BASKETBALL – MANAMA punched their tickets to the final of the 2025-26 Khalifa Bin Salman Cup last night with a come-from-behind 77-75 victory over Al Najma to complete a two-game sweep of their best-of-three semi-final series at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.
Manama overcame a 17-point deficit in the second half to take the lead with an 11-0 run beginning the fourth quarter and hold on until the final buzzer.
Their hard-earned triumph in game two followed their 78-66 win in the first game, thus earning their seat in the title-deciding clash, which has yet to be scheduled by the Bahrain Basketball Association.
Manama will be going for a record fourth crown in the prestigious annual tournament. They currently hold the record of three, which they share with long-time rivals Al Ahli, who are also vying for a place in the championship game.
Ahli took on holders Muharraq late last night in a game that wrapped up early today morning, missing our deadlines. Muharraq were the 93-87 winners in the first meeting. Game three, if needed, will be held on Wednesday later this week.
In last night’s contest, which was played without fans in attendance, Najma were in control the entire first half. They ended the opening period with a 26-19 lead, which they stretched in the second to as many as 17 points – first on an Ali Aqeel reverse lay-up that made it 40-23 – before taking a commanding 42-29 cushion into the break.
In the third, Najma continued from where they left off and again went in front by their biggest margin – the last time on an Aqeel driving lay-up for a 50-33 lead. But Manama gradually chipped away at the deficit and were able to close the quarter strong, narrowing the gap to 54-61 heading into the final frame.
There, they went on their game-changing run with 11 unanswered points, capped by a Hasan Nowrooz three-pointer that put them in front 65-61. Najma battled back and drew level with back-to-back baskets by Donovan Smith, but then Manama surged ahead with another rally of seven straight points with no reply.
Najma tried to stay in the fight and a Smith lay-in made it 73-74 with just under two minutes to play. But Nowrooz buried a triple that made it 77-73, and after Mohammed Hussain sank two free-throws on the other end for Najma, neither team could add to the score from there, sealing Manama’s triumph.
Nowrooz top scored for the winners with 18 points off the bench, which included four three-pointers. Skipper and court general Ahmed Salman added 16, while Ali Jaber scored 15, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out five assists. Romeo Enan took down 10 boards for Manama in his limited minutes.
Hussain paced Najma in the narrow defeat with 20 points as he was facing his long-time team. He also had nine rebounds in the game. Smith contributed 16 markers while Hassan Fahad had 11. Aqeel finished with nine points as a substitute.
The Khalifa bin Salman Cup is one of the most prestigious basketball competitions held annually by the Bahrain Basketball Association. Aside from the three titles for both Manama and Ahli and two won by Muharraq, Riffa were also champions once in past editions.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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