarter and built leads as big as their final winning margin of 59 points as they also closed strong with a 43-point final frame.
The winners also spoiled the impressive performance of Sitra professional Austin Ajukwa, who poured in a game-high 51 points while also taking down nine rebounds.
Muharraq now move on to face either Al Ahli or Al Hala in a best-of-three final four series.
Ahli and Hala were scheduled to face off late last night at the same venue, missing our deadlines.
The Khalifa Bin Salman Cup is one of the most prestigious annual basketball tournaments under the BBA banner in the kingdom.
Action in the tournament’s round of eight continue tonight with the other two quarters fixtures set to take place at the same venue.
At 8.30pm, Al Ettihad go up against Manama, followed at 10.30pm by Nuwaidrat facing off with Al Najma.
In Muharraq’s big win yesterday, they were matched point for point in the opening period as they remained deadlocked at 35-apiece heading into the second.
But there, Muharraq surged ahead after Sitra took a slim 39-38 lead on an Ajukwa basket.
They went on a 12-2 run and never looked back, and headed into the break up 75-59.
After the break, Muharraq didn’t let up and clamped down defensively on Sitra.
They held their rivals to just 20 in the third as they extended the gap to 110-79 with the last quarter to play.
There, Sitra scored just 15 markers as Muharraq wrapped up the dominant performance.
Eight Muharraq players finished in double figures in the contest as 10 of their 12 players – all of whom stepped onto the floor – made it into the scoresheet.
Kris Clyburn had a team-high 41 points while Mohammed Juma’a added 22 points and 15 rebounds.
Nader Ali chipped in with 20 points off the bench, including four three-pointers, while Nick West had 18 and 10 boards, Mahmood Abbas Isa scored 16, and Ali Hussain finished with 12.
Mohammed Ameer nearly had a triple double with 11 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists.
Ajukwa’s 51 points saw him go 17-for-35 from the field and a near-perfect 15-for-16 from the free-throw stripe.
Ali Mohsen added 21 points as their only other player in double figures.
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.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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