BASKETBALL – HOLDERS Muharraq set up an enticing title-deciding clash against bitter rivals Manama for the 2025-26 Khalifa Bin Salman Cup.
Muharraq secured their place in the final with a resounding 96-80 victory over Al Ahli in game two of their best-of-three semis series at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town – completing a sensational sweep.
The two-time tournament winners were dominant in the contest, played without fans in attendance. They led the entire game and built gaps as big as 25 points en route to the big result.
Their triumph followed their 93-87 win in game one, and they are now making a return trip to the championship game for a repeat of last year’s final, where they beat Manama 89-86.
This season’s Khalifa Bin Salman Cup title-decider is scheduled for Monday next week at the same venue, the Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) has announced.
Muharraq will be aiming for their third crown, while Manama will be looking to lift the trophy for a record fourth time. Ahli have also won the competition three times in the past, while Riffa were champions once.
The Khalifa Bin Salman Cup is one of the most prestigious basketball tournaments organised annually by the BBA.
In Muharraq’s game two victory, they took control of the game in the very first quarter where an Ali Hussain basket gave them a 12-point lead at 19-7 before taking a 22-13 advantage into the second. They powered ahead even further before the half, with a pair of Nick West free-throws giving them a commanding 41-21 cushion before Ahli finished strong to cut the deficit to 34-46 heading into the interval.
Muharraq continued to stay in front after the break, and a Bader Abdulla Malabes lay-up with two-and-a-half minutes to go in the third making it 71-48. That helped them go up 75-55 with only the last canto to go.
There, a Mahmood Abbas Isa three-pointer earned Muharraq their largest lead of the night of 25 at 88-50, and they cruised the rest of the way. Ahli tried valiantly to make a comeback but they got no closer than 13 points en route to the final buzzer.
Malabes scored 19 points to lead a balanced Muharraq attack, in which six of their players finished in double figures. Mohammed Ameer chipped in with 15 points, West had 13, Michael Warren finished with 12, Isa scored 11 while shooting a perfect three-for-three from beyond the arc, and Nader Ali had 10 points.
Wayne Chism also had key contributions with eight points and 11 rebounds.
For Ahli, Anthony Fairley was their top performer with 19 points and 10 boards coming off the bench. Maitham Jameel added 14 while Kenneth Kadji had 12.
Aside from the Khalifa Bin Salman Cup, Muharraq and Manama are also the top two teams heading into the Golden Square semi-finals of the 2025-26 Zain Bahrain Basketball League. There, the semis match-ups in the Khalifa Bin Salman Cup are repeated, with Muharraq taking on Ahli and Manama playing Al Najma once again. Each series will be played in best-of-five format.
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