BASKETBALL – MUHARRAQ moved one victory away last night from securing an unprecedented title treble in the 2025-26 Bahrain basketball season.
Muharraq took a commanding 2-0 cushion in the best-of-five championship series of this campaign’s Zain Bahrain Basketball League following an 88-80 win over Manama at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town.
After Manama took a slim 75-73 lead on a Donovan Smith basket with just over six minutes remaining, Mahmood Abbas Isa buried a three-pointer to spark a decisive 11-0 run for Muharraq, capped by four straight points from skipper Bader Abdulla Malabes.
That put them in control for good, and although Manama made one last stand to get to within four points on an Ahmed Salman triple with less than a minute remaining, Malabes and Mohammed Juma’a sealed their triumph with four pressure-packed makes from the charity stripe.
Malabes finished as Muharraq’s leading scorer in the contest with 18 points, while Isa added 16 including three baskets from beyond the arc. Michael Warren chipped in with 14 and Juma’a had 13.
Nader Ali scored nine off the bench for Muharraq while Wayne Chism had just six points but took down 10 rebounds and registered four steals.
Smith and Salman led Manama’s bid with 25 and 22 points, respectively, with Smith also grabbing 12 boards. Emran Ashkanani contributed 16 markers as both he and Salman were hot from long distance, firing in four three-pointers apiece.
Muharraq will now be looking to close out the series when the two teams meet once again on Tuesday night. Game three is scheduled for a 7pm tip-off and it will be played at the same venue.
Manama will be hoping to stay in the fight and extend their finals clash. Games four and five, if needed, are slated for Friday and April 20, respectively.
Muharraq are aiming to successfully defend their league title and capture their third trophy of the 2025-26 season, having already lifted the prestigious Khalifa bin Salman Cup last month and the curtain-raising Bahrain Super Cup in November of last year.
Muharraq are also gunning for their fifth league crown overall, while Manama are aiming to add to their record 25 titles as the most successful club in Bahrain basketball history.
In attendance during last night’s game were Bahrain Olympic Committee vice-president Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) president Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, and other BBA officials.
Manama came roaring out of the gate and led by as many as 13 points in the first quarter until Muharraq found their groove and cut the deficit to 17-21 heading into the second. They responded well in the period and led for the first time yesterday following three straight Ali free-throws. A triple from Warren and a transition lay-up from Juma’a then gave them a slim 46-44 edge heading into the break.
Manama regained control in the latter half of the third and powered into the final frame up 67-64. But that set the stage for Muharraq’s strong finish, inspired by their 11 unanswered points late on, to go up by two games in their championship battle.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))